State finance: other; grant program for public broadcast stations; require the department to create. Creates new act.

HB 4797 creates a grant program to provide funding to public broadcast stations in Michigan, directly affecting local public radio and TV stations that serve educational, cultural, or civic needs. The bill requires stations to apply with documentation about their local service, financial need, and how funds will maintain public interest programming. It establishes a "public media fund" in the state treasury, appropriating $13 million for fiscal year 2025 to award grants of up to $1.5 million per station for programming, staffing, or infrastructure. The Michigan Department of Education administers the program, prioritizing stations demonstrating commitment to noncommercial, community-focused broadcasting.