HB 346: Local government; prohibit municipalities and counties from using public, educational, and governmental programming (PEG) channels for political purposes

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-76-8), cities and counties can request cable or video providers set aside PEG channels for public, educational, and government programming, with rules on how many channels they can get and how much original programming they must produce to keep them. This bill adds a new restriction to that existing system. It inserts a new provision saying no PEG channel may be used by a municipality or county for political purposes, specifically naming partisan political programming and content tied to a candidate's campaign. The existing usage rules, such as producing a minimum number of hours of nonduplicative programming and losing a channel if it is not substantially utilized, remain in place and now also apply alongside this new political-use ban. The bill does not set a specific effective date beyond standard enactment, and it repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new rule to Georgia's PEG channel law barring cities and counties from using PEG channels for political purposes.
• Specifically prohibits broadcasting partisan political programming on PEG channels operated by local governments.
• Specifically prohibits PEG channel content associated with any candidate's campaign for public office.
• Folds the new political-use ban into the existing 'usage criteria and restrictions' that determine whether a local government can keep or lose a PEG channel.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this new restriction.

City and county governments that operate PEG (public, educational, and governmental) cable channels, cable and video service providers that carry those channels, and local officials or candidates who might otherwise appear in PEG programming during a campaign.

Local governments that currently produce or air content on their PEG channels would need to review that programming to make sure it does not include partisan messages or campaign material, since channels found violating the usage rules can be pulled by the cable provider after notice.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 36-76-8(b) by adding a new paragraph (7) stating that no PEG channel may be used by a municipality or county for political purposes.
• The new paragraph specifically bars broadcasting partisan political programming and content associated with any candidate's campaign for public office.
• The bill adds 'and restrictions' to the existing 'usage criteria' language, meaning the political-use ban is treated the same as other rules that can trigger loss of a channel.
• The renumbered paragraph (8) keeps the existing rule that a PEG channel failing to meet usage criteria can be taken away after notice, but restored once the local government certifies compliance.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2025-02-12House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-02-11House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-02-10House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Don Parsons (R, HD-044)Patrocinador principal
• John Carson (R, HD-046)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)
• Matt Barton (R, HD-005)

• local government
• cable television regulation
• PEG channels
• political speech rules
• municipal broadcasting