HB 2048 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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.

HB 2048 establishes the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium, a new entity tasked with supporting local news and civic information access. The bill outlines the Consortium’s governance structure, sets grant priorities to fund local journalism initiatives, and requires strict editorial independence to prevent government influence over funded content. It mandates public access to the Consortium’s activities and decisions while defining a long-term funding strategy for sustainability. This bill directly affects local news organizations receiving grants and the public seeking reliable civic information.

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Nov 2025

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 18, 2025 Last action Feb 4, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2623 → Printer's No. PN2875 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision significantly expands the Pennsylvania Civic Information Consortium's authority by explicitly allowing it to receive administrative support from state agencies and universities while legally insulating it from their control. The changes add new definitions for 'Host Institution' and 'Metrics,' mandate public reporting on performance, and clarify that the Consortium remains an independent instrumentality of the Commonwealth rather than a standard nonprofit. These updates aim to ensure the organization has the necessary infrastructure to operate effectively without compromising its editorial independence or being subject to political interference.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to formally include state agencies and higher education institutions as potential service providers (Host Institutions) and to require the Consortium to report performance metrics to the Governor and General Assembly.

DEFINITION

Added the definition of 'Host Institution' as a state library system or higher education entity that can provide administrative, fiscal, or logistical services.

Added the definition of 'Metrics' as objective performance measures used to evaluate project reach, quality, and civic impact.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Consortium to publish an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly detailing grants awarded, funds disbursed, and project outcomes.

Added a requirement for the Consortium to conduct meetings in accordance with the state's Open Meetings Law (65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7).

Added a requirement that at least two board members must be affiliated with a public institution of higher education, excluding any Host Institution.

ENFORCEMENT

Strengthened independence provisions by explicitly stating the Consortium is an 'independent instrumentality of the Commonwealth' and cannot be deemed an executive agency, preventing direct state supervision.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

26–0

Passed

Total votes 26

Feb 4, 2026

D Democratic14

14 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican12

12 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 4, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (26-0)

house

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Nov 18, 2025

Committee

Referred to Communications & Technology

lower

1 primary · 14 co-sponsors