Read the full stored bill text
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2623 PRINTER'S NO. 2875
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2048
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY RABB, SHUSTERMAN, WAXMAN, KHAN, RIVERA, FREEMAN,
K. HARRIS, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, SMITH-WADE-EL AND WARREN,
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
AN ACT
Establishing the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium;
providing for ADMINISTRATIVE, FISCAL OR LOGISTICAL SERVICES
AND governance and duties of the Pennsylvania Civic
Information Consortium, for grantmaking priorities, for
editorial independence, for public access and transparency
and for long-term funding strategy.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
Civic Information Consortium Act.
Section 2. Declaration of purpose.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The collapse of the local news industry in this
Commonwealth has created a civic emergency. After years of
corporate consolidation, hedge fund acquisition and newsroom
layoffs, many communities in this Commonwealth have become
news deserts, deprived of the public-interest journalism they
once relied on.
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
(2) This is not merely a media industry crisis. Research
shows that robust local journalism correlates with improved
government performance, higher civic engagement and stronger
community trust.
(3) The private market alone no longer meets the
public's need for locally rooted civic information.
(4) To restore a healthy civic information ecosystem, a
new public framework is needed to support, invest in and
protect local journalism that serves all Pennsylvanians.
(1) A STRONG AND DIVERSE LOCAL NEWS SECTOR IS ESSENTIAL
TO THE FUNCTIONING OF DEMOCRACY. COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS
COMMONWEALTH RELY ON CREDIBLE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM TO STAY
INFORMED ABOUT PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND TO PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY
IN CIVIC LIFE.
(2) RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES THAT ACCESS TO
RELIABLE REPORTING SUPPORTS TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT,
ENCOURAGES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND FOSTERS COMMUNITY TRUST.
(3) RESEARCH ALSO DEMONSTRATES THAT MOST PENNSYLVANIANS
SEEK OUT NEWS FROM TRUSTED, INDEPENDENT SOURCES, INCLUDING
LOCAL PRINT AND DIGITAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS.
(4) MARKET PRESSURES AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE MEDIA
LANDSCAPE HAVE MADE IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR LOCAL NEWS
ORGANIZATIONS TO SUSTAIN THE LEVEL OF COVERAGE RESIDENTS
EXPECT AND DESERVE.
(5) STRENGTHENING THIS COMMONWEALTH'S CIVIC INFORMATION
INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRES A COORDINATED PUBLIC FRAMEWORK THAT
SUPPORTS, INVESTS IN AND SAFEGUARDS JOURNALISM THAT SERVES
ALL PENNSYLVANIANS.
(5) (6) The purpose of this act is to create an
independent, nonpartisan, publicly funded nonprofit
20250HB2048PN2875 - 2 -
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
corporation, the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium.
(6) (7) The Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium
will administer a competitive grant program supporting local
journalism and civic information projects throughout this
Commonwealth, with special emphasis on underserved
populations and community-driven media models.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board." The board of directors of the Pennsylvania Civic
Information Consortium.
"Consortium." The Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium
established under section 4(a).
"Eligible entity." A nonprofit organization, institution of
higher education, library, community media outlet or other
organization that demonstrates the ability to carry out a civic
information or local journalism project in this Commonwealth.
"Funded project." A civic information or local journalism
initiative that receives financial support through a grant
awarded by the consortium under this act.
"HOST INSTITUTION." THE STATE LIBRARY SYSTEM OR AN
INSTITUTION WITHIN THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT
ENTERS INTO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSORTIUM TO PROVIDE
ADMINISTRATIVE, FISCAL OR LOGISTICAL SERVICES.
"Metrics." Objective performance measures used to evaluate
the reach, quality and civic impact of funded projects.
"Pilot program." The initial two-year to three-year
implementation phase of the consortium during which the
consortium demonstrates proof of concept, establishes
20250HB2048PN2875 - 3 -
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
administrative capacity, develops and tests grantmaking
procedures and gathers data to inform the transition to a long-
term funding model for the consortium.
"Underserved community." A community that lacks adequate
access to reliable civic information or local news, including
rural, low-income, minority, immigrant and limited-English
proficient populations.
Section 4. Establishment of consortium.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Civic Information
Consortium is established as an independent, nonpartisan,
nonprofit organization to support and strengthen THE PRODUCTION
AND DISSEMINATION OF civic information and local journalism
across this Commonwealth.
(b) Incorporation.--The consortium shall be incorporated as
a nonprofit corporation under 15 Pa.C.S. Pt. II Subpt. C
(relating to nonprofit corporations). THE CONSORTIUM SHALL BE AN
INDEPENDENT INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH. THE CONSORTIUM
SHALL NOT BE DEEMED AN EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY,
DEPARTMENT, BOARD OR COMMISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
(c) Public mission.--The consortium shall operate
exclusively to carry out the public purposes of this act. The
consortium shall be considered a public instrumentality for the
purposes of grantmaking, accountability and public access.
(d) Administrative housing.--The consortium may enter into
an agreement with the State Library System, an institution
within the State System of Higher Education or another public
institution to provide administrative services, including
payroll, procurement, human resources and information
technology. An agreement under this subsection may not affect
the consortium's status as an independent, nonpartisan,
20250HB2048PN2875 - 4 -
<--
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
nonprofit organization, its governance or its grantmaking
authority. The consortium's employees, funds and records shall
remain separate. A host institution may not direct or influence
grant decisions or the content of a funded project.
(D) INDEPENDENCE FROM CONTROL.--EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE
EXPRESSLY PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT, THE CONSORTIUM SHALL EXERCISE
ITS DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS INDEPENDENTLY AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT
TO THE SUPERVISION, DIRECTION OR CONTROL OF THE GOVERNOR OR AN
EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, BOARD OR
COMMISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
(E) SEPARATE EXISTENCE.--THE CONSORTIUM, INCLUDING THE
BOARD, AND ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, FUNDS AND RECORDS SHALL BE
SEPARATE FROM AND NOT PART OF ANY EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, BOARD OR COMMISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
SECTION 5. ADMINISTRATIVE, FISCAL OR LOGISTICAL SERVICES.
(A) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PERMITTED.--THE CONSORTIUM MAY
ENTER INTO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH A HOST INSTITUTION UNDER
WHICH THE HOST INSTITUTION PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE, FISCAL OR
LOGISTICAL SERVICES.
(B) NO SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY.--A HOST INSTITUTION MAY NOT
SUPERVISE, MANAGE, DIRECT OR CONTROL THE CONSORTIUM, INCLUDING
THE CONSORTIUM'S POLICIES, GRANTMAKING, PERSONNEL, BUDGET,
BYLAWS OR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.
(C) NONINTERFERENCE.--A HOST INSTITUTION MAY NOT INFLUENCE
OR ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE A GRANT DECISION, FUNDED CONTENT,
EDITORIAL JUDGMENT, GOVERNANCE DETERMINATIONS OR A PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION.
(D) PRESERVATION OF INDEPENDENCE.--THE PROVISION OF SERVICES
UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO MAKE THE CONSORTIUM
PART OF THE HOST INSTITUTION OR OTHERWISE TO AFFECT THE
20250HB2048PN2875 - 5 -
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
CONSORTIUM'S INDEPENDENT LEGAL STATUS.
Section 5 6. Duties of consortium.
The consortium shall have the following duties:
(1) Award competitive grants to eligible entities for
projects that expand access to local news and civic
information, with priority given to underserved communities.
(2) Promote editorial independence and noninterference
in the content of a funded project.
(3) Support a diversity of media models, including
nonprofit, for-profit, legacy, digital, ethnic and community-
based outlets.
(4) Establish formal and informal partnerships with
State agencies and commissions, the State Library System,
institutions of higher education, EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCIES, DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS OF THE
COMMONWEALTH, municipal governments, school districts and
other civic bodies to expand public access and civic
participation.
(5) Design and execute a pilot program.
(6) Develop a long-term funding plan, including options
such as a capitalized public trust and a dedicated fee on
ultra-large digital advertising firms, exempting community
outlets.
(7) Establish measurable metrics and reporting
requirements for each grant recipient.
(8) Provide technical support to eligible entities
seeking to build capacity or replicate successful models.
(9) Publish and submit an annual report to the Governor
and the General Assembly on grants awarded, funds disbursed,
geographic distribution, project outcomes, performance
20250HB2048PN2875 - 6 -
<--
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
against metrics and public input received.
(10) Convene public summits and hearings across regions
of this Commonwealth to solicit input on the consortium.
(11) Administer training programs for journalists,
community media producers and students to build local
capacity for civic information gathering and distribution.
(12) Research the relationship between local journalism,
democratic governance and civic engagement.
(13) Hold at least one annual public meeting in each of
the northern, central and southern regions of this
Commonwealth to solicit input on community needs, performance
of grant recipients and future priorities of the consortium.
(14) Establish and periodically review objective
criteria to identify underserved communities for the purposes
of awarding grants. The criteria may include measures of
access to local news and civic information, population
demographics, income levels and linguistic diversity, and
shall guide the consortium's grantmaking policies and
priorities.
Section 6 7. Governance of consortium.
(a) Board composition.--The consortium shall be governed by
a board consisting of 15 members, including all of the
following:
(1) Representatives from journalism programs and media
organizations.
(2) Individuals with experience in civic engagement,
community development or public policy.
(3) Representatives from the State Library System or
public library associations, NOT INCLUDING A HOST
INSTITUTION.
20250HB2048PN2875 - 7 -
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(4) Individuals with expertise in nonprofit management,
grant administration or financial oversight.
(5) Representatives of underserved communities.
(6) A representative of an ethnic or community media
outlet.
(7) A legal expert with experience in First Amendment or
media law.
(8) At least two persons affiliated with a public
institution of higher education operating in this
Commonwealth, NOT INCLUDING A HOST INSTITUTION.
(b) Appointment.--
(1) Initial members of the board shall be appointed as
follows:
(i) The Governor shall appoint one member.
(ii) The President pro tempore of the Senate and the
Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint one
member.
(iii) The Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
shall each appoint one member.
(iv) The Chancellor of the State System of Higher
Education, in consultation with the State Librarian,
shall jointly appoint one member.
(v) The six members appointed under subparagraphs
(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall, by a public, merit-based
process consistent with the bylaws, appoint the remaining
nine members necessary to reach the board size under
subsection (a). Appointees under subparagraphs (i), (ii),
(iii) and (iv) may not constitute a majority of the
board.
20250HB2048PN2875 - 8 -
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(2) Initial and subsequent appointments shall reflect
the expertise and perspectives listed under subsection (a).
(3) Initial appointments shall be made within 60 days of
the effective date of this paragraph.
(c) Subsequent appointments.--After the initial board is
seated, vacancies shall be filled through a public, merit-based
process consistent with the bylaws to maintain the expertise and
perspectives required under subsection (a) and to preserve the
restriction in subsection (b)(1)(v) that appointees under
subsection (b)(1)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) may not constitute a
majority of the board. The board shall consist of 15 members at
all times.
(d) Conflicts and diversity in bylaws.--The bylaws shall
ensure geographic, demographic and political diversity and shall
include standards to prevent conflicts of interest. The bylaws
shall contain safeguards to prevent dominance by a single
political party or interest group. A single political party or
interest group may not constitute a majority of the board's
appointees, and the appointees under subsection (b)(1)(i), (ii),
(iii) and (iv) may not constitute a majority of the board.
(e) Board duties.--The board shall have the following
duties:
(1) Adopt bylaws and operational procedures.
(2) Appoint and oversee an executive director.
(3) Establish application guidelines and evaluation
criteria.
(4) Approve grants, budgets and financial reports.
(5) Ensure that all funded projects are subject to
metrics and public accountability.
(6) Hold regular public meetings, including one annual
20250HB2048PN2875 - 9 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
public meeting in each of the northern, central and southern
regions of this Commonwealth.
(7) Oversee independent evaluations of grant outcomes
and fiscal audits.
(F) EXCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE AUTHORITY.--THE BOARD SHALL
EXERCISE EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE GOVERNANCE, FINANCES AND
OPERATIONS OF THE CONSORTIUM. AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OR AN EXECUTIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY,
DEPARTMENT, BOARD OR COMMISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH MAY NOT
SUPERVISE, DIRECT OR CONTROL THE BOARD OR THE CONSORTIUM OR
OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH A LAWFUL ACTION OF THE BOARD.
Section 7 8. Grantmaking priorities.
In awarding grants, the consortium shall prioritize proposals
that meet the following criteria:
(1) Fill gaps in civic information or local journalism
in underserved communities.
(2) Support the development of public-interest
journalism and civic media infrastructure.
(3) Foster collaboration between media outlets,
libraries, educational institutions and community
organizations.
(4) Increase civic participation and government
accountability.
(5) Promote equity and inclusion in newsroom practices,
content and staffing.
(6) Include community engagement in project design and
implementation.
(7) Offer replicable or scalable models that can expand
impact Statewide.
Section 8 9. Editorial independence.
20250HB2048PN2875 - 10 -
<--
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(a) Protection of independence.--Grant recipients shall
retain full editorial control. The consortium may not interfere
in the editorial content of a funded project.
(b) Commonwealth neutrality.--An officer or agent of the
Commonwealth may not attempt to influence the editorial
decisions of a grant recipient.
Section 9 10. Public access and transparency.
(a) Records.--The consortium, INCLUDING THE BOARD, shall
maintain public records of its operations, including grant
awards, applications, meeting minutes and annual reports,
accessible under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3),
known as the Right-to-Know Law.
(b) Website.--The consortium shall maintain a publicly
accessible Internet website containing all of the following:
(1) A searchable database of funded projects.
(2) Application procedures and deadlines.
(3) Reports and evaluations.
(4) Schedules of meetings and public hearings.
(5) Contact information and opportunities for public
feedback.
(C) MEETINGS.--THE CONSORTIUM, INCLUDING THE BOARD, SHALL
CONDUCT MEETINGS AND HEARINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 65 PA.C.S. CH.
7 (RELATING TO OPEN MEETINGS).
Section 10 11. Long-term funding strategy.
(a) Transition from pilot.--Following the completion of the
pilot program, the consortium shall submit to the Governor and
the General Assembly a plan for long-term funding.
(b) Plan contents.--The plan may include all of the
following:
(1) Dedicated fees or levies and other sustainable
20250HB2048PN2875 - 11 -
<--
<--
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
revenue strategies identified by the consortium.
(2) Creation of a capitalized public trust to provide
ongoing financial support.
(3) Recommendations for additional legislative or
budgetary actions.
Section 11 12. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB2048PN2875 - 12 -
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7