A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-27 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the use of public funds to support public broadcasting.
Summary
HB 1255 would prohibit a state officer, as defined in North Dakota law, from using any state funds or federal funds available to that officer to directly or indirectly support public broadcasting. The bill is framed as a restriction on public spending rather than a broader regulation of broadcasters themselves, and it would create a new section in Chapter 54-27 of the North Dakota Century Code.
In practical terms, the measure would bar state-level public money from being used for public broadcasting support, which could affect grants, appropriations, contracts, or other forms of financial assistance routed through state officers. The bill does not define public broadcasting in the text provided, but its effect would be to limit state involvement in funding public media outlets or related services.
Impact
The bill would add a new statutory restriction in Chapter 54-27 limiting how state officers may use both state and federal funds under their control. It would likely affect agencies, offices, or officials that currently provide direct or indirect support to public broadcasting, and could reduce or eliminate public funding streams to public radio or television entities in North Dakota.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was controversial and did not command broad support. It passed an initial House second reading vote, then later failed in the Senate with a strong majority against it (6-41), indicating substantial opposition in the upper chamber. The absence of committee transcript discussion limits insight into detailed arguments, but the vote pattern shows the measure was not ultimately favored.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to have been whether public funds should be allowed to support public broadcasting at all. Supporters likely viewed the bill as a fiscal restraint or a way to prevent government subsidy of media, while opponents likely saw it as an unnecessary or harmful cut to public media funding and access. The decisive Senate defeat indicates that opposition outweighed support at the end of the process.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-27 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the use of public funds to support public broadcasting.
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