Minneslate Logo

SF3034 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Public educational radio stations appropriation

Related bill: HF2922

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill is intended to provide financial support to public educational radio and television stations in Minnesota. The goal is to ensure these stations can continue offering valuable services, including emergency information dissemination in multiple languages.

Main Provisions

  • Fiscal Agent Appropriations: The bill sets the base appropriation amount for state support to public media at $15,833,000 starting fiscal year 2026.

  • Public Television Funding:

    • $1,550,000 yearly for matching grants.
    • $250,000 yearly for equipment grants.
    • $500,000 for block grants, with an allowance for administrative expenses.

  • Public Radio Funding:

    • Community service grants will allocate $2,392,000 the first year and $1,242,000 the second year, with provisions for multilingual emergency broadcasts.
    • Equipment grants totaling $142,000 yearly are intended for purchase and maintenance.
    • An $850,000 grant is available for emergency equipment, cybersecurity enhancements, and broadcast technology.
    • A one-time grant of $1,288,000 to support diverse community radio news services.

  • Grant Administration: The commissioner of administration must take into account input from relevant broadcast associations and ensure institutions are members of these associations by a set date to receive grants.

  • Real Estate and Work Environment Adjustments: Appropriations for space consolidation and transition to a hybrid work environment, including design, remodeling, and equipping spaces.

Significant Changes

  • Establishment of a new five-year plan that increases funding for public radio and television stations to improve infrastructure and support emergency broadcasting capabilities.
  • New regulations require associations to advise the allocation of these funds, ensuring strategic use of resources.

Relevant Terms

public educational radio, public television, community service grants, multilingual emergency information, equipment grants, cybersecurity, broadcast technology, fiscal appropriation

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toState and Local Government

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Additional funding allocations for equipment grants."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section provides public television equipment grants under Minnesota Statutes section 129D.13.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "129D.13",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Consideration of recommendations by Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section references grants awarded under Minnesota Statutes section 129D.14.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification of eligibility requirements for grant recipients."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "129D.14",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors