Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: California Civic Media Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details about which news organizations will receive funding or how the funds will be allocated among them.

California Civic Media Program

AB-155 establishes a program within GO-Biz called the California Civic Media Program, which includes a fund to support news organizations and requires matching private funds for public spending.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the California Civic Media Program within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
• Creates the California Civic Media Fund with $10 million from the state budget, which GO-Biz can use to support news organizations.
• Requires GO-Biz to set up a 9-person advisory board to provide recommendations on allocating private funds in the program.
• Limits spending by requiring that for every dollar spent using public money, there must be at least one dollar of private money also used.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
• News organizations in California.
• People who receive funding from the program.

Terms To Know

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

The office that helps the Governor with business development, investment, and economic growth for California.

California Civic Media Program

A program created to support news organizations in California by providing them with funding and resources.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the money will be used or which news organizations will receive it.
• It is unclear what happens if private funds are not available to match public spending limits.

Official Summary Text

AB 155, as amended, Committee on Budget.
Budget Act of 2025.
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: California Civic Media Program.
Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. In this regard, existing law authorizes GO-Biz to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on new state policies and to provide data, information, and assistance, as specified.
This bill would establish the California Civic Media Program to be administered by GO-Biz in the advancement of specified goals, including enhancing the public good through supporting a robust and dynamic California press corps, as provided. The bill would establish the California Civic Media Fund,
as a continuously appropriated fund, and would appropriate $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the California Civic Media Fund, for use by GO-Biz for purposes of the program. The bill would require GO-Biz to direct allocations of public moneys in the fund, and the director of GO-Biz to establish and appoint a 9-person advisory board comprising designated membership to provide recommendations to GO-Biz for the allocation of private moneys in the fund, as specified. The bill would prohibit, in any fiscal year, the total expenditure of public money from the fund from exceeding the total aggregate expenditure of funds from private sources, as provided.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2025.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF