The proposed bill, Substitute Bill No. 5159, aims to establish a journalism fellowship program funded by the Office of Policy and Management for graduates of public institutions of higher education in Connecticut. Effective July 1, 2026, the bill mandates the Office to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a student journalism collaborative to fund at least twelve fellowships at local news organizations. The memorandum will outline minimum requirements for the fellowships, including mentorship opportunities, direct work experience, and professional networking, as well as eligibility criteria for applicants, which include graduating from a journalism program at a public institution and being approved by the local news organization.

Additionally, the bill requires the collaborative to publicly post detailed information about the fellowship program on its website by September 1, 2026. This information must include a description of the program, funding amounts, minimum and eligibility requirements, a list of available fellowships, and the application form. The bill does not delete any existing legal language but introduces new provisions to support journalism education and local news organizations.