H.R. 9342 — GPO Modernization Act of 2026

This section permits rather than requires the Superintendent of Documents to receive and sell government documents turned over by other officers. It eliminates the requirement for approval by the head of the department in which a document originated. It sets prices for additional copies at cost plus a premium to cover sale and delivery, allows discounts, and authorizes the Superintendent to prescribe terms for resale by book dealers and to designate government sales agents. It also permits disposal of unneeded documents according to requirements established by the Superintendent.

This section revises the authority of the Superintendent of Documents over government publications. It permits rather than requires the Superintendent to receive and sell documents turned over by other officers. It eliminates the requirement for approval from the head of the originating department before certain dispositions. It sets prices for additional copies at cost plus a premium, allows discounts, and authorizes resale by book dealers under terms set by the Superintendent. It also empowers the Superintendent to establish requirements for the disposal of unneeded documents.

This section permits the Superintendent of Documents to receive and sell Government documents from other agencies rather than requiring such action. It eliminates the requirement for approval by the head of the originating department. It bases prices for additional copies sold to the public on production costs plus a premium, allows discounts, authorizes resale by book dealers under terms set by the Superintendent, permits designation of Government sales agents, and allows disposal of unneeded documents according to requirements established by the Superintendent.

This section establishes the purposes of the public information programs of the Superintendent of Documents to ensure free, equitable, and convenient public access to government information. It creates these programs within the Government Publishing Office, including the Federal Depository Library Program, Cataloging and Access Services Program, Online System of Access, National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information, Preservation Program, and Sales to the Public, and directs the Superintendent to enhance public awareness and support libraries.

This section defines eight terms used throughout chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code: access services, Government public information, Government publication, information, information lifecycle management, permanent public access, preservation, and unreported public information.

This section revises requirements for making government public information available to depository libraries by directing each government component to notify the Superintendent of Documents of both tangible and digital content it issues, collaborate to ensure permanent digital accessibility, and furnish tangible materials obtained outside the Government Publishing Office unless other arrangements exist, with exceptions for confidential or national security classified information.

This section requires the Superintendent of Documents to notify depository libraries of Government public information products, regardless of format, that are available for selection for inclusion in their depository collections.

This section updates the designation of depository libraries for Government public information. It authorizes the Superintendent of Documents to designate digital-only depository libraries in areas without congressional vacancies that are freely accessible to the public. It requires the Superintendent to assess a library’s sustainability for housing collections and providing digital access before designation, and it updates designation authority to include the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands.

This section designates libraries of executive departments and certain federal academies as depositories of Government public information. It also requires depository libraries within executive departments and independent agencies to offer unwanted materials to the Superintendent of Documents before disposal.

This section revises requirements for depository libraries under title 44. It limits designation to libraries that provide access to, custody of, and services for deposited materials or online digital content in areas best serving public need. It requires designated libraries to report on conditions to the Superintendent of Documents at least every two years. It directs the Superintendent to assess conditions, provide training and support through visits or other means, and include results in an annual report. It authorizes removal of noncompliant libraries after an agreed correction period and designation of replacements without exceeding the authorized total.

This section requires depository libraries to make Government public information accessible for free public use under standards set by the Superintendent of Documents. It permits substitution of digital information for tangible publications and allows depository libraries not served by a regional library, or that are regional libraries themselves, to dispose of unwanted Government public information under Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance.

This section revises the designation and functions of regional depository libraries. It permits up to two regional depositories per state and Puerto Rico to receive copies of or access to all new and revised Government publications. It shifts pre-designation consultation to the Superintendent of Documents, authorizes digital retention alternatives and collaborative agreements for discarding materials, allows interstate sharing of responsibilities with approval from affected Senators, directs the Superintendent to establish at least four multistate collection service areas, and requires regional depositories to coordinate on disposition of publications retained for five years or upon relinquishing designation while managing the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information.

This section establishes cataloging and access services for Government public information. It requires the Superintendent of Documents to create descriptive cataloging records using library standards, maintain a free online comprehensive catalog showing where historical and current tangible and digital Government information may be obtained or accessed, bring unreported information under bibliographic control, and acquire digital content through automated and manual harvesting of public websites. It repeals sections 1710 and 1711 of title 44, United States Code.

This section establishes the National Collection of United States Government Public Information to ensure free, equitable, and convenient public access to the corpus of government publications. It requires the Superintendent of Documents to administer the collection, guarantee permanent geographically distributed access including at least four tangible copies, apply lifecycle management practices, acquire and control all formats, and collaborate with the Library of Congress and depository libraries. It directs the Government Publishing Office Director to operate and fund a digital repository providing open-format access, digitization, authentication, and preservation, while implementing privacy protections at least equivalent to the Privacy Act and section 208 of the E-Government Act and issuing an annual public list of removals with reasons. It repeals chapter 41 of title 44.

This section transfers responsibility for preparing the Congressional Directory and its supplement from the Joint Committee on Printing to the Director of the Government Publishing Office. It requires both to be produced in digital format and made available on a public GPO website as early as practicable during the first and second sessions of each Congress, respectively.

This section establishes the Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents in the Government Publishing Office to ensure the public’s free, equitable, and convenient access to Government information. It lists the component programs, including the Federal Depository Library Program, Cataloging and Access Services Program, Online System of Access, National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information, Preservation Program, and Sales to the Public, and directs the Superintendent to enhance awareness and support libraries.

This section revises definitions in chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, for terms used in provisions governing Federal depository libraries and government publications. It defines Government public information as Federal publications or information resources compiled by Government employees or at Government expense and disseminated to the public, regardless of form or medium; establishes related terms such as permanent public access, information lifecycle management, and unreported public information; and updates definitions for access services, Government publication, information, and preservation.

This section requires each component of the Government to notify the Superintendent of Documents of all tangible and digital public information it issues, collaborate to ensure permanent digital access, and furnish tangible materials obtained outside the Government Publishing Office for distribution to depository libraries through the Superintendent of Documents Public Information Programs, with exceptions for confidential or classified information.

This section requires the Superintendent of Documents to notify depository libraries of Government public information products, regardless of format, that are available for selection for inclusion in their depository collections.

This section revises procedures for designating depository libraries for Government public information. It authorizes the Superintendent of Documents to designate digital-only libraries in areas without vacancies under existing limits, requires the Superintendent to assess each library’s sustainability for collections and digital access before designation, updates authorities to include the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and replaces the Commissioner of the District of Columbia with the Mayor.

This section updates the term for materials received by designated depository libraries of executive departments, independent agencies, and service academies to Government public information. It requires those libraries to offer unwanted materials to the Superintendent of Documents before disposal.

This section revises requirements for depository libraries. Only libraries able to provide access to, custody of, and services for deposited materials or online digital content, and located to best serve the public need, may be designated. Designated libraries must report on their condition to the Superintendent of Documents at least every two years. The Superintendent must assess conditions, provide training and support through visits or other means, and include results in the annual report. The Superintendent must remove a library from the directory if it ceases to be accessible to the public or fails to properly maintain Government publications and does not correct the deficiencies within an agreed time frame. A replacement library may be designated under section 1905, within the number authorized by law.

This section revises requirements for depository libraries to make Government public information accessible for free use by the public under standards established by the Superintendent of Documents. It permits libraries to substitute digital information for tangible publications and to dispose of unwanted materials in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance.

This section limits regional depository libraries to no more than two per state and Puerto Rico, requires them to retain at least one copy of all government publications (except those authorized for discard or covered by approved collaborative agreements) or provide digital access, and directs the Superintendent of Documents to establish at least four multistate collection service areas. It permits interstate sharing of responsibilities through approved agreements, treats all distributed publications as U.S. government property, and requires coordination on disposition after five years or upon relinquishing designation.

This section requires the Superintendent of Documents to create descriptive cataloging records for Government public information using library standards and metadata, maintain a free public online catalog of historical and current tangible and digital Government information that shows where it may be obtained, bring unreported Government information under bibliographic control, accept catalog records from libraries and agencies, and acquire digital Government information through automated and manual website harvesting for cataloging, access, and preservation. It also directs the Superintendent to carry out activities that enhance public access to and awareness of Government information and support libraries serving community needs.

This section establishes the National Collection of United States Government Public Information to ensure free, permanent, and geographically distributed public access to the corpus of government publications and information. It requires the Superintendent of Documents to administer the collection, acquire and control all formats, maintain at least four tangible copies across four service areas in the depository library program, and collaborate with stakeholders including the Library of Congress and Federal Depository Library Program members; it directs the Government Publishing Office Director to operate and fund a free digital repository for access in open formats, with privacy protections meeting or exceeding those in the Privacy Act of 1974 and section 208 of the E-Government Act of 2002, and to disclose annually any removals and their reasons. It repeals Chapter 41 of title 44, United States Code.

This section transfers responsibility for preparing the Congressional Directory and its supplement from the Joint Committee on Printing to the Director of the Government Publishing Office and requires digital rather than printed versions available on a public GPO website.

This section establishes the Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents in the Government Publishing Office to ensure free, equitable, and permanent public access to Government information. It lists six component programs, including the Federal Depository Library Program, Cataloging and Access Services Program, Online System of Access, National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information, Preservation Program, and Sales to the Public, and directs the Superintendent to support awareness and library services.

This section defines terms used in chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, governing government publications and depository libraries. It defines Government public information as federal publications or information resources compiled or disseminated at government expense, regardless of form or medium; Government publication as informational matter published as an individual document at government expense; permanent public access as indefinite, free public availability; information lifecycle management as the full process from creation through preservation and dissemination; and unreported public information as material not cataloged for end-user retrieval.

This section requires each government component to notify the Superintendent of Documents of all tangible and digital public information it issues, collaborate to ensure permanent digital accessibility, and furnish tangible materials obtained outside the Government Publishing Office unless other arrangements exist. It directs the Superintendent to make such information available to depository libraries through Public Information Programs, with exceptions for confidential or national security classified content.

This section directs the Superintendent of Documents to notify depository libraries of Government public information products, regardless of format, that are available for selection for inclusion in their collections.

This section revises the designation of depository libraries for Government public information under 44 USC 1905. It authorizes the Superintendent of Documents to designate digital-only depository libraries in areas with no vacancy under existing limits and requires the Superintendent to assess each potential library’s sustainability for housing collections and providing digital access before designation. It updates terminology from “publications” to “public information,” replaces the Commissioner of the District of Columbia with the Mayor, adds the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the list of territories whose governors may designate one library each, and requires the Superintendent’s assessment to accompany any justification for new designations.

This section designates the libraries of executive departments and specified military academies as depositories of Government public information. It requires depository libraries within executive departments and independent agencies to offer unwanted Government public information to the Superintendent of Documents before disposal.

This section revises requirements for designation as a depository library to require the ability to provide access to, custody of, and services for deposited materials or online digital content while serving public need. It requires designated libraries to report on their condition at least every two years, directs the Superintendent of Documents to assess conditions and provide training and support, and authorizes removal of a library that fails to correct unsatisfactory conditions within an agreed time frame, with replacement authorized up to the statutory limit.

This section revises rules for depository libraries by requiring them to make Government public information accessible for free use by the public pursuant to standards set by the Superintendent of Documents. It permits substitution of digital information for tangible publications and allows disposal of unwanted Government public information in accordance with Superintendent policy and guidance, instead of mandating permanent retention in printed or microfacsimile form for regional libraries and those not served by one.

This section revises the designation and functions of regional depository libraries by authorizing digital access or retention of Government publications, permitting interstate sharing of responsibilities through agreements approved by Senators from each affected State, and directing the Superintendent of Documents to establish at least four multistate collection service areas for collaborative coordination. It also requires regional depositories to coordinate disposition of publications retained for five years or upon relinquishing designation and manages all distributed publications as holdings of the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information.

This section requires the Superintendent of Documents to create descriptive cataloging records for Government public information using library standards, maintain a free public online catalog showing where such information may be obtained or accessed, bring unreported Government information under bibliographic control, harvest digital content from public websites for inclusion and preservation, and provide access and awareness services to support libraries.

This section establishes the National Collection of United States Government Public Information to ensure free, permanent, and geographically distributed public access to the corpus of government publications and information. It requires the Superintendent of Documents to administer the collection, maintain at least four tangible copies across National Collection service areas, apply lifecycle management practices, and collaborate with the Library of Congress and Federal Depository Library Program libraries. It directs the Government Publishing Office to operate a free digital repository that digitizes, authenticates, preserves, and provides open-format access while implementing privacy protections equivalent to the Privacy Act of 1974, and to disclose annually any removals from public access. It repeals Chapter 41 of title 44, United States Code.

This section directs the Director of the Government Publishing Office to prepare the Congressional Directory in digital format for availability on a public Government Publishing Office website as early as practicable during the first session of each Congress, and to prepare a supplement in the same format during the second regular session.

This section renames the Joint Committee on Printing as the Joint Committee on Publishing and updates its membership to the chair and four members each from the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Oversight. It revises the committee’s purpose to oversee the Government Publishing Office and supervise its Director, authorizes the committee to exercise its powers during congressional recesses, and grants it authority to remedy neglect, delay, duplication, or waste in public printing and distribution of congressional publications. It removes requirements for Joint Committee approval or consultation from multiple statutes, including printing provisions in the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 825k), sections 1108, 1301, and 1320A of title 44, the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, and title 28. It also updates procurement rules to allow the Director of the Government Publishing Office to furnish paper and envelopes to federal agencies in the National Capital region.

This section expands the Government Publishing Office’s authority to procure printing, binding, and publishing services from outside contractors with approval from the Joint Committee on Publishing. It renames the Joint Committee on Printing as the Joint Committee on Publishing and repeals sections 503, 504, 1104, 1105, and 1112 of title 44.

This section transfers authority to set the usual number of copies and direct distribution of House and Senate documents and reports from the fixed statutory total of 1,682 copies allocated to specific congressional offices and libraries to the Joint Committee on Publishing. It also places distribution of printed public and private bills and resolutions, as well as daily and permanent copies of the Congressional Record, under the direction of the Joint Committee on Publishing.

This section removes the Director of the Government Publishing Office from the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register and from specified publication responsibilities. It requires the Office of the Federal Register to arrange for at least two physical copies of each issue, stored in separate facilities for continuity of government. It authorizes alternative publication methods during continuity of operations events. It adjusts cost allocation for Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations publications between the GPO revolving fund and appropriations.

This section authorizes the Government Publishing Office to accept, hold, administer, and use gifts and bequests of property to support its operations. Gifts of money and sale proceeds must be deposited in the Revolving Fund under section 309 and used only for governmental purposes, with property applied as closely as possible to the donor’s terms; such transfers receive the same federal tax treatment as gifts to the United States.

This section revises the purchasing authority of the Director of the Government Publishing Office by removing the requirement to justify in writing the use of negotiation when advertising is impracticable and to retain such justifications for 6 years. It also raises the threshold for simplified acquisition procedures applicable to the Government Publishing Office to $350,000 (from $100,000) and changes the section heading to "simplified acquisition."

This section expands the Government Publishing Office’s authority to furnish other federal departments and establishments with supplies it manufactures or services it performs in connection with its publishing work, upon requisition and payment from available appropriations.

This section extends the annual leave carryover exception under 5 U.S.C. 6304(f) to positions in the Government Publishing Office senior level service.

This section removes requirements that printing for the Federal Power Commission using engraving, lithography, and photolithography be contracted for and performed under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing, and that all other printing be done by the Director of the Government Publishing Office under limitations prescribed by the Joint Committee.

This section expands the Government Publishing Office’s authority to contract for publishing services in addition to printing, binding, and blank-book work when the Director cannot perform them in-house, subject to approval by the renamed Joint Committee on Publishing. It repeals five specified sections of title 44 and updates all references to the committee throughout the title.

This section revises the rules for printing and distributing House and Senate documents, reports, bills, resolutions, and the Congressional Record. It directs the Joint Committee on Publishing to set the usual number of copies and to oversee their distribution by the Director of the Government Publishing Office.

This section removes the Director of the Government Publishing Office from the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register. It requires the Office of the Federal Register to print and store at least two physical copies of each issue in separate facilities for continuity of government. It authorizes alternative publication methods during continuity of operations events and adjusts cost allocation for Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations publishing between the GPO revolving fund and appropriations.

This section authorizes the Government Publishing Office to accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts and bequests of property to aid its work. It requires that money gifts and sale proceeds be deposited in the Revolving Fund for governmental purposes, that property be used in accordance with donor terms, and that accepted property be treated as a gift to the United States for federal income, estate, and gift tax purposes.

This section revises simplified acquisition procedures for the Government Publishing Office. It raises the threshold for such procedures to $350,000 (from $100,000). It eliminates the requirement that the Director justify in writing the use of negotiation when advertising is impracticable and maintain those justifications for 6 years. It also retitles the section "simplified acquisition."

This section expands the authority of the Government Publishing Office to furnish supplies manufactured or services performed in connection with its publishing work to other federal departments and establishments upon requisition.

This section expands the annual leave carryover exception in 5 U.S.C. § 6304(f) to positions in the Government Publishing Office senior level service.

This section redesignates the Joint Committee on Printing as the Joint Committee on Publishing, with membership consisting of the chair and four members each from the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Oversight. It directs the committee to oversee the Government Publishing Office and its Director, authorizes it to exercise powers during congressional recesses, and grants it authority to remedy neglect, delay, duplication, or waste in public printing and distribution of congressional publications. It removes references to the committee from statutes governing printing for the Federal Power Commission and other agencies, and revises procurement rules to allow the Director of the Government Publishing Office to furnish paper and envelopes for federal agencies in the National Capital region.

This section expands the Government Publishing Office’s authority to procure publishing services through contracts approved by the Joint Committee on Publishing. It renames the Joint Committee on Printing to the Joint Committee on Publishing throughout title 44 and repeals sections 503, 504, 1104, 1105, and 1112.

This section revises the rules for printing and distributing congressional documents and reports, bills and resolutions, and the Congressional Record by directing the Joint Committee on Publishing to establish the usual number of copies and oversee their distribution to the Senate and House document rooms, the Secretary of the Senate, the Superintendent of Documents, and depository libraries. It updates the Director of the Government Publishing Office's role to carry out those distributions as instructed.

This section removes the Director of the Government Publishing Office from the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register and from specified publication duties. It requires the Office of the Federal Register to print and store at least two physical copies of each issue in separate facilities for preservation. It authorizes alternative publication methods during continuity of operations events. It charges Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations publication costs to the GPO revolving fund, with agency reimbursements, and other program costs to GPO appropriations.

This section authorizes the Government Publishing Office to accept, hold, administer, and use gifts and bequests of property to support its operations. Gifts of money must be deposited in the Revolving Fund and used only for governmental purposes, with other property applied as closely as possible to the donor’s terms, and all accepted property treated as a gift to the United States for federal tax purposes.

This section authorizes the Director of the Government Publishing Office to negotiate purchases and contracts when advertising is impracticable and removes the prior requirement for written justification of such negotiations. It raises the threshold for applying simplified acquisition procedures to $350,000 (from $100,000).

This section expands the authority of the Government Publishing Office to furnish supplies manufactured or services performed in connection with its publishing work to other federal departments upon requisition, with payment from available appropriations. It also updates the section heading to reflect the broader scope.

This section extends the annual leave carryover exception under 5 U.S.C. 6304(f) to positions in the Government Publishing Office senior level service.

This section requires the Librarian of Congress to prepare digital decennial revised editions of the Constitution Annotated after the October 2031 Supreme Court term and each tenth term thereafter, and digital cumulative pocket-part supplements after the October 2026 term and each subsequent odd-numbered year term (from hardbound editions). It requires these digital versions to be available on a public Library of Congress website and ends mandatory printing of additional hardbound copies after the October 2026 term.

This section replaces hardbound decennial revised editions of the Constitution Annotated with digital editions after the October 2031 Supreme Court term, and replaces hardbound cumulative pocket-part supplements with digital editions after the October 2026 term. It requires both digital versions to be available on a public Library of Congress website and ends all mandatory additional printing of the editions after the October 2026 term.

This section requires the Librarian of Congress to prepare a digital decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated after the October 2031 Supreme Court term and each tenth term thereafter, and a digital cumulative pocket-part supplement after the October 2026 term and each subsequent odd-numbered year term, in place of the prior hardbound versions. It requires both to be available on a public Library of Congress website and ends all mandatory additional hardbound printing after the October 2026 term.