A new package of bills from State Senator Mark Spreitzer aim to promote local journalism in Wisconsin.

The Beloit Democrat says the bills would create a tax credit for local newspaper subscriptions, create a board that would provide grants for journalism projects, and establish a journalism fellowship program within the UW system for beginning journalists.

Spreitzer says local journalism is critical for people to know what their local government is doing and what is going on the community, but there’s been cuts to newspapers and the digital age has had a toll on newsrooms so they want to strengthen local news through the bills.

Spreitzer is introducing the bills alongside Democratic Representatives Jimmy Anderson and Jodi Emerson.