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Bill

HB 891

Income Tax - Local Newsroom Tax Credit

2025 Regular Session

Maryland would offer state income tax credits to individuals and businesses donating to local newsrooms to financially sustain community journalism operations.

Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 891

Legislative bill overview

HB 891 creates a state income tax credit for businesses and individuals who contribute financially to local newsrooms in Maryland. The credit would incentivize private funding of local journalism by reducing state income tax liability for donors. This is currently in early stages, with a committee hearing scheduled for February 13, 2025.

Why is this important

Local news organizations across the country have faced significant financial strain, with hundreds of newsrooms closing over the past two decades. This bill attempts to address that decline by using tax policy to stimulate private investment in local journalism, which serves a public interest function by enabling community reporting on local government, schools, and civic issues.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost to state revenue: Tax credits reduce government income; critics may argue the state cannot afford this or should use direct subsidies instead, while supporters counter that lost revenue is offset by journalism's public benefit
  • Definition and oversight: Questions remain about which newsrooms qualify, who determines legitimacy, and whether this favors certain outlets or sizes of organizations over others
  • Equity concerns: Credit benefits may disproportionately flow to higher-income donors who itemize deductions, raising fairness questions about who gains from the incentive structure

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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