HB 2048 — 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.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2623 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

28752048 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFRABB, PENNSYLVANIASHUSTERMAN, HOUSEWAXMAN, BILLKHAN, SessionRIVERA, ofFREEMAN, No.K.HARRIS, HOWARD AND SANCHEZ, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 AN ACT Establishing the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium;

2048providing 2025for INTRODUCEDgovernance BYand RABB,duties SHUSTERMAN,of WAXMAN,the KHAN,Pennsylvania RIVERA,Civic FREEMAN,Information NOVEMBERConsortium, 18,for 2025,grantmaking SANCHEZ,priorities, SMITH-WADE-ELfor ANDeditorial WARREN,independence, ASfor REPORTEDpublic FROMaccess COMMITTEEand ONtransparency COMMUNICATIONSand ANDfor TECHNOLOGY,long-term HOUSEfunding OFstrategy. 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.

(1) The collapse of the local news industry in this <-- Commonwealth has created a civic emergency.

(1)(5) AThe STRONGpurpose ANDof DIVERSEthis LOCALact NEWSis SECTORto IScreate ESSENTIALan <--independent, TOnonpartisan, THEpublicly FUNCTIONINGfunded OFnonprofit DEMOCRACY.corporation, the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium.

COMMUNITIES(6) ACROSSThe THISPennsylvania COMMONWEALTHCivic RELYInformation ONConsortium CREDIBLE,will INDEPENDENTadminister JOURNALISMa TOcompetitive STAYgrant INFORMEDprogram ABOUTsupporting PUBLIClocal AFFAIRSjournalism ANDand TOcivic PARTICIPATEinformation MEANINGFULLYprojects INthroughout CIVICthis LIFE.Commonwealth, with special emphasis on underserved populations and community-driven media models.

(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 - 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.

"Funded project." A civic information or local journalism initiative that receives financial support through a grant 20250HB2048PN2623 - 2 - 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.

"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 - administrative capacity, develops and tests grantmaking procedures and gathers data to inform the transition to a long- term funding model for the 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.

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.

(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 20250HB2048PN2623 - 3 - technology.

An agreement under this subsection may not affect the consortium's status as an independent, nonpartisan, 20250HB2048PN2875 - 4 - nonprofit organization, its governance or its grantmaking authority.

(D)Section INDEPENDENCE5. 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 - CONSORTIUM'S INDEPENDENT LEGAL STATUS.

Section 5 6.

<-- The consortium shall have the following duties:

(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.

20250HB2048PN2623 - 4 - (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 - against metrics and public input received.

Section 66. 7.

<-- (a) Board composition.--The consortium shall be governed by a board consisting of 15 members, including all of the following:

20250HB2048PN2623 - 5 - (3) Representatives from the State Library System or public library associations,associations. NOT INCLUDING A HOST <-- INSTITUTION.

20250HB2048PN2875 - 7 - (4) Individuals with expertise in nonprofit management, grant administration or financial oversight.

(8) At least two persons affiliated with a public institution of higher education operating in this Commonwealth,Commonwealth. NOT INCLUDING A HOST INSTITUTION.

<-- (b) Appointment.-- (1) Initial members of the board shall be appointed as follows: