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
II Public information programs
Where this section came from
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Jun 18, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Jun 18 Referred to House Committee on House Administration, Jun 18
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Sep 10, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on House Administration, Jun 24 Reported by House Committee on House Administration, Sep 10 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
… 8 unchanged passages …
(f) The Superintendent of Documents may designate libraries to be digital-only depository libraries for Government public information if they are located in an area with no
congressional
vacancy
vacancies
under subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e)
and they are not eligible to be designated under existing by-law library provisions of this section. Digital-only depository libraries must be freely accessible to and provide services for the public and otherwise meet the requirements of this title.
… 2 unchanged passages …
What is a markup?
A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.
Section 1905 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
1905. Distribution to depositories; designation of additional libraries; justification; authorization for certain designations
(a) Government public information available from the Superintendent of Documents under this chapter shall be distributed or made accessible to depository libraries specifically designated by law and to libraries designated pursuant to this section.
(b) Libraries within areas served by Members of the House, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be designated by them to receive Government public information to the extent that the total number of libraries designated by them does not exceed two within each area.
(c) Not more than two additional libraries within a State may be designated by each Senator from the State.
(d) The Mayor of the District of Columbia may designate two depository libraries in the District of Columbia.
(e) The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Governor of Guam, the Governor of American Samoa, and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may each designate one depository library in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively. The Governor of the United States Virgin Islands may designate one depository library on the island of Saint Thomas and one on the island of Saint Croix.
(f) The Superintendent of Documents may designate libraries to be digital-only depository libraries for Government public information if they are located in an area with no vacancy under subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e) and they are not eligible to be designated under existing by-law library provisions of this section. Digital-only depository libraries must be freely accessible to and provide services for the public and otherwise meet the requirements of this title.
(g) Before a library is designated as a depository for Government public information, the Superintendent of Documents shall assess the potential depository library to determine its sustainability for housing a depository collection and for providing access services, including providing access to digital content. The head of that library shall furnish justification of the necessity for the additional designation to the library’s Senator, Member of the House, Delegate, Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia or Governor, as the case may be. The justification shall also include the assessment of the Superintendent of Documents. The justification for depository library designations shall be transmitted to the Superintendent of Documents by the Senator, Member of the House, Delegate, the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia or Governor, as the case may be.
III GPO Operational Modernization
IV Preparation of Constitution Annotated