Bill Quickly Clears House In Effort To Put More Public Notices On Municipal Websites
By Terri Jo Neff |
A bill which would make it easier for people to be informed of what a city or town government is doing racked up three unanimous votes in the Arizona House of Representatives on its way to the State Senate.
House Bill 2095 (posting of notices; municipal websites) amends Arizona Revised Statute 9-812 to require a city or town to post several types of notices of a public character on the municipality’s website. This would be in addition to any current requirement for the notices to be published in a local newspaper.
Issues which are of a public character or public purpose include things such as elections, invitations for bids, notices of letting contracts, and changes in laws or ordinances.
Rep. Gail Griffin (R-LD14) introduced HB2095 which was transmitted to the Arizona Senate. While in the House, the bill received a 13 to 0 vote in the House Appropriations Committee, a 7 to 0 vote in the House Rules Committee, and a 59 to 0 vote during Thursday’s Third Reading in the House.
The changes to ARS 9-812 would not impact state laws related to publishing public character notices in newspapers, nor does it alter current requirements for posting agendas or minutes of a city or town council meeting.
HB2095 needs at least 16 votes in the 30-member Senate to make it to Gov. Doug Ducey’s desk.