AN ACT CONCERNING A SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED LOCAL MEDIA ADVERTISING EXPENSES.

This bill creates a five-year tax credit for small businesses in Connecticut that spend money on advertising with local newspapers, radio stations, or television stations. The program is designed to help small businesses with 50 or fewer employees support local news organizations by allowing them to receive a percentage of their advertising expenses as a tax credit. Small businesses can claim 80% of qualifying expenses in the first year, with the credit amounting to up to $5,000, and 50% of expenses in subsequent years, capped at $2,500 per year. The legislation defines eligible local media outlets as publications that primarily serve local communities, employ local journalists, and meet specific size and ownership restrictions.