Maryland Governor Wes Moore has vetoed a bill that would have required state agencies to focus their advertising spending on local news outlets. The Local News for Maryland Communities Act of 2026, which passed the Maryland General Assembly with overwhelming margins, aimed to support local media by directing half of state agency contracts for advertising to news organizations based in Maryland.
Background
The bill, sponsored by Del. Linda Foley and Sen. Jim Rosapepe, had gained significant support from local media outlets and community members. Foley, a former journalist and president of the Newspaper Guild, emphasized the importance of local media in maintaining a healthy democracy. "As state government, we need to reflect our values," she said. "We are in a situation where our local media infrastructure is crumbling, and we need to support local media for our democracy to function."
However, Governor Moore expressed concerns that the bill would impair the state’s ability to communicate effectively with Maryland residents. He argued that the mandate would limit the state’s reach, as some local outlets have subscription paywalls that restrict access to their content. Moore’s veto message stated that "a mandate directing state advertising funds to outlets whose contents are accessible only to paying subscribers does not serve the state’s interest in reaching the broadest possible audience."
Reaction and Next Steps
The veto has drawn criticism from media allies across the state, with Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the MDDC Press Association, calling it a "disappointing and misguided decision." Snyder argued that local outlets have sophisticated advertising tools to reach state residents and that the bill would have supported Maryland businesses and jobs. The Maryland-DC-Delaware Broadcasters Association also expressed support for the bill, highlighting the challenges faced by local broadcasters in funding their operations through advertising revenue.
Despite the veto, the bill’s sponsors are not giving up. Foley and Rosapepe are in discussions with the governor’s office to address the concerns raised in the veto message. If talks do not make progress, Foley has expressed support for a veto override, which could be considered in a special legislative session later this year.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
