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SB 1183

Relating to: creating a Civic Information Consortium Board and a grant program administered by a nonprofit corporation to support local journalism and media projects and making an appropriation. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Pfaff and 3 co-sponsors

Wisconsin bill creates nonprofit-administered grant program funded by state appropriation to support local journalism and media projects through new Civic Information Consortium Board.

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Bill Summary · SB 1183

Legislative bill overview

SB 1183 would establish a Civic Information Consortium Board and create a grant program administered by a nonprofit corporation to fund local journalism and media projects in Wisconsin. The bill includes a state appropriation to support these initiatives.

Why is this important

Local news outlets have faced significant financial pressures in recent years, leading to newsroom closures and reduced coverage of local government and civic issues. This bill attempts to address that decline by providing direct public funding to support local journalism infrastructure and community media projects.

Potential points of contention

  • Public funding of journalism: Questions about whether government should directly fund news organizations, and concerns about potential conflicts of interest or editorial independence when media receives state grants
  • Nonprofit administration: Debate over whether a nonprofit intermediary is the appropriate mechanism versus direct state agency administration, and concerns about nonprofit governance and accountability
  • Appropriation size and sustainability: Unclear whether proposed funding levels would meaningfully address local news decline or represent a sustainable long-term solution versus temporary relief
  • Definition and eligibility criteria: Potential disagreement over which media projects qualify, whether to prioritize certain types of outlets (newspapers vs. digital vs. broadcast), and geographic distribution of funds

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

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