Alaska House subcommittee debates public broadcasting funding; $42,700 amendment fails in 4-4 tie

Representative Kerrick proposed two separate amendments to inject state funds into Alaska’s public broadcasting system during the House Finance Department of Administration Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 26.

Kerrick first offered an amendment to add $2,700,000 from the general fund “to fully fund public broadcasting services in Alaska,” arguing rural stations provide “lifesaving information during emergencies and disasters” and are a critical link for communities without reliable internet access. After outlining examples including flooding in Kotzebue and search-and-rescue coordination in Kivalina, Kerrick withdrew that amendment, acknowledging budget constraints.

Kerrick then offered a narrower amendment—about $42,700 in general funds—to support the Public Broadcasting Commission’s planning and coordination work. “This amendment…would actually allow the Public Broadcasting Commission to help our public radio stations help themselves,” Kerrick said, framing it as a targeted investment to shore up smaller rural stations and reduce future state costs.

Representative McCabe opposed state funding on editorial grounds, saying some public broadcasting content “have become…very partisan” and arguing that publicly funded outlets should adhere to nonpartisan reporting. Representative Vance also opposed additional funding, describing local stations’ partisan behavior in his district and saying he believed withholding funds could prompt corrective changes. Representative Hemschoo and others countered that local programming—birthday lists, tradio and emergency reporting—is not partisan and called public broadcasting “a lifeline” in rural Alaska.

Clerk Caroline Hamp called the roll on Kerrick’s $42,700 amendment. The votes were recorded as four ayes and four nays; the clerk announced the amendment “fails to pass.”

The subcommittee did not adopt any direct funding change for public broadcasting during this meeting. The BA report for the Department of Administration was moved from committee with attached legislative finance reports and the nonpartisan Legislative Finance Division was directed to make any necessary conforming or technical changes.

What’s next: The subcommittee moved its FY27 Department of Administration recommendation out of committee; any future changes to public broadcasting funding would require renewed member amendments at later steps in the budget process.