Legislature upholds level funding for South Dakota Public Broadcasting
SDPB
South Dakota Public Broadcasting Executive Director Julie Overgard speaks at a Tuesday committee meeting at the South Dakota Legislature.
South Dakota Public Broadcasting, to the rejoicing of the state’s public media supporters, is on a path to dodge a state funding cut this year.
The South Dakota Legislature’s Joint Committee on Appropriations voted 15-0 Tuesday to reject former Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposed $3.6 million cut for fiscal year 2026, which was announced in December before Noem was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, also a Republican, succeeded Noem as governor.
South Dakota is set to receive level state funding in FY26, which starts July 1. The network received approximately $5.4 million from the state for FY25.
If Noem’s plan had been approved, SDPB would have lost 65% of state support and eliminated about 50 positions, reducing the staff from 76 to 26, according to a report by TV station KOTA. The reduction would have required other cuts to programming in a state that Rebuild Local News has deemed a news desert.
The committee’s approval advances the budget to the full House and Senate for approval.
“I’m very pleased to work alongside this committee to restore the cuts to South Dakota Public Broadcasting,” said Rep. Erick Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, before the vote in a session recorded by SDPB. “This is a team effort across both sides of the aisle.”
“I would just echo the sentiments of my good friend across the way here,” said Rep. Chris Kassin, R-Vermillion. “I’m really, really happy to see the funding restored to South Dakota Public Broadcasting at the full level.”
Before the vote, SDPB Executive Director Julie Overgaard described the past few months as “one of the hardest few months of my life and my staff’s life and the people who support us and believe in us.”
“I can’t thank you all enough for the time and attention you gave and took to hear us out,” she added.
Overgaard also acknowledged that SDPB’s funding status will likely be up for discussion again. “I know there’s probably more conversation to come in the future about what public broadcasting needs to be and looks like and how we can better serve the people of South Dakota,” she said. “And I hope we can continue to do it in a thoughtful and collegial way.”
Rep. Liz May, R-Kyle, said she appreciated SDPB’s coverage of high school sports. “I’ve been here all these years, and I miss all the basketball tournaments,” she said. “So as long as I’m here, it’s safe, because I’ve got to watch basketball. I appreciate what you guys do.”
