By Richard Caines

ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Wes Moore has vetoed a bill that could have impacted Maryland’s local newspaper industry in the future.

House Bill 1258, if signed, would have ended a requirement for the government to publish public notices in local newspapers and their associated websites, instead creating a centralized website to host the same information.

Moore vetoed the bill on May 23, citing the importance of public notice requirements in helping sustain the local print media in Maryland after recent years of industry downsizing and consolidation.

"To so rapidly remove such a large source of advertising revenue as estate notices without considering the impact on the future of local media in Maryland could have severe consequences," Moore wrote in a letter to House Speaker Adrienne Jones.

Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, wrote in an April 19 commentary posted on BaytoBayNews.com that the bill's effects would have extended beyond local newsrooms in the state.

“By undermining the financial viability of local newspapers, HB 1258 threatens the livelihoods of countless journalists, editors and other media professionals who work tirelessly to keep our communities informed,” Synder said. “Moreover, it potentially deprives readers of access to vital information about government proceedings and community events, thereby undermining civic engagement and transparency.”

Snyder said that proponents of HB 1258 claim that the proposed centralized website would increase accessibility and efficiency for the state register of wills officers. Still, she argued many residents, including those in underserved communities, lack reliable internet access or the technological literacy to navigate online platforms effectively.

“The print publication is a tangible, permanent record that is archived by publications and libraries, containing the records of an entire community,” Synder said. “Having these notices appear only on a court website diminishes the independence of notice, as the agency placing the notice is the one that is publishing the notice.”

Moore said his veto of HB 1258 is not the end of the conversation, but the opening of a broader debate about public notices rather than a conversation focused solely on estate notices.

But Moore also admonished representatives of the newspaper industry for failing to appear or testify during hearings regarding the bill. He said during a legislative session, it is “imperative” that advocates present their arguments for or against a policy to ensure that legislators and members of the public can be fully informed on an issue.

“The fact that industry representatives did not engage with House Bill 1258 undermines the legislative process and is a disservice to all parties involved by not allowing robust conversation and creation of broader policy solutions that address all public interests," Moore wrote in his letter.

Reach Managing Editor Richard Caines at rcaines@iniusa.org.