Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 13 D cosponsors

HB 2047 — An Act establishing the Local News Fellowship Program; imposing duties on an administering institution; and providing for administration of the Local News Fellowship Program.

Last action — Laid on the table, Feb. 4, 2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced November 18, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (13 D).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Investing in local news and civic literacy as public goods

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

116 added · 122 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill HB 2047 has removed language that made the implementation of the program dependent on available funding. This change ensures that the program to assign fellows to newsrooms will proceed as planned, regardless of financial constraints. This matters because it increases the likelihood of supporting underserved communities with significant civic information needs, thereby strengthening local journalism and community engagement.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
2622 PRINTER'S NO.
2622 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
2874 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
2047 2025 INTRODUCED BY RABB, SANCHEZ, WAXMAN, KHAN, RIVERA, FREEMAN AND K.HARRIS, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 AN ACT Eston an administering institution;
2047 2025 INTRODUCED BY RABB, SANCHEZ, WAXMAN, KHAN, RIVERA, FREEMAN, K.HARRIS, 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 Eston an administering institution;
(a) Establishment.--The Local News Fellowship Program is established within the administering institution to expand access to high-quality local journalism, support the development of early-career and mid-career journalists and strengthen the capacity of community-based newsrooms throughout this Commonwealth SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF MONEY APPROPRIATED <-- FOR THIS PURPOSE.
(a) Establishment.--The Local News Fellowship Program is established within the administering institution to expand access to high-quality local journalism, support the development of early-career and mid-career journalists and strengthen the capacity of community-based newsrooms throughout this Commonwealth.
(b) Program components.--The TO THE EXTENT MONEY IS <-- AVAILABLE, THE program shall include the following core 20250HB2047PN2874 - 2 - components:
(b) Program components.--The program shall include the following core components:
(1) The administering institution shall assign fellows to host newsrooms in accordance with the selection process under section 4.
(1) The administering institution shall assign fellows 20250HB2047PN2622 - 2 - to host newsrooms in accordance with the selection process under section 4.
20250HB2047PN2874 - 3 - (c) Placement guidelines.--In making fellowship placements, the administering institution shall seek geographic and demographic diversity and shall prioritize underserved communities with limited access to original local news and civic information needs.
(c) Placement guidelines.--In making fellowship placements, the administering institution shall seek geographic and 20250HB2047PN2622 - 3 - demographic diversity and shall prioritize underserved communities with limited access to original local news and civic information needs.
(a) Administration.--The administering institution shall administer the program ONLY TO THE EXTENT MONEY IS AVAILABLE and <-- may partner or contract with a nonprofit organization that has experience in journalism education, civic media or public- interest reporting to implement all or part of the program.
(a) Administration.--The administering institution shall administer the program and may partner or contract with a nonprofit organization that has experience in journalism education, civic media or public-interest reporting to implement all or part of the program.
20250HB2047PN2874 - 4 - (iii) An assessment of the program's impact on access to civic information needs in participating communities.
(iii) An assessment of the program's impact on access to civic information needs in participating 20250HB2047PN2622 - 4 - communities.
Neither the administering institution, the Commonwealth nor any officer or employee thereof may direct, control or otherwise influence the editorial decision making of 20250HB2047PN2874 - 5 - fellows or host newsrooms.
Neither the administering institution, the Commonwealth nor any officer or employee thereof may direct, control or otherwise influence the editorial decision making of fellows or host newsrooms.
(b) Viewpoint neutrality.--Program funds or participation may not be conditioned on the viewpoint, content or subject of reporting.
(b) Viewpoint neutrality.--Program funds or participation 20250HB2047PN2622 - 5 - may not be conditioned on the viewpoint, content or subject of reporting.
SECTION 7.
Section 7.
ADMINISTRATION.
<-- THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY APPROPRIATE FUNDING AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.
Section 7 8.
<-- This act shall take effect in 60 days.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB2047PN2874 - 6 -
20250HB2047PN2622 - 6 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table, Feb. 4, 2026

  2. First consideration, Feb. 4, 2026

  3. Reported as amended, Feb. 4, 2026

  4. Referred to COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, Nov. 18, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 240 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (240)

240 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 240 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety education
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 2047 do?
Investing in local news and civic literacy as public goods
Who sponsors HB 2047?
HB 2047 is sponsored by Christopher M. Rabb (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Ben Waxman (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), Nikki Rivera (Democratic), Robert Freeman (Democratic), Keith S. Harris (Democratic), Ismail Smith-Wade-El (Democratic), Perry S. Warren (Democratic), Joe Ciresi (Democratic), Paul Takac (Democratic), Dave Madsen (Democratic), and Scott Conklin (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 2047?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced November 18, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 2047?
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