Effective March 1, 2026, the Amendment replaces the traditional requirement that public meeting published the notices in print newspapers with a new framework centered on online publication. Going forward, public entities may satisfy OPMA’s publication requirements by posting notices of upcoming public meetings on the entity’s official website. So long as the location of these electronically posted notices is publicly accessible and displayed in a conspicuous location, the public entity will remain in compliance with the Amendment. Importantly, while the publication requirement has been amended, the Amendment does not alter the OPMA’s substantive requirements regarding the timing, content, or scope of such public meeting notices.
The Amendment also introduces several additional compliance obligations. The New Jersey Secretary of State is now required to maintain a centralized online index containing hyperlinks to each public entity’s legal notices page. Public entities must submit their website hyperlink information to the Secretary of State and update that information as necessary. In addition, public entities must maintain an online archive of legal notices that remains publicly accessible for at least one year. This archive must be operational no later than July 1, 2026, and is expressly excluded from the State’s records retention schedules.
Moreover, during the transition period lasting until the end of calendar year 2026, public entities are also required to place advertisements at least twice per month in eligible online news publications which advise the public that full public meeting notices are available on the respective entity’s official website and include a hyperlink to the Secretary of State’s centralized index.
Towns, Boroughs, Cities, and Quasi Government Entities within New Jersey should take proactive steps to prepare for these changes if it has not begun too already.
Authors:
Abdul J. Roberts, Esq.
Mohamed Jalloh, Esq.