Panel hears bill to fund local journalism with a tech platform surcharge Substitute SB 5,400 would create a Washington Local News Sustainability Program funded by a surcharge on large covered platforms, with grant priorities for small newsrooms and a fellowship at WSU. Supporters including newspapers and local nonprofts called it essential to preserve local reporting; tech and business groups warned of legal risk and unintended costs.

A new bill in Washington aims to breathe life into local journalism by imposing a surcharge on major tech platforms to fund grants for struggling newsrooms.

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