Michigan lawmaker explores changes to public notice rules, raising transparency concerns

Municipalities pay newspapers to publish these notices, with costs varying based on the number and length of postings.

According to recent Three Rivers City Commission agenda packets, the city paid $740 to the Three Rivers Commercial-News for fiscal year 2026 public notices. A separate payment of $290 for the same category was recorded February 13.

If lawmakers pursue changes, they could alter where and how notices are published, potentially shifting some requirements away from newspapers. However, state Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) has said she is not seeking to eliminate public notice requirements altogether.

A leader in the Michigan House Republican caucus is exploring potential changes to the state’s public notice requirements, which currently rely on local newspapers to inform residents about government meetings and legal notices.

While no bills have been drafted or introduced, the early discussions have sparked concern among leaders in Michigan’s newspaper industry, which relies in part on public notice fees for revenue. Industry leaders have also raised concerns about what changes could mean for the public’s ability to access information about local government actions.

State Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, told Michigan Advance she is researching ways to modernize the public notice process but emphasized the effort is still in its early stages.

Michigan’s public notice system is governed by a combination of statutes, most notably Public Act 247 of 1963, which generally requires legal notices to be published in a newspaper of general circulation. Other laws, including the Open Meetings Act, also include notice requirements for certain public meetings.

Local impact

In Three Rivers, public notices are typically published in the Three Rivers Commercial-News, depending on publication timing.

A recent public notice reads:

“GARFIELD TOWNSHIP CEMETERY
CLEANUP NOTICE
Please remove all winter decorations from gravesites by April 15, 2026. From April 15 – April 30, township personnel will do an annual cleanup of the Cemetery. Place all artificial materials in trash can and natural debris in trailer located near the well house. Please wait until May 1 to place new items on gravesites. Thank you.
Vicki Pitt
Garfield Township Deputy Clerk.”

Municipalities pay newspapers to publish these notices, with costs varying based on the number and length of postings.

According to recent Three Rivers City Commission agenda packets, the city paid $740 to the Commercial-News for fiscal year 2026 public notices. A separate payment of $290 for the same category was recorded February 13.

If lawmakers pursue changes, they could alter where and how notices are published, potentially shifting some requirements away from newspapers. However, Lightner has said she is not seeking to eliminate public notice requirements altogether.

Critics, including members of the Michigan Press Association, argue that moving notices away from newspapers could make it harder for residents to reliably access information about local government decisions. Current law generally requires public notices to be published through newspapers of general circulation, rather than solely on government-controlled platforms.

Some critics of the current system argue newspaper notices can be difficult to access. However, recent changes in state law require that public notices also be published online outside newspaper paywalls, expanding digital access.

Potential alternatives discussed by policymakers include posting notices on government websites, social media, or other digital platforms.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.