2023 Tennessee Code › Title 1 - CODE AND STATUTES (§§ 1-1-101 — 1-3-123) › Chapter 3 - CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES (§§ 1-3-101 — 1-3-123) › Section 1-3-120 - Newspapers of general circulation that publish public notices required to post notice in its entirety on website for same price

(a)
Beginning April 1, 2014, in all cases where a public notice or legal notice is required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, the newspaper shall for the same price post the complete notice:
(1)
On the newspaper's website, where it shall be published contemporaneously with the notice's first print publication and will remain on the website for at least as long as the notice appears in the newspaper; and
(2)
On a statewide website established and maintained as a joint venture of the majority of Tennessee newspapers as a repository for such notices and will remain on the repository website for at least as long as it appears in the newspaper. Any newspaper of general circulation that meets the criteria of this subsection (a) shall have access to the statewide website at no charge.
(b)
Any such notice shall be published online in its entirety, including maps and other exhibits, and shall include the date on which it was first printed in the newspaper.
(c)
An error in a notice placed on the newspaper website or statewide website, or temporary website outages or service interruptions prohibiting the posting or display of such notice shall be considered harmless error and proper legal notice requirements shall be considered met if the notice published in the newspaper is correct.
(d)
Each newspaper of general circulation publishing public notices shall include on its website home page a link to its public notice section and shall include on its public notice home page a link to the statewide public notice website.
(e)
Any notice published on a website pursuant to subdivisions (a)(1) and (2) shall be accessible to the public at no charge.
(f)
Beginning July 1, 2024, when legal notices are required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, the notice must also be published on a news and information website that has a URL, if such a website exists, that:
(1)
Has been published continuously for the previous twelve-month period;
(2)
Has been published using recognized standards of professional journalism;
(3)
Must have content revised on a regular basis not less than three (3) times per week;
(4)
Bears a fixed title or name and date lines and complies with and abides by all copyright laws;
(5)
Does not serve primarily as a platform to promote the interests or opinions of a special interest group, individual, or cause;
(6)
Is principally devoted to the dissemination of local or general news with at least fifty percent (50%) of all editorial content reported being original, excluding advertisements; and
(7)
Exists and is registered pursuant to state law with the secretary of state. The news and information website must have an office of publication known to be based in the county in which the notice is required to be published and that is available and open to the public where business is transacted during usual business hours, that maintains a telephone number and email listing, and that includes in each updated publication the contact information of the news and information website.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 793,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.
Added by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 124, s 1, eff. 4/12/2013.