Concerns public broadcasting funding; makes appropriations.

A4823

ASSEMBLY, No. 4823

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 4, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� DAVID BAILEY, JR.

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Assemblyman� ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblywoman� MITCHELLE DRULIS

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

SYNOPSIS

���� Concerns public broadcasting funding; makes
appropriations.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning public broadcasting funding, supplementing
Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, and making appropriations.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:�

���� a.���� Until 2011, the New
Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority (authority) owned and operated New Jersey
Network Public Television and Radio (NJN), which provided New Jersey public
affairs and cultural programming.

���� b.��� In
2010, through the �New Jersey Public Broadcasting System Transfer Act� (act), the
State authorized the divestiture of NJN, permitting a non-State entity or
entities to take control of NJN�s operations and allowing for the transfer of certain
authority assets and radio operating licenses to that entity or entities.

���� c.���� The
act also created the �Trust Fund for the Support of Public Broadcasting� (trust
fund) to hold monies appropriated to the entity or entities selected to operate
the public broadcasting system serving New Jersey.

����
d.��� In 2011, Public Media NJ,
Inc., commonly known as New Jersey Public Broadcasting (NJPBS) entered into an
agreement to provide public television programming and services in New Jersey.

����
e.���� In 2017, the trust fund
was slated to receive over $321 million from the sale of certain NJN assets through
the Federal Communications Commission Spectrum Auction.

���� f.���� However,
pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations Act, the monies from the sale
of the NJN assets were moved to the State General Fund.

���� g.��� If
the proceeds from the sale of NJN assets had been deposited in the trust fund,
the monies would have accrued yearly interest estimated at approximately $9.6
million, based on accrual in similar funds.

���� 2.��� Beginning in State
Fiscal Year 2026, and in each fiscal year thereafter, each annual
appropriations act shall include an appropriation from the General Fund to the �Trust
Fund for the Support of Public Broadcasting,� established by section 22 of
P.L.2010, c.104 (C.48:23-29), in the amount of $9,600,000 for the purpose of
supporting public broadcasting.

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the
Legislature to annually appropriate $9.6 million to the �Trust Fund for the
Support of Public Broadcasting� (trust fund).� The trust fund is a restricted, nonlapsing,
revolving fund within the Department of the Treasury that holds monies
appropriated to the entity or entities that operate the public broadcasting
system serving New Jersey.� Since 2011, Public Media NJ, Inc., commonly known
as New Jersey Public Broadcasting operated the State�s public broadcasting
system.