The Indiana Publisher

Publisher The Indiana Volume 86, Issue 2 • February 2021 Published on second Thursday monthly Any child or grandchild of an HSPA member newspaper employee or independent contractor is welcome to apply for the annual Legacy Scholarship offered by the HSPA Foundation. Students can be majoring in any area of study — not just journalism. There are two $1,000 awards available. For information and the application, see pages 15-17 Reps speak against anti-public notice bill A half dozen state Representatives went to the podium to speak out against H.B. 1498, which would allow government units to replace publication of public notice in newspapers with posting on their websites in mid-2022. The bill's author, Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, presented the bill as a transition from mandated publication to options in rec- ognition of changing technology. "How we gather information is drasti- cally changing," Rep. Miller said. He said the change would "dovetail with the expansion of broadband" in the state. HSPA had argued in committee that H.B. 1498 failed to consider the check on government abuse that occurs when it's the local newspaper obligated to share a public notice rather than the government officials who would benefit from See 1498, page 11 In addition to H.B. 1498, HSPA is dealing with four other public notice bills in the 2021 General Assembly. S.B. 332, authored by Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, would impact all public notices that currently require publication more than once in local newspapers. Those notice requirements would change to once in print and the subsequent notices on government websites. As with H.B. 1498, HSPA testified in com- mittee on its intent to propose a public notice Legislative Update Deadline is March 26 to apply for a Foundation's $1,000 Legacy Scholarships REPUBLICANS Dave Abbott, Rome City Mike Aylesworth, Hebron Bruce Borders, Jasonville Bob Cherry, Greenfield Ed Clere, New Albany Randy Frye, Greensburg Doug Gutwein, Francesville John Jacob, Indianapolis Mike Karickhoff, Kokomo Matt Lehman, Berne Curt Nisly, Milford Elizabeth Rowray, Yorktown Tom Saunders, Lewisville Hal Slager, Schererville Ben Smaltz, Aubern Ed Soliday, Valparaiso Jerry Torr, Carmel Dennis Zent, Angola DEMOCRATS Mike Andrade, Munster Terri Austin, Anderson John Bartlett, Indianapolis Maureen Bauer, South Bend Pat Boy, Michigan City Chris Campbell, West Lafayette Ed DeLaney, Indianapolis Sue Errington, Muncie Rita Fleming, Jeffersonville Phil GiaQuinta, Fort Wayne Mitch Gore, Indianapolis Carey Hamilton, Indianapolis Earl Harris Jr., East Chicago Ragen Hatcher, Gary Carolyn Jackson, Hammond Blake Johnson, Indianapolis Shelia Klinker, Lafayette Justin Moed, Indianapolis Chuck Moseley, Portage Ranee Pack, Indianapolis Tonya Pfaff, Terre Haute Matt Pierce, Bloomington Greg Porter, Indianapolis Cherrish Pryor, Indianapolis Robin Shackleford, Indianapolis Vernon Smith, Gary VOTES AGAINST H.B. 1498: 18 Republicans and 26 Democrats voted against H.B 1498. Here are the 44 state Representatives who voted for the continuation of the publication of public notices: HSPA following four additional bills challenging public notice requirement in newspapers H.B. 1498 fails for lack of a constitutional majority, author could ask for another vote See Bills, page 11 For an update on public access bills, see page 7

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