Massachusetts H5486: An Act allowing 'print free' digital legal notices for the town of Wayland

What the bill says

From the introduced text, June 8, 2026:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to allow, but not require the Town of Wayland and its subdivisions to satisfy legal notice requirements entirely by digital publication as voted necessary by its Select Board in light of the changing landscape of print newspaper businesses, particularly at the local level. SECTION 2. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, wherever the Town of Wayland, Wayland Public Schools and/or their subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions, or officers are required by statute, ordinance, by-law or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, the person, corporation, agency, authority, municipality or other legal entity may satisfy such requirement by one or more of the following means as authorized by local vote in Section 3: A. a newspaper of local or general circulation’s print publication; B. a newspaper’s website; C. websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy all criteria for digital publication as set forth in said subsection (b) of section 13 of chapter 4 of the General Laws; D. a statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or E. a town wide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; SECTION 3. A. For all legal notices to be issued by …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• David Linsky (D, 5th Middlesex) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. August 24, 2026: Read second and ordered to a third reading
2. August 24, 2026: Rules suspended
3. August 24, 2026: Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
4. July 29, 2026: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
5. July 22, 2026: Hearing rescheduled to 07/22/2026 from 10:00 AM-10:25 AM in A-1 <br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
6. July 22, 2026: Hearing rescheduled to 07/22/2026 from 10:00 AM-10:25 PM in A-1 <br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
7. July 10, 2026: Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2026 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in A-1
8. June 11, 2026: Senate concurred
9. June 8, 2026: Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Votes

• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (July 23, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H5486?

H5486 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act allowing 'print free' digital legal notices for the town of Wayland.

What is the status of H5486?

In committee as of August 24, 2026. Latest action: Read second and ordered to a third reading (August 24, 2026).

Who sponsored H5486?

David Linsky (D, 5th Middlesex).

Where is the official record for H5486?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5486