CNPA Outlines Key 2026 Legislative Priorities
As the end of the year approaches, CNPA is sharpening its focus on several issues critical to the vitality of California’s news ecosystem.
At the top of the agenda in the California Legislature in 2026 is protecting public notice. CNPA will continue efforts to preserve printed public notices in adjudicated newspapers and halt attempts to move individual categories of notices to government-run websites. Although CNPA’s sponsored bill, AB 1444, became a two-year bill in 2025, the association will keep the issue active—likely through a new legislative vehicle in 2026—to ensure modernization efforts strengthen, rather than siphon away, publisher revenues.
A second priority is sustaining local journalism. CNPA will advocate for policies that help publishers modernize their operations in economically viable ways and reinforce the essential role local reporters play in their communities. Lawmakers have indicated openness to solutions that keep journalism jobs rooted in the towns and cities they serve.
CNPA will also remain vigilant against proposals that interfere with members’ ability to run their businesses. With AB 611 still potentially in play, the association is preparing to oppose any renewed efforts to restrict publishers’ discretion to sell assets or publications.
Another area of focus is limiting frivolous litigation. CNPA is tracking SB 690, a two-year bill that would exempt entities with a “commercial business purpose,” as defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act, from certain civil and criminal liabilities under the California Invasion of Privacy Act. These provisions cover activities such as recording confidential communications or intercepting cellular calls.
Finally, CNPA will work to protect the distribution of printed news. A key exemption in AB 5 that allows publishers to use contracted carriers expires on January 1, 2030. Ensuring that newspapers can continue to rely on third-party delivery remains essential to keeping print accessible statewide.
Together, these priorities reflect CNPA’s commitment to defending press freedoms, supporting sustainable local journalism, and safeguarding the business conditions that allow California’s newsrooms to thrive.
