For decades, Iowans have been able to turn to their local newspapers to find publications of things like City Council minutes and listings of municipal employee wages.

Separate from the news stories, these published items are known as public notices or sometimes, legal ads. State law has long required counties, cities and school districts to have them published.

Periodically, lawmakers have considered changing that system. This year’s legislative session may be one of those times.

The Iowa League of Cities, which works for city governments throughout the state, recently advised its members of a proposal in the state Senate that would remove the requirement to pay for publication of public notices in newspapers. According to the league, the bill would require cities to instead post those public notices on an online portal managed by the Secretary of State. There would be a $5 fee for each notice posted there.

State Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R- Fort Dodge, said he would have to check on the status of any bills in the Senate regarding public notices.

State representatives Wendy Larson, R-Odebolt, and Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, both said there is no legislation in the House of Representatives that would change the requirements for publishing legal notices.

“There is nothing live on that this year,” Meyer said.