GPO Modernization Act of 2026

The "GPO Modernization Act of 2026" seeks to significantly update the Government Publishing Office (GPO) and its public information programs. It renames the Joint Committee on Printing to the Joint Committee on Publishing , reflecting an expanded focus beyond traditional printing. The bill aims to ensure free, equitable, and convenient public access to government information, particularly through digital means. It also modernizes GPO's operational authorities, including sales, acquisitions, and employee compensation. A core component of the bill is the establishment of comprehensive Public Information Programs under the Superintendent of Documents. These programs are designed to identify, acquire, catalog, preserve, authenticate, disseminate, and provide permanent public access to all Government public information. The bill defines "Government public information" broadly to include all Federal publications and information resources, regardless of format. Crucially, it establishes a National Collection of United States Public Information , administered by the Superintendent of Documents, to guarantee free, permanent public access to this corpus of information. The GPO Director is tasked with operating a digital repository system for this collection, ensuring digitization, authentication, management, and preservation. The legislation revises the framework for the Federal Depository Library Program, emphasizing the availability of government information to these libraries in all formats. It allows for the designation of digital-only depository libraries and requires the Superintendent of Documents to assess the sustainability of potential depositories. Depository libraries are mandated to provide free public access to government information and may substitute digital for tangible publications under GPO guidance. The bill also establishes multistate collection service areas for regional depositories to support collaborative collection and service coordination. Operational modernization includes updating the GPO's procurement authorities, such as increasing the simplified acquisition threshold to $350,000. The newly named Joint Committee on Publishing will oversee the GPO and its Director, with updated membership and continued remedial powers. The bill clarifies GPO's role in publishing the Federal Register, allowing for alternative publication methods during continuity of operations events and removing the GPO Director from the Federal Register Administrative Committee. It also authorizes the GPO to accept gifts and bequests to support its work and equalizes GPO employee compensation and leave carryover with other legislative branch agencies. Finally, the bill mandates a significant shift for the Constitution Annotated , repealing the requirement for hardbound versions. Starting with the October 2031 Supreme Court term, the Librarian of Congress will prepare exclusively digital decennial revised editions and digital cumulative pocket-part supplements. These digital versions will be made freely available on the Library of Congress public website, ending mandatory physical printing after the October 2026 Supreme Court term.