An Act To Amend the Requirements for Publishing Municipal Legal Notices
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0392
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: HAYES, KRUGER, FARNHAM, KNIGHT, NEWENDYKE, PICCHIOTTI
Amends: 30-A MRSA §2007

Legislative Document 
No. 392 
H.P. 318 
House of Representatives, February 8, 2011 
An Act To Amend the Requirements for Publishing Municipal Legal 
Notices 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HAYES of Buckfield. 
Cosponsored by Representative KRUGER of Thomaston, Senator FARNHAM of Penobscot 
and Representatives: KNIGHT of Livermore Falls, NEWENDYKE of Litchfield, 
PICCHIOTTI of Fairfield. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §2007 is enacted to read: 
§2007.  Publication of legal notices 
Notwithstanding Title 1, section 601, a municipal legal notice may be published 
using the following procedures. 
1.  Alternative newspaper.  A municipality may publish a legal notice in a 
newspaper distributed as 3rd class postal matter in the United States mail rather than a 
newspaper of general circulation if the municipal officers have adopted a publication 
policy that meets the following requirements: 
A.  The newspaper distributed as 3rd class postal matter is distributed to all 
households in the municipality; and 
B.  The municipality retains a record of all legal notices, legal advertising and other 
legal matter published pursuant to this subsection, subject to the rules for disposition 
of local government records as adopted by the Department of the Secretary of State, 
Maine State Archives. 
2.  Electronic media.  A municipality may publish a legal notice using electronic 
media, such as municipal websites, electronic mailing services and other electronic 
resources, if the municipal officers have adopted an electronic publication policy that 
meets the following requirements: 
A.  More than 50% of the households in the municipality have subscribed to receive 
electronic notice of meetings and events; 
B.  Subscription to receive electronic notice is provided at no cost to the subscriber; 
and 
C.  The municipality retains a record of all legal notices, legal advertising and other 
legal matter published pursuant to this subsection, subject to the rules for disposition 
of local government records as adopted by the Department of the Secretary of State, 
Maine State Archives. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows municipalities to publish legal notices either in a newspaper 
distributed by 3rd class mail or electronically as long as the municipal officers adopt a 
publication policy. 
Under the alternative newspaper distribution option, the locally adopted policy must 
meet 2 requirements: 
1.  All households in the municipality must receive the alternative newspaper; and 
2.  The municipality must retain a record of all notices published in the alternative 
newspaper. 
Under the electronic media distribution option, the locally adopted policy must meet 
requirements: 
1.  More than 50% of all households in the municipality must subscribe to receive 
electronic notices; 
2.  Subscription must be provided at no cost; and 
3.  The municipality must retain a record of all notices distributed electronically.