H.R. 9342 · Passed House · Congress

GPO Modernization Act of 2026

Sponsor: Stephanie I. Bice (R-OK)

What it does

• Updates the Federal Depository Library Program to include government public information in all formats, including digital, rather than focusing primarily on print materials.
• Removes the requirement that depository libraries maintain a specified minimum number of physical books.
• Requires GPO's Superintendent of Documents to provide descriptive cataloguing records with metadata for government public information and protect user privacy in the digital repository system.
• Redesignates the Joint Committee on Printing as the Joint Committee on Publishing and updates statutory references accordingly.
• Increases the simplified acquisition threshold for GPO purchases and allows GPO to accept gifts and provide publishing services.

Official summary

GPO Modernization Act of 2026 This bill revises certain programs and operations of the Government Publishing Office (GPO). The bill also revises a Library of Congress (LOC) requirement related to the publication of the Constitution Annotated. Specifically, the bill revises the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) through which GPO provides long-term public access to federal publications. Among other changes to the FDLP, the bill (1) updates statutory references within the FDLP to include references to government public information in all formats, including digital; and (2) removes a requirement that a depository library must maintain a specified minimum number of books. Additionally, the bill requires GPO's Superintendent of Documents to (1) provide descriptive cataloguing records for government public information, which must include metadata; and (2) protect the privacy of individuals using the digital repository system. Among other changes to GPO operations, the bill redesignates the Joint Committee on Printing (which oversees GPO) as the Joint Committee on Publishing and updates the relevant statutory references, specifies that GPO may provide publishing services, allows…

Latest action

Sep 15, 2026: Received in the Senate.

Committee: House Oversight and Government Reform