February 19, 2024 - Introduced by Senators Spreitzer, Agard and Pfaff, cosponsored by Representatives J. Anderson, Emerson, Bare, Clancy, Jacobson, Joers, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Ratcliff, Shankland, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass and Stubbs. Referred to Committee on Universities and Revenue.

SB1042,,22An Act to create 15.915 (3), 20.290 and 36.70 of the statutes; 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.

This bill creates a Civic Information Consortium Board attached to the University of Wisconsin System consisting of the following members: 1) two members appointed by the governor, with one from each major political party; 2) two senators and two representatives to the assembly, with one of each from the majority party and the largest minority party; 3) four representatives of the UW System, each with experience or expertise in journalism, media, technology, or American civic culture, appointed by the president of the UW System; and 4) a representative from local media, a representative from the technology sector, and two public members, appointed by a majority of the members described in 1 to 3.

The bill requires the board to form a nonprofit corporation, called the Wisconsin Civic Information Consortium, Inc., for the purpose of administering the grant program described below. The corporation’s members are the board members identified in 3), above, and the board manages the affairs of the corporation, including selecting a director to manage the day-to-day operation of the corporation. The board also provides funding to the corporation, through a new general fund appropriation to the board.

The bill requires the corporation to award grants to support local journalism and media projects. A grant application must include an explanation of how the proposed project benefits the state’s civic information needs and provides media literacy skills or local journalism access to currently underserved residents of this state. A grant recipient must agree to remain independent and the corporation must ensure that at least 30 percent of the total amount of all grants awarded are distributed to off-campus partners in rural communities. The corporation must also collect data on populations and communities in this state that are underserved by local news and prioritize directing its funding toward these populations and communities. A board member who is a legislator may not vote on any matter related to a grant award. The board may not take any action or make any funding decision based on the reporting of a grant recipient.

The bill requires the board to annually submit a report to the governor and the legislature detailing how the corporation’s funding was spent and how it advanced the mission of fostering a more informed and engaged public. The report must also include a summary of the collected data on underserved populations or communities.