(a) Any notice published prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and in compliance with the provisions of this amendatory Act shall be legal and valid for all purposes.
     (b) If, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, there is a notice that is required by law or order of court to be published in a particular unit of local government or school district and there is no newspaper published in that unit of local government or school district, the notice shall be published in a secular newspaper, as defined by this Act, having general circulation within the unit of local government or school district. To the extent that there is a conflict between the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and any other provision of law, the provisions added by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall control.