Yesterday, Holly Fishel, PSATS Director of Policy and Research, testified before the House Local Government Committee in support of public notice reform. The proposed bill, HB 1291, aims to reform Pennsylvania’s outdated public notice laws, but PSATS warns that it may expand the existing monopoly held by newspaper publishers without adding meaningful flexibility or oversight.  

PSATS emphasized that any meaningful reform must: 

• Increase public access to legal notices through modern platforms, such as official township websites, community “shoppers,” and online-only newspapers; 
• Provide flexibility for municipalities to choose the most effective communication tools for their communities; and 
• Reduce costs for local governments and taxpayers. 

While PSATS supports modernization, the association opposes expanding for-profit control over public notices, especially as only 1% of residents rely on print notices for local government news. PSATS advocated for allowing townships to post notices on official websites, community publications, and public-sector platforms like the Commonwealth’s e-Marketplace.  

“Communicating effectively with the public about government actions is critical,” said Holly Fishel, PSATS Director of Policy and Research. “Fifty years ago, the local newspaper was the go-to source. Today, residents turn to websites, social media, and search engines for timely updates, and they expect that information to be free.” 

According to a 2023 survey, only 1% of Pennsylvania voters look to public notices for news about their local government. Meanwhile, township websites, newsletters, and social media pages have become the primary sources of local information. 

PSATS raised concerns about HB 1291’s reliance on private-sector newspaper websites and the Pennsylvania Newsmedia Association’s legal notice site, which currently lack usability standards and offer limited search functionality. The bill also allows these entities to charge fees for “enhanced search and customized content delivery,” without defining what those features include. 

PSATS also highlighted the financial burden of current public notice requirements, with townships spending millions of taxpayer dollars annually, some as much as $30,000 per year. Despite these costs, many townships still fail to attract competitive bids through newspaper notices alone, often relying on direct outreach and online bidding platforms, such as PennBid. 

“Townships want to reach residents and vendors effectively,” said Fishel. “They’re already posting notices on their websites and social media. HB 1291 doesn’t go far enough to support these efforts.” 

PSATS called on the General Assembly to expand the definition of acceptable public notice platforms. 

Fishel concluded: “It’s time to bring public notices into the 21st century.” 

Click here for the complete testimony.

Click here to watch a video of the hearing.