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Maryland bill would require half of state print and digital ad dollars go to in‑state local news outlets
Summary
Delegate Linda Foley told the House Health and Government Operations Committee the procurement bill targets state advertising already budgeted for digital and print and would direct at least 50% of those dollars to qualified local news organizations while exempting tourism and recruitment ads.
A bill that would require at least half of the value of state print and digital advertising to go directly to qualifying local news organizations drew supporters from Maryland’s newsrooms and pushback from agencies during testimony before the House Health and Government Operations Committee on March 3.
Delegate Linda Foley, sponsor of House Bill 1119, told the committee the measure is intended to keep state advertising dollars in Maryland and to support small, local outlets that have seen revenues and staffing fall in recent decades. "Most news outlets in Maryland are small," Foley said, citing a University of Maryland study showing that many local newsrooms have annual budgets under $250,000. Foley emphasized the bill would be revenue neutral, redirecting existing advertising budgets rather than requiring…
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