NC H518

Requires local governments and local school administrative units to use an informal bidding process annually at the start of each fiscal year to award contracts for publication of legal notices in newspapers

Contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible, responsive bidder based on quality, performance, circulation reach, cost, and compliance with existing legal advertising requirements

Officers, departments, boards, and commissions must keep records of all informal bids submitted, which remain confidential until the contract is awarded

Replaces the current system where legal advertising is paid at rates not exceeding local commercial rates with payment according to the competitively bid contract terms

Effective July 1, 2026, applying to notices published on or after that date