Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H4138: An Act allowing “print-free” digital legal notices for the town of Wellesley
Status: In committee, October 13, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, May 12, 2025:
SECTION 1. Purpose. In light of the lack of an available adequate print newspaper in the town of Wellesley, the purpose of this act is to allow the town of Wellesley, including the Select Board, the School Committee, the Planning Board, and all other elected or appointed boards and committees, or municipal officials, to satisfy legal notice requirements entirely by digital publications. SECTION 2. Process. Where legal notice in a newspaper or a newspaper of general circulation is required by statute, bylaw, or judicial order, alternative means of posting such notice, as specified in section 3 of this Act, may be used if approved by a majority vote of the public body or at the discretion of the municipal official legally required to post such notice. SECTION 3. Means of Legal Notice Publication. Notwithstanding section 13(b) of chapter 4 of the General Laws, and subject to section 2 of this Act, whenever legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation is required by statute, bylaw, or judicial order, such notice requirement shall be satisfied by posting notice in one or more of the following places: (A) A print newspaper of local or general circulation; (B) A newspaper’s website; (C) Websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy the criteria for digital publication as set forth in said section …
Sponsors
- Alice Peisch (D) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading
- : Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossed
- : Ordered to a third reading
- : Amended (Creem) by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S3272
- : Read second
- : Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- : Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session
- : Read third and passed to be engrossed
- : Read second and ordered to a third reading
- : Rules suspended
Votes
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (July 2, 2025): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H4138?
- H4138 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act allowing “print-free” digital legal notices for the town of Wellesley.
- What is the status of H4138?
- In committee as of October 13, 2026. Latest action: Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading (October 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H4138?
- Alice Peisch (D).
- Where is the official record for H4138?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4138
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.