@rkaplan Some of my notes have lots of web URLs in $Text too, for different reasons.
I’ve discovered I can make a pasted link preview and export as a link if I select it, “right-click” and choose ‘Edit Link’ from the contextual menu, command-c to copy the link destination to the clipboard, then in the menu Note > Make Web Link … > Create Link.
(The keyboard shortcut control-option-command-L doesn’t work on my machine, possibly because that keyboard shortcut is already taken somewhere; I haven’t had time to check).
Not automated, but it’s probably quicker and easier than coding manually. (Beware, though, if you have multiple web links in the same note. Previously added links can sometimes “disappear”).
See also this thread.