H.R. 9342
GPO Modernization Act of 2026
Sponsor: Stephanie I. Bice · 0 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
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 GPO to accept gifts,
- increases the statutory simplified acquisition threshold for GPO purchases, and
- updates certain employee leave carryover and compensation rules.
The bill also replaces the requirement for LOC to prepare hardbound versions of the Constitution Annotated and supplements with a requirement for LOC to instead prepare digital versions and publish them online. The new requirement applies to the supplement after the Supreme Court term beginning October 2026 and all subsequent editions.
Text of the bill
I Sales programs
(a) Authority of superintendent of documents. Section 1702 of title 44, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the first undesignated paragraph, by striking The Director and inserting (a) Appointment.—The Director;
(2) in the second undesignated paragraph—
(A) by striking When an officer and inserting (b) Receipt and sale.—When an officer; and
(B) by striking who shall receive and sell and inserting who may receive and sell; and
(3) in the third undesignated paragraph, by striking The Superintendent of Documents and inserting (c) Reports and distribution.—The Superintendent of Documents.
(b) Remove requirement for approval from department in which document originated. Section 1707 of such title is amended by striking , subject to the approval of the Secretary or head of the department in which the public document originated.
(c) Prices; resale authority. Section 1708 of such title is amended to read as follows:
1708. Prices for sales copies of publications; crediting of receipts; resale by dealers; sales agents
(a) Prices. The price at which additional copies of Government publications are offered for sale to the public by the Superintendent of Documents shall be based on the cost as determined by the Director of the Government Publishing Office plus a premium to cover the costs of sale and delivery. A discount may be allowed as determined by the Superintendent of Documents.
(b) Resale authority. The Superintendent of Documents may prescribe terms and conditions under which the Superintendent authorizes the resale of Government publications by book dealers, and the Superintendent may designate any Government officer as the Superintendent's agent for the sale of Government publications under regulations agreed upon by the Superintendent of Documents and the head of the respective department or establishment of the Government.
(d) Authority of superintendent of documents To establish requirements for distribution, sale, and disposal of unneeded documents. Section 1720 of such title is amended by striking distribution or sale and inserting distribution, sale, or disposal in accordance with requirements established by the Superintendent of Documents.
II Public information programs
III GPO Operational Modernization
IV Preparation of Constitution Annotated