Community News and Small Business Support Act
February 27, 2025
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Where This Stands
Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
If passed, this bill would provide tax credits to small businesses for local advertising costs and to local news organizations for journalist salaries over a five-year period.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Small businesses
Businesses with fewer than 50 employees may receive tax credits for advertising in local media.
Local news organizations
Publishers and broadcasters meeting specific criteria may receive payroll tax credits for journalist compensation.
Current stage: in_committee.
Floor Vote.
Summary
Key Facts
- Small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees are eligible for a tax credit for advertising in local newspapers or on local broadcast stations.
- The advertising credit is capped at $5,000 for the first year and $2,500 for subsequent years.
- The advertising credit covers 80% of expenses in the first year and 50% in subsequent years.
- The advertising credit program expires five years after the date of enactment.
- Local news organizations can claim a payroll tax credit for wages paid to local news journalists.
- The payroll credit is limited to a maximum of 1,500 journalists per employer.
- The payroll credit is limited to $12,500 in wages per journalist per calendar quarter.
- To qualify as a 'local newspaper,' a publication must employ at least one full-time local journalist and have no more than 750 total employees.
- Organizations receiving significant funding from political or non-profit groups (501(c)4, 5, or 6) are ineligible for the local newspaper designation.
- Businesses cannot claim both a tax deduction and the tax credit for the same advertising expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my business qualify for the advertising credit?
What counts as a 'local news journalist'?
How long will these tax credits be available?
Why It Matters
If passed, this bill would provide tax credits to small businesses for local advertising costs and to local news organizations for journalist salaries over a five-year period.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Targeted Media Support
The bill explicitly excludes political organizations and certain non-profits from the definition of 'local newspaper,' focusing support on commercial or independent news entities.
Connected Entities
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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