LRB-0134/1
SWB:cjs
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
March 22, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Kitchens, Duchow, Kulp,
Loudenbeck, Murphy, Mursau, Novak, Rohrkaste, Skowronski, Spreitzer,
Steffen, Subeck and Tusler, cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Cowles and
Olsen. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AB112,1,4 1An Act to amend 985.01 (3r) and 985.12 (1) of the statutes; relating to:
2eligibility of Washington Island Observer newspaper to receive compensation
3for publication of legal notices and the content of affidavits of printing filed as
4evidence of publication.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill incorporates the Washington Island Observer newspaper into the
definition of newspaper for purposes of eligibility to receive compensation for
publishing legal notices. Under current law, a newspaper is defined, with certain
exceptions, as a publication that is published at regular intervals and at least once
a week, containing, on average, 25 percent news content per issue, including reports
of happenings of recent occurrence of a varied character, such as political, social,
moral and religious subjects, designed to inform the general reader. In addition to
meeting other criteria, a publication must be a newspaper as defined in the statutes
in order to qualify to receive compensation for publication of legal notices. This bill
incorporates the Washington Island Observer, published at least two times a month,
into the definition of newspaper.
Also, current law provides that in order for an affidavit of printing to be received
as presumptive evidence of publication of a legal notice and of the facts stated in the
affidavit, the affidavit must include a copy of the legal notice clipped from the
newspaper and must specify the date of each insertion and the paper in which it was
published. This bill specifies that the copy of the notice included with the affidavit

of printing may be clipped from the newspaper in either hard copy or electronic
format.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB112,1 1Section 1. 985.01 (3r) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB112,2,112 985.01 (3r) “Newspaper” means a publication that is published at regular
3intervals and, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, at least once a week,
4containing, on average, 25 percent news content per issue, including reports of
5happenings of recent occurrence of a varied character, such as political, social, moral
6and religious subjects, designed to inform the general reader. “Newspaper” includes
7a daily newspaper published in a county having a population of 750,000 or more,
8devoted principally to business news and publishing of records, which has been
9designated by the courts of record of the county for publication of legal notices for a
10period of 6 months or more. “Newspaper” also includes a newspaper published in the
11town of Washington, Door County, at least 2 times a month.
AB112,2 12Section 2 . 985.12 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB112,2,1813 985.12 (1) Affidavit of printing. The affidavit of the editor, publisher, printer
14or proprietor of any newspaper, or of his or her foreman or principal clerk, of the
15publication of any legal notice, annexed to a copy of the notice clipped from the
16newspaper in either hard copy or electronic format, and specifying the date of each
17insertion, and the paper in which it was published, shall be received in all cases as
18presumptive evidence of the publication and of the facts stated therein.
AB112,2,1919 (End)
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