The bill establishes the Washington local news journalism corps program aimed at supporting local journalism, particularly in underserved communities. It recognizes the critical role of journalism in democracy and the decline of local news outlets due to significant drops in advertising revenue and staffing. The program will provide grants to eligible news journalism providers to employ journalists who cover civic affairs, thereby enhancing community understanding of local issues. Eligibility for grants requires applicants to employ a minimum number of journalists and to report on the news coverage supported by the program.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws related to the workforce education investment account, mandating that a portion of the funds be allocated to support the local news journalism corps program starting July 1, 2026. It also modifies the workforce education investment surcharge imposed on select advanced computing businesses, increasing the annual cap on the surcharge from nine million dollars to fifteen million dollars. The bill includes provisions for data sharing among relevant departments to facilitate the implementation of the program and outlines definitions for eligible broadcasters, publishers, and journalists.