PRINTER'S NO. 1869
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
325
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY AUMENT AND BROWN, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a comprehensive review of current advertising
requirements.
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania requires counties, municipalities and
school districts to publish notices of committee meetings,
bidding requirements, legal notices and official advertisements
in print newspapers of general circulation; and
WHEREAS, Advertising requirements were enacted long before
the digital age where information can be shared more easily and
less costly than in printed version; and
WHEREAS, In a 2021 survey, Pew Research Center found that
more than 8 in 10 Americans get their news from digital sources;
and
WHEREAS, In a 2023 survey, Pew Research Center found that
half of United States adults get news at least sometimes from
social media; and
WHEREAS, The generational divide in using digital media has
closed as surveys show adults aged 65 and older get their news
more often from a smartphone, computer or tablet than printed
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publications; and
WHEREAS, The preferred method for consuming news and
information has changed drastically since required advertising
laws were enacted and the General Assembly should evaluate the
current requirements and ensure that information is shared in
the most transparent, easily accessible and affordable manner
possible; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee to conduct a program evaluation of current
advertising requirements; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
collect specific information related to advertising requirements
including:
(1) The average cost for counties, municipalities and
school districts to print public notices in newspapers of
general circulation.
(2) The number of subscriptions of the publications
under paragraph (1) as a percentage of the population of the
county, municipality or school district in which the
publication is circulated and what percentage of the
subscriptions are digital.
(3) The number of subscriptions of the publications
under paragraph (1) and the cost trends over the last 10
years.
(4) Whether newspapers allow nonsubscribers to access
legal advertising on their digital platform for free.
(5) The percentage of overall revenue for a newspaper
that consists of required advertising and public notice
mandates;
and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
review the policies pertaining to transparency and information
sharing in other states and whether the states have included
digital platforms in their policies; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly
within 180 days of the adoption of this resolution.
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