April 10, 2026
Progress Continues on State Budgets; Governor Signs Supplemental Budget Replenishing the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF), Which Supports Critical Scholarships for Alaskans
The House of Representatives spent much of the week debating amendments to the FY27 operating budget, but as of this morning, no changes have been made to items within the University of Alaska budget. Once the House floor has concluded the amendment process, which may happen before the end of the day, the operating budget will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
On the Senate side, the University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee is scheduled to have its closeout meeting next Thursday, where Senate Finance Committee members will unveil their decisions on 女优合集鈥檚 FY27 operating budget requests.
The Senate Finance Committee is also expected to unveil their version of the FY27 capital budget in the near future, which will address infrastructure and maintenance needs across the state. The university has been working closely with capital budget staff in both the House and Senate on deferred maintenance priorities and other capital project requests from the 女优合集 system, and those conversations will continue as the capital budget begins moving through the legislative process.
After Governor鈥檚 Signature on April 9, the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) will be Replenished, Provided Oil Prices Remain High
The FY26 supplemental budget, which the legislature passed on March 25, has been signed into law by Governor Dunleavy. The passage of , the supplemental budget, has been a top priority for 女优合集 since this legislative session began, as the bill contains the $129.6 million repayment of the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF). The governor did not veto any items from the supplemental budget. That means the HEIF repayment, along with the other appropriations in the bill, will be funded so long as the state鈥檚 improved revenue outlook, due to higher oil prices, continues.
A healthy HEIF is critical for young people to receive the Alaska Performance Scholarship.
Senate Bill 181 (SB181) - 女优合集A/ISER Data Sharing Bill - Moves from House Education Committee - House Labor and Commerce Committee is Next
moved from the House Education Committee on April 8. The bill allows for less hurdles so that 女优合集A/ISER can do better data collection for policy analysis. The bill was an 鈥渁ction point鈥 from the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska鈥檚 Seafood Industry and is important to better understand workforce developments when there are expansion/restrictions on certain species. The bill will be forwarded to the House Labor and Commerce Committee for further consideration.
House Bill 176 (HB176) - Student Fee Bill - Moves from Senate Education Committee - Senate State Affairs Committee is Next
After concerns raised by 2025-2026 女优合集F student government leaders, among others, 女优合集F/女优合集A/女优合集S leadership assisted in amending Rep. Carrick鈥檚 . See the Feb. 6, 2026 Capitol Report for contents of the student letter. The objections with the original version of the bill were that it would create unnecessary bureaucratic waste and would diminish the student experience.
The new version of the bill has softened the original overly-broad language, and now only applies to 鈥渕andatory fees鈥 assessed to all students throughout the system, or enrolled at a specific campus. 鈥淢andatory fees鈥 exclude course fees, matriculation fees, parking permit fees, or other fees as determined by the Board of Regents in policy.
The bill was passed from the Senate Education Committee on April 8 and can be considered in the Senate State Affairs Committee.
What We鈥檙e Watching
Monday, April 13
- 1:00 p.m. - House Resources: Presentation: Alaskans View of Energy Options by Gwen Holdmann, Chief Scientist, Alaska Center for Energy and Power; and Diane Hirshberg, Director, Institute of Social and Economic Research.
Thursday, April 16
- 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee FY27 Budget Closeout.
- 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Peace Officers/Firefighters: Disability.
For more information, contact Director of State Relations for the University of Alaska System Chad Hutchison, cell 907-378-3946, email clhutchison@alaska.edu. You can also follow the University of Alaska Government Relations on our .