The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) has issued Local Finance Notice 2026-01 (LFN) concerning the changes to legal notice publication requirements after the passage of P.L. 2025, c. 72.
As defined in the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-8, OPMA) a newspaper utilized, or permitted to be utilized, by a person or public body for the purpose of complying with issuing or publishing legal notices is deemed eligible for the same purposes until March 1, 2026, regardless of whether the newspaper publishes in print or electronic (i.e., online) format.
After March 1, 2026, the local government entity must make the complete text of the legal notice accessible on its official website free of charge. The website publication requirement will supersede the current newspaper publication of legal notices, including any requirements to publish in a newspaper with statewide circulation. A local government entity must set up a dedicated legal notices webpage on its official website and make the complete text of each legal notice available for at least one week from the date of initial posting or the time period required by law. For notices that are to be prepared in a specific manner (i.e., specific font), the local government entity should follow the same format. Additionally, the direct hyperlink to the local government entity’s legal notices webpage should be conspicuously posted on the home page of the official website, so it is easily accessible to the public. Local government entities should be mindful of formatting as members of the public may be using their mobile devices to view notices and the webpage.
By March 1, 2026, local government entities must start maintaining an archive for legal notices that have been removed from the webpage, and the archive must be published on the official website by July 1, 2026. An archived legal notice must be maintained in the local government entity’s Internet archive for at least one year after having been transferred from the official webpage. The archive is not subject to any records retention schedule adopted by the State Records Committee or the Destruction of Public Records Law of 1953 (N.J.S.A. 47:3-15 et seq.). Archived legal notices should also be maintained offline to enable restoration in the event of a technical malfunction or a cybersecurity incident.
Starting on January 1, 2026, and for at least twice per month through December 31, 2026, a local government entity must provide an advertisement in an online news publication meeting the eligibility requirements of the law. The publication should state that the complete text of each legal notice can be obtained and viewed by the public on the local government entity’s official website. Additionally, the publication should state that upon establishment of the hyperlink webpage by the New Jersey Secretary of State that the listed hyperlink will also be available on that website.
Local government entities will need to implement ADA-compliant design principles for rendering links and notice content accessible to the visually impaired. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all services, programs, and activities of state and local governments. A local government entity should review the Final Rule with its webmaster and legal counsel to ensure compliance.
Local Finance Notice 2026-01 (LFN) provides additional information concerning specifics for tax collection and procurement procedures. Furthermore, additional details are provided within Local Finance Notice 2026-01 (LFN) and should be reviewed. If you have any questions, please review the LFN or call the DLGS at 609-292-6613.
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.