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LINCOLN — Public notices in Nebraska are stepping into the digital age.
A newly signed state law will reshape how legal notices are published across the state, opening the door for online-only newspapers, expanding digital posting options for government entities and modernizing long-standing requirements that, until now, largely revolved around print publication.
“This legislation is long overdue. Newspapers have been modernizing how they distribute the news for quite some time, now. Modernizing how public notices are published helps our industry continue this modernization process,” said Nebraska Press Association Past President and current Legislative Committee Chairman Rob Dump.
The measure, LB596, was approved by the Nebraska Unicameral and signed into law in April by Gov. Jim Pillen. While the bill touches a number of administrative statutes, its most significant impact centers on public notices and how the public accesses government information.
One of the biggest changes is that Nebraska now recognizes digital-only newspapers as “legal newspapers,” meaning they can publish official notices. Under the law, those outlets must meet several requirements, including having a base of paid subscribers, publishing regularly and focusing on local news and government coverage.
Previously, only print newspapers qualified to publish legal notices.
The law also formally recognizes e-editions — digital replicas of printed newspapers — as valid publications.
That move reflects how many community newspapers already operate, offering both print and online versions of their product.
LB596 does not eliminate the requirement to publish notices in newspapers, but it does expand how those notices can be distributed.
In addition to newspaper publication, public bodies may now have notices posted on a statewide notice website.
The Nebraska Press Association developed the site — www.NePublicNotices.com — a few years ago. The site acts as a database for public notices from across the state and is free to access.
The measure also updates Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act, giving local governments more flexibility in how they notify the public about meetings.
Traditional notice requirements are not disappearing. For example, the State Treasurer must continue publishing lists of unclaimed property owners in legal newspapers, maintaining one of the most visible long-standing uses of public notices.
In addition to notice-related changes, LB596 includes provisions allowing more government records to be stored digitally and updates a variety of administrative processes involving county records and procedures.
For local communities, the impact will likely be a blend of continuity and change. Newspapers will remain a central part of the public notice system, but digital platforms will play a larger role moving forward.
The law reflects a broader shift already underway in the news industry — one that recognizes readers increasingly access information online while still relying on trusted local sources to keep them informed.
