Trends show increase in statehouse efforts to support local news

RJI · last updated September 15, 2026 – 6:56 AM

Nine years of RJI tracking reveals 86 bills introduced across 23 states — with tax credits and fellowships leading the charge Since 2017, 23 states have introduced legislation that would support local journalism, while only six states have passed laws: California, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. Over the past nine years, the Reynolds Journalism Institute has…

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