Relates to the meaning of the term "newspaper" for purposes of publishing certain notices required by law.

New York Assembly Bill A00238 proposes to amend the definition of 'newspaper' in the General Construction Law. Currently, certain legal notices must be published in physical newspapers. This bill would allow these notices to be published in the legal notice section of a newspaper's website, including those maintained by the newspaper's corporate subsidiaries. This change aims to modernize the dissemination of legal notices by incorporating online platforms.

Supporters of the bill argue that it modernizes the dissemination of legal notices, making them more accessible to the public through online platforms. They believe this change reflects the current trend of digital news consumption and could potentially reduce costs associated with printing and distributing physical newspapers.

Critics express concern that shifting legal notices to online platforms may disadvantage individuals without reliable internet access, particularly in rural or underserved communities. They also worry that this change could negatively impact the revenue of local print newspapers, which rely on the publication of legal notices as a significant source of income.