Under the bill, S-3744, every state agency would be required to advertise bid solicitations and allocate at least 30 percent of its total advertising spending for eligible local news organizations. For agencies that demonstrate the need to spend less than 30 percent of their advertising revenue in-State, at least 50 percent of that in-state spend would be required to be spent with eligible local news organizations.

“Journalism, especially on the local level, is essential for a healthy democracy. Without it, many residents lack the information necessary to be active members of their community,” said Senator Zwicker (D-Middlesex/Mercer/ Somerset/Hunterdon). “This legislation ensures that a meaningful share of state advertising dollars is allocated to support the local news organizations that connect communities across New Jersey every day.”

A state agency would be able to apply for an exemption from the provisions of the bill upon showing to the Department of Treasury that the purpose of advertising, for which the state agency is soliciting bids, is inconsistent with the placement in an eligible local news organization publication.

“When local newsrooms disappear, communities lose crucial sources of civic information—from school notices to reporting on local government and neighborhood-specific issues,” said Senator McKnight (D-Hudson). “By supporting local news, we are strengthening access to reliable information curated by trusted voices in communities up and down the state.”

Under the bill, the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium would be required to create and maintain a list of eligible local news organizations. Such a list would need to include any organization that qualifies under the bill's definition. Within three months of the bill's effective date, the Department of Treasury would be required to publish on its website the qualification criteria for local news organizations under the bill.