Capitol Report: April 17, 2026

April 17, 2026

Senate Finance Adds Funding for University Deferred Maintenance, Employee Compensation and Student Recruitment as State Budget Continues to Develop

The 90th day of the 2026 legislative session is quickly approaching, meaning the legislature has just over a month to complete its work before the regular session ends on May 20. This week, the House finalized their version of the FY27 operating budget, though the bill has not yet been transmitted to the Senate. The reason for the delay is likely because the Senate has not yet passed their version of the FY27 capital budget—it is not uncommon for both bodies to hold onto their budgets until they can be exchanged at the same time. That exchange could happen sometime next week. 

Senator Stedman Unveils Capital Budget, Boosts Needed Å®Óźϼ¯ Deferred Maintenance

The Senate Finance Committee released their proposed earlier this week, which addresses infrastructure and maintenance needs across Alaska. Senator Stedman, who oversees the capital budget, prioritized critical deferred maintenance funding in this budget, which is a growing problem for schools and public facilities around the state, including the university.

The Senate’s capital budget has just over $17 million for deferred maintenance projects across the Å®Óźϼ¯ System, which would fund the top three deferred maintenance needs at each university.

The Senate Finance Committee advanced their version of the capital budget, which will next go to the floor for consideration by all 20 members of the Senate. Sen. Stedman and Dave Scott, his staff, did terrific work for the Å®Óźϼ¯, including meeting on the different campuses throughout 2025 to see the maintenance needs first-hand.

Å®Óźϼ¯ Senate Finance Subcommittee Closes Out Under the Leadership of Sen. Kiehl

The University of Alaska Senate Finance Subcommittee held its closeout meeting yesterday morning, where Senator Kiehl (a champion of Juneau), Chair of the subcommittee, along with his excellent staff, Ella Adkison, outlined the actions taken by the subcommittee on the Å®Óźϼ¯ budget. Senator Kiehl fully-funded Å®Óźϼ¯â€™s employee compensation request, which is the Board of Regents’ highest-priority budget item this legislative session. Additionally, the subcommittee approved one-time state funding to help increase student recruitment at all three universities, as follows:

  • Å®Óźϼ¯S: $500,000 
  • Å®Óźϼ¯A: $375,000
  • Å®Óźϼ¯F: $338,000

Continuing the positive enrollment trends across the Å®Óźϼ¯ System is a key focus for the university, and the addition of this funding will help with those efforts. 

With the Å®Óźϼ¯ Senate Finance Subcommittee now closed out, the next step in the process will be the Senate Finance Committee introducing its version of the FY27 operating budget, which typically incorporates the actions taken by each of the finance subcommittees. 

Å®Óźϼ¯A/ISER Data Bill, SB181, Scheduled in the House Labor and Commerce Committee

continues to move. It is scheduled to be heard in the House Labor and Commerce Committee on April 20 and April 22.

SB 181 will help the entire state as procedural hurdles are eliminated for ISER when it is analyzing data points.  A more efficient sharing of data with the Department of Labor means more efficient/effective analysis when ISER is studying various economic issues around Alaska, including the seafood industry.   

What We’re Watching

Monday, April 20

  • 3:15 p.m. - House Labor & Commerce: : Employment Information Disclosure. 
  • 3:30 p.m. - Senate Education: : Teacher/State Employee Student Loan Program.

Tuesday, April 21

  • 3:30 p.m. - Senate State Affairs: : Legislative Commission on State Seal. 

Wednesday, April 22

  • 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: : Add Faculty Member to University Board of Regents. 
  • 1:30 p.m. - Senate Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental (Pending Referral). Committee Substitute Introduction. 
  • 3:15 p.m. - House Labor & Commerce: : Employment Information Disclosure. 

Thursday, April 23

  • 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Capital/Funds/Supplementals/Reappropriations (Pending Referral).
  • 3:15 p.m. - House Health & Social Services: Presentation: University of Alaska Anchorage College of Public Health: Health Talent Pipelines and Workforce Development by Chancellor Cheryl Siemers, Cary Moore, Associate Dean, and Andre Rosay, Associate Dean. 

Friday, April 24

  • 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Capital/Funds/Supplementals/Reappropriations (Pending Referral).
  • 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: : Retirement Systems; Defined Benefit Option. 
  • 1:00 p.m. - House Resources: Presentation: Alaskans Views of Energy Options by Gwen Holdmann, Chief Scientist, Alaska Center for Energy and Power; Diane Hirshberg, Director, Institute of Social and Economic Research. 
  • 1:30 p.m. - Senate Labor & Commerce: Presentation: Alaska LNG Pipeline Workforce Plan by Dirk Craft, Alaska Workforce Investment Board; Patrick Rose and Joey Crum, Northern Industrial Training.