SCS/HB 1940 - This act modifies provisions relating to publication of notices. NOTICES OF ELECTION (Sections 108.240, 115.125, and 115.127) The act modifies provisions governing bond elections and publication of notice for elections. In the case of any bond election, if an election contest is not filed within the time period prescribed by law (not later than thirty days after the official announcement of the election result), then all conditions of state election law shall be deemed to have been complied with in the issuance of the bond. The act modifies the legal notice required for all elections by requiring local election authorities to publish notice twice in at least two qualified newspapers, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this act, within 6 weeks prior to the election. In lieu of such requirement, election authorities have the option of mailing legal notice to each registered voter within 6 weeks of an election and publishing notice once in at least one newspaper in the county. The act additionally allows a notice of election to be sent by email. These provisions are identical to provisions contained in SS/SCS/SB 1094 (2026) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1871 (2026), provisions in HCS/HB 2605 (2026), provisions in SCS/HB 3000 (2026), provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024). CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINES - LOCAL OFFICES (Section 115.127) Under current law, the period for filing a declaration of candidacy in certain political subdivisions and special districts is from 8:00 a.m. on the 17th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 14th Tuesday prior to the election. This act changes that period to 8:00 a.m. on the 16th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 13th Tuesday prior to the election, unless the 13th Tuesday prior to an election falls on a holiday, then the closing of filing shall be at 5:00 p.m. on the next day that is not a holiday. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1871 (2026), a provision in SCS/SB 836 (2026), SB 1095 (2026), a provision in HCS/SCS/SB 1023 (2026), HB 1987 (2026), SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 774 (2024), a provision in SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 1604 (2024), a provision in SCS/HB 2084 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2206 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023), and CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023) and substantially similar to HB 2225 (2024), HCS/HB 1214 (2023), provisions in the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and HCS/HB 783 (2023). PUBLICATION IN NEWSPAPERS (Sections 493.050 and 493.070) This act modifies the requirements for a newspaper to publish public advertisements and orders of publication by requiring a newspaper to have been regularly published for a period of one year prior to the publication of the advertisement, rather than three years as provided by current law. Alternatively, a successor newspaper to a defunct newspaper may also qualify to publish advertisements if it begins publication not later than 90 days after the termination of the defunct newspaper, rather than 30 days as provided by current law. SCOTT SVAGERA