Ů�źϼ�

Capitol Report: March 6, 2026

March 6, 2026

Ů�źϼ� House Finance Subcommittee Closes - Employee Compensation, Public Safety and Student Mental Health Services Funded for Ů�źϼ�A, Ů�źϼ�F, and Ů�źϼ�S; Public Testimony Opportunities Coming up

Rep. Galvin Strongly Supports the University and Closes Out the Ů�źϼ� House Finance Subcommittee

The Ů�źϼ� House Finance Subcommittee closed on Monday, March 2 having funded many of the Ů�źϼ� System’s budget priorities. Rep. Galvin, as well as Rep. Schrage, Rep. Hannan, Rep. Jimmie, Rep. Foster, Rep. Josephson, Rep. Moore, Rep. Stapp, Rep. Tomaszewski, Rep. Allard, and Rep. Bynum should be thanked for their thoughtful questions. We encourage all our Ů�źϼ� family, when appropriate, (see below “Public Testimony” section for more details) to reach out to these offices to express gratitude and encourage their continued support!  

Here’s the breakdown for what was funded in the House subcommittee close-out:

1. Full compensation for Ů�źϼ� employees - $9.8M
2. Ů�źϼ�A public safety request - $500K
3. Ů�źϼ�A student mental health request - $440K
4. Ů�źϼ�F campus safety request - $326K
5. Ů�źϼ�F student mental health request (clinical psychology) - $350K
6. Ů�źϼ�S improving campus safety and physical security - $250K
7. Ů�źϼ�S student mental health and life skills support - $175K

Next, these budget items will be considered by the House Finance Committee as part of the overall operating budget. The items still may be subject to change.  

Legislation Benefiting Ů�źϼ�A’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) Gets Hearing Scheduled for Next Week

(SB181), which is carried by Senator Stevens, at the request of the Joint Alaska Seafood Industry Task Force, has been scheduled in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee for March 9 and 1:30PM. The bill takes a meaningful step toward modernizing Alaska’s data infrastructure to better serve the state’s workforce, fisheries, education system, and policy-makers. It is heavily supported by ISER and will significantly improve policy making, based on data, throughout the state.   

Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) Replenishment Rescheduled to March 9 on Senate Floor

(HB289), is one of the most important bills moving this session. It includes the $129.6M  replenishment of the HEIF, which is critical for long term stability of the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS).  The APS is important for many young people in Alaska and helps fund their post-secondary education.  The bill has now been scheduled to be heard on the Senate floor on March 9.  

In order to replenish the HEIF, ¾ of the legislature (House and Senate) will need to support a draw from the Constitutional Budget Reserve. If the Senate approves the draw, the bill will return to the House for further consideration.    

Senate Bill 140 (SB140), the Legislation Supporting a State Fire Station Fund, Passes Senate  (SB140) passed the Senate on March 4.  It has been sent to the House Finance Committee.  The bill establishes the Fire Station Grant Program and promotes a robust partnership between local communities and the state to strengthen safety and security. This matching grant program provides funding for up to 50 percent of the total project cost for constructing or renovating fire stations.  Ů�źϼ�F’s fire station may be a recipient of these needed funds, once the money becomes available. 

Ů�źϼ�S Chancellor Palmer Meets with Legislators on Key Topics

Dr. Bridget Weiss Testifies on the University of Alaska College of Education Consortium in the Senate Education Committee

Dr. Weiss testified about the good work being done and highlighted a number of key issues for the Senate Education Committee.  Those issues included, but are not limited to: 

• Increased Fall 2026 enrollment at Ů�źϼ�F (up 85 students from Fall 2025) 
• Ů�źϼ�S developing Masters of Arts in Teaching, Indigenous Languages 
• Progress with Ů�źϼ�A’s apprenticeship program

A full review of the Senate Education Committee presentation can be found .

Ů�źϼ�F Drone Program Presents to Legislature

Ů�źϼ�F’s Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft System Integration (ACŮ�źϼ�SI) was before the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday to talk about the future of innovation in Alaska and how ACŮ�źϼ�SI is partnering with businesses, government, tribal health consortiums, and others to move Alaska forward. 

The presentation from Dr. Catherine Cahill, ACŮ�źϼ�SI Director, and John Robinson, Deputy Director, can be viewed on .  

Ů�źϼ� Foundation Board of Directors Meets in Juneau at Ů�źϼ�S

The Ů�źϼ� Foundation Board of Directors made their annual visit to Ů�źϼ�S for their Spring Board meeting.  

At the meeting, they welcomed four new Board members:

• Bill Bailey - Vice President, Business Development Officer, Northrim Bank
• Tanya Kaquatosh - Chief Operating Officer, Doyon, Limited
• Amy Cook - Fairbanks Manager, TOTE Maritime Alaska
• Melissa Kookesh - Permit Facilitator, Alaska Broadband Office Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, State of Alaska

Public Testimony

The House Finance Committee will be taking public testimony on the state operating budget next week. The schedule below shows the dates and times when Alaskans from across the state can call in to share their thoughts on the budget. 

Committee call in numbers: 

From Anchorage: (907) 563-9085

From Juneau: (907) 586-9085

All other callers: (844) 586-9085

Remember that the Executive Branch Ethics Act, and Board of Regents’ policy set limits on partisan political activities by university employees. This "Compliance Chat" provides a brief yet comprehensive overview of the guidelines aimed at avoiding potential issues concerning political activity.  

What We’re Watching

Monday, March 9

• 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental. Subcommittee Closeout Reports.
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental. Subcommittee Closeout Reports. 
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Finance: : Retirement Systems; Defined Benefit Option. Testimony from Ů�źϼ�A’s Institute of Social and Economic Research. 
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Labor & Commerce: : Employment Information Disclosure. 

Tuesday, March 10

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental. Subcommittee Closeout Reports. 

Wednesday, March 11

• 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental.
• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: : Retirement Systems; Defined Benefit Option. 
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental. 
• Public Testimony: Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Glennallen, Valdez, Wrangell, Homer, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Seward, Tok, Off-Net Callers. 
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Labor & Commerce: Presentation: Ů�źϼ�F’s Integrated Workforce Development Pipeline: From Technical Training to Engineering Leadership by William Schnabel, Dean, Ů�źϼ�F College of Engineering and Mines; Kevin Alexander, Dean, Ů�źϼ�F Community and Technical College.
• 4:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental. 
• Public Testimony: Off-Net Callers. 

Thursday, March 12

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee: FY27 Budget Request. 
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental. 
• Public Testimony: Fairbanks, Kenai, Bethel, Cordova, Kotzebue, Nome, Utqiagvik, Off-Net Callers. 

Friday, March 13

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: : Appropriations: Operating Budget; Amend; Supplemental. 
• Public Testimony: Anchorage, Mat-Su, Off-Net Callers. 

---

Read last week's Capitol Report here.