• Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore participates in a panel discussion about emergency preparedness for natural and man-made disasters during the National League of Cities: Congressional City Conference at the Marriott Marquis on March 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C. In 2026, Moore <a href="https://governor.maryland.gov/media/895/download" id="link-f6da60b7dc1f58e598e14b20da2d19ed">vetoed a bill</a> that was backed by Maryland media organizations that sought to steer more state advertising dollars to local news outlets.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/TNS)

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America/TNS

Gov. Wes Moore vetoed a bill that was backed by Maryland media organizations that sought to steer more state advertising dollars to local news outlets.

The Local News for Maryland Communities Act of 2026, also known as Senate Bill 459, would have established a goal for state agencies to spend at least 50% of their advertising budgets with Maryland news organizations. The measure exempted campaigns aimed at out-of-state audiences, including tourism and recruitment advertising.