Lively hearing on bill to end state funding for Prairie Public draws divided testimony

Representative Joran Johnson opened the hearing on House Bill 12-55, which would bar the use of public funds to support public broadcasting in North Dakota. "Prairie public will continue to exist without tax payer dollars," Johnson told the committee, arguing taxpayers should not be required to fund programming that can be supported by donations, membership and other revenue sources.

Johnson said state funding is unnecessary and cited examples he said illustrate Prairie Public's ability to attract private support, including an investigation by the station into buying a bar and the creation of an entity he identified in the secretary of state's records as "PPB Ventures LLC." He cited Prairie Public financial figures in the hearing packet, saying the organization had reserves of about $16,000,000 and suggesting the broadcaster can adapt without the state's support.

John Harris, president and CEO of Prairie Public Broadcasting, urged the committee to reject the bill. He said state funding for many years has provided an important foundation to sustain public media that focuses on education, public safety and community connections. "The state of North Dakota has for many years provided an important foundation of support, for educational and informational public media services in our state," Harris testified, adding Prairie Public reaches a broad portion of the state with both radio and television services.

Opponents and supporters made competing points across the hearing:

- Supporters of the bill argued taxpayer funding is unnecessary in an era of abundant digital content and streaming options, repeated that Prairie Public could raise private funds, and framed the measure as a taxpayer-rights effort. Representative Johnson said his intent is to give Prairie Public an opportunity to operate without state money and predicted donors and other partners would respond if state support ended.

- Opponents, including several citizens and longtime donors, described how Prairie Public's programming and services — children’s educational shows, local documentaries, the Learning Express mobile trailer, legislative coverage and emergency alerting — provide value that would be difficult to replace. Multiple witnesses described Prairie Public's local content such as Dakota Datebook, Prairie Pulse and local legislative programming.

Testimony and factual points entered into the record included:

- The governor's budget proposal had requested roughly $2.8 million for Prairie Public; appropriators had reduced that in committee to about $1.2 million (the figure discussed in the hearing).

- Prairie Public operates 39 towers across the region to transmit radio and television; John Harris said the network reaches about 98% of the state's residents over the air.

- Prairie Public reported roughly $16 million in reserves in the materials Johnson submitted; Harris said Prairie Public receives federal funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and cited roughly $2 million in CPB support as part of its revenue mix.

- The NDRPA and other witnesses argued the nonprofit model and charitable-gaming revenue sources can fluctuate; several witnesses cautioned that removing state funds could reduce local services more than national programming because local initiatives are typically the first to be cut.

Public commenters included citizens who testified both in favor of and opposed to HB 12-55. Supporters who urged a do-pass said public broadcasting can and should stand on private support and that the state should stop subsidizing the service. Opponents — including longtime donors, volunteers and Prairie Public staff — stressed the regional and educational services that state support helps sustain.

No committee vote was recorded on HB 12-55 during the hearing; the committee closed the hearing and adjourned for the day. The record contains more than 170 submitted testimonies and multiple in-person speakers, including long-term donors and volunteers who described Prairie Public's role in education and community life.