Identical to S 390, filed 3/24/25.

Adds new statute to Chapter 143, Article 8, GS 143-129.11, requiring annual contracting at the start of each fiscal year for publication of notices by units of local government and local school administrative units to be made after securing informal bids. Requires the informal bid process to be designed to maximize competition and ensure the best value for public funds. Requires contracts to be awarded to lowest responsible, responsive bidder and details other factors to be considered for award. Mandates that records of all informal bids submitted be kept by the officer, department, board, local school administrative unit, or commission entering the contract and delays public inspection of those records until after the contract is awarded. Directs that if there is no eligible newspaper to contract with, then the contract must be awarded to newspapers described in GS 1-597(b) or GS 1-599. Refers to other statutes for definitions of the following: local school administrative unit (GS 115C-5); newspaper (GS 1-597(a); publish, publication, “to publish” verbs (GS 153A-1, GS 159-1, GS 160A-1); and unit of local government (GS 159-7).

Amends GS 1-596 by making technical and conforming changes.

Effective July 1, 2026, and applies to notices published on or after that date.