Connecticut HB 5159: AN ACT DESIGNATING THE SPRING PEEPER AS THE STATE AMPHIBIAN.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5159
February Session, 2026

AN ACT FUNDING JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATES
OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, 1
"local news organization" means a news organization, as defined in 2
section 54-33i of the general statutes, that is located in the state. 3
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year 4
thereafter, the Office of Policy and Management shall enter into a 5
memorandum of understanding with a student journalism collaborative 6
for such collaborative to establish a journalism fellowship program to 7
fund not fewer than twelve journalism fellowships at one or more local 8
news organizations. The memorandum of understanding shall specify 9
the (1) minimum requirements for a fellowship funded under such 10
program, including, but not limited to, opportunities for (A) a 11
mentorship from experienced journalists and editors, (B) direct work 12
experience, and (C) professional networking, (2) eligibility requirements 13
for individuals to qualify for such journalism fellowships, including, but 14
not limited to, (A) graduating from a journalism degree program at a 15
public institution of higher education in the state, and (B) interviewing 16
with and being approved by the local news organization providing such 17
fellowship, (3) amount at which such fellowships shall be funded, and 18
(4) requirement for the collaborative to post, not later than September 1, 19

Substitute Bill No. 5159

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2026, in a conspicuous location on its Internet web site (A) a description 20
of the journalism fellowship program, including, but not limited to, the 21
amount of funding available for each fellowship under such program, 22
(B) the minimum requirements and eligibility requirements specified 23
pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, (C) the list of 24
fellowships with funding available under such program, and (D) the 25
application form for such program. 26
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section

HED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP