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Frankfort Today
By the People, for the People
Kentucky Bill Would Keep Public Notices in Newspapers
Legislation sponsored by GOP leader aims to end dispute over legal ads
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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Republican Senate President Pro Tem David Givens is sponsoring a bill in the Kentucky legislature that would update the state's laws regarding public notices, also called legal ads. The bill, SB 141, is backed by the Kentucky Press Association, the Kentucky League of Cities, and the Kentucky Association of Counties. If enacted, the measure would require newspapers of record to publish legal ads in print and online, addressing concerns from both local governments and newspapers.
Why it matters
The controversy over public notices has arisen as newspapers face financial strains, consolidations, and closures in recent years. Some local officials have questioned why taxpayer dollars should be spent on legal ads when they could be posted for free on government websites. Newspapers and advocates for open government argue that government transparency and the public interest demand that a neutral third party be responsible for publishing the notices, as not everyone has access to a computer.
The details
SB 141 would require newspapers of record to publish a legal ad in the first print edition after receiving it from a government agency or within seven days of receiving the ad, whichever is first. Newspapers must also publish the ads online within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) on the papers' websites and the press association's kypublicnotice.com. The bill passed out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee with bipartisan support and now awaits a floor vote in the Senate.
- SB 141 was introduced in the Kentucky legislature in 2026.
The players
David Givens
Republican Senate President Pro Tem of Kentucky, who is sponsoring SB 141.
Kentucky Press Association
The organization that is backing SB 141, along with the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties.
Kentucky League of Cities
An organization that is backing SB 141, along with the Kentucky Press Association and the Kentucky Association of Counties.
Kentucky Association of Counties
An organization that is backing SB 141, along with the Kentucky Press Association and the Kentucky League of Cities.
What they’re saying
“We appreciate the efforts of KPA and KLC for their work to reach consensus. We are grateful to Sen. David Givens for sponsoring the bill on our behalf and we look forward to seeing it through.”
— Shellie Hampton, Director of Government Affairs, Kentucky Association of Counties (Kentucky Lantern)
What’s next
The bill now awaits a floor vote in the Kentucky Senate.
The takeaway
This bill represents a compromise between local governments and newspapers in Kentucky, preserving the publication of public notices in newspapers while also addressing concerns about costs and modernizing the process. The bipartisan support and collaboration between the various stakeholders involved suggests this legislation has a strong chance of being enacted.
