Panel advances bill letting Florida agencies publish legal notices online; press groups warn of fragmentation

Representative Griffiths presented CS for HB 1009, which gives clerks, tax collectors and water management districts more options for publishing legal notices — including an official website, a private site designated by the agency, county websites or newspapers. The sponsor added an amendment to require that notices posted on any platform be free to view.

News organizations and public‑access groups urged the committee to oppose the bill as written. Carolyn Nolte, president and CEO of the Florida Press Association, said the proposal "will further fragment and dilute important governmental information," citing floridapublicnotices.com’s reach and archival function. Common Cause and the Florida Press Association argued that the bill would make notices harder for citizens to find and track. The Florida League of Cities and some counties supported more flexible publishing options.

Committee members discussed safeguards including carve‑outs for smaller counties and the amendment requiring free public access. The committee reported CS/HB 1009 favorably as amended (14‑3).

What’s next: The bill proceeds with the sponsor and opponents indicating continued negotiation on reach and affidavit/proof‑of‑publication language.