As the Semiquincentennial (or 250th anniversary) of our great nation has begun, it is worth asking: What does freedom mean in the 21st century? For Pennsylvanians, it should mean the right to access public information without barriers, and for local governments, the freedom to spend taxpayer dollars wisely. Yet outdated state laws stand in the way.

Should residents have to pay to read about public decisions that affect their lives? Should municipalities be forced to spend scarce taxpayer dollars publishing legal notices in print newspapers that few people read? According to a May 2024 Pew Research Center report, only 9% of Americans prefer getting their local news from print newspapers. Meanwhile, more individuals have turned to local government websites or community newsletters for updates.

As a result of decreasing circulation, newspaper advertisements are no longer an effective way to provide public notice to residents. The time and dollars required could be better spent on more timely methods taxpayers have a better chance of seeing.  

And yet, Pennsylvania law still mandates that certain public notices be published in so-called “newspapers of general circulation” — a term that feels increasingly out of step with how people actually consume information today.

Patrick Henry warned that “the liberties of people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.” 

Perhaps no one captured the stakes more clearly than James Madison, who wrote, “A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both.” In other words, democracy depends on transparency, and transparency depends on access. 

For decades, Harrisburg insiders have dictated where public notices must be placed. Now, they want to preserve that monopoly to benefit a narrow special interest group living off the public trough.

It’s 2025. It’s time Harrisburg gave townships and other local governments the legal option to place legal advertising on their websites, in community publications, and local digital public information sites, in addition to traditional newspapers where that makes sense.

Local governments deserve the flexibility to choose the most effective ways to reach their residents, businesses, and potential vendors — enhancing transparency, promoting competition, and improving public engagement.

Imagine a Pennsylvania where local governments can reach more people than ever before. Residents already turn to township websites, social media pages, and newsletters for updates on community events, police services, trash and recycling, road work, and public meetings.

Virtual access to meetings and expanded online resources have already boosted civic participation. Giving local governments the ability to publish notices where people are looking is the next logical step. It is common sense … and we can use more of that!