SB 5 requires school boards to budget for group insurance or self-insurance coverage for school district employees, University of Alaska staff, and other state government employees. The bill amends Alaska statutes to mandate that school boards allocate funds specifically for insurance participation as part of their annual budgeting process. This ensures costs for employee coverage are formally included in school district finances without altering the insurance benefits themselves. The legislation establishes a clear budgeting requirement for these coverage costs across eligible public sector employees.
SB 197 requires all Alaska public schools to provide 60 minutes daily (or 300 weekly) of mathematics instruction for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It mandates school districts to use state-approved, evidence-based math materials and assessments, including a screening test within 30 days of each school term, to track student progress and identify those needing intervention. The bill also requires the Department of Education to create a teacher credential for K-8 math educators demonstrating competency in evidence-based teaching practices. These provisions directly affect school districts, educators, and K-8 students across Alaska by standardizing math instruction, assessment, and teacher qualifications.
SB 201 requires Alaska superior courts to report specific data on involuntary commitment orders to the Department of Public Safety by December 31, 2026. The bill targets court records related to involuntary commitments under Alaska Statutes 47.30.735-47.30.755 and related mental health disability orders under 47.30.851(b), focusing on information previously not submitted. This procedural requirement aims to improve data collection on mental health commitments without changing eligibility or treatment standards. The bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on January 23, 2026, after initial committee referral.
SB 222 requires Alaska's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to conduct periodic reviews of all executive branch agencies every six years. It mandates agencies to submit annual reports on their mission fulfillment, cost-effectiveness, and performance metrics, with the audit division verifying this data. The review process includes public hearings and evaluates agencies based on specific criteria like budget efficiency, service quality, and whether activities align with statutory mandates. The committee then issues recommendations for termination, continuation, or reorganization, supported by draft legislation. This bill directly affects all state agencies by establishing a structured, transparent process for evaluating their ongoing necessity and effectiveness.
SJR 23 proposes constitutional amendments to Alaska's Permanent Fund, requiring that 50% of annually withdrawable funds (limited to 5% of the fund's average value over the prior five years) be paid directly as dividends to eligible Alaska residents. The bill also mandates that at least 25% of mineral revenue must fund the Permanent Fund, with all fund income retained in the state's general fund unless otherwise specified. It allows the remaining 50% of withdrawable funds to support state government operations. This constitutional change requires voter approval at the next general election.
This bill limits annual state spending increases to 5% plus changes in population and inflation, excluding specific funds like the permanent fund, mental health trust accounts, and certain bond proceeds. It applies to most state budget items, requiring spending to stay within the previous year's level adjusted for population growth (based on Labor Department estimates) and inflation (using Anchorage CPI data). The limit includes carryover funds from the prior fiscal year. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.
HB 279 requires that schools, youth sports associations, and the University of Alaska mandate only vaccines with full U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for participation. It also mandates that healthcare providers give parents or guardians a copy of the CDC's vaccine risks/benefits statement or FDA emergency use fact sheet before administering vaccines to minors. The bill directly affects school districts, athletic associations, the University of Alaska, healthcare providers, and parents of children under 18. Key provisions standardize vaccine requirements to FDA-approved options and ensure parents receive clear vaccine information. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 254 limits annual increases in property tax assessments to 5% unless based on a new improvement to the property or previously unknown information. This directly affects property owners in Alaska, as it restricts how much their assessed value (and thus tax bills) can rise each year. The bill amends existing law to add this cap, meaning assessors cannot raise values beyond 5% without meeting the specific exceptions. Previously, there was no such annual limit on assessment increases.
HB 268 exempts electric cooperatives from state and local property, income, and excise taxes. It also creates tax exemptions for new electricity generation and storage facilities built after July 1, 2024, if operated by public utilities or serving only other utilities or new customers without prior service as of July 2026. The bill adjusts tax refund rules, requiring local governments to receive refunds based on where cooperative revenue was earned, except when earned outside city limits. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
HB 277 updates Alaska's trust laws to enhance privacy and streamline dispute resolution. It requires courts to seal trust-related records (protecting settlor and beneficiary privacy) and creates a new process for parties to resolve routine trust matters - like asset management, trustee changes, or trust terms - through binding nonjudicial settlement agreements without court approval. This directly affects trust creators, beneficiaries, trustees, and fiduciaries by reducing court involvement for common trust issues. The bill specifies that such agreements must align with the trust's purpose and can cover 11 specific matters, including trust interpretation, trustee compensation, or termination.
HB 275 sets a 5% annual limit on increases to most state government spending in Alaska, adjusted for population growth and inflation. It applies to general fund appropriations (excluding permanent fund dividends, mental health trust funds, and specific bond-related spending), requiring that new annual spending cannot exceed the previous year's total by more than 5% plus these adjustments. The bill uses Anchorage's Consumer Price Index for inflation and annual population estimates from the Department of Labor to calculate the adjusted cap. This bill affects all state budget allocations subject to the limit and takes effect July 1, 2027.
HB 274 requires Alaska's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to conduct a periodic review (every six years) of all state executive agencies. The Legislative Audit Division would manage this process, requiring agencies to submit annual reports by January 1st on their mission progress, cost-effectiveness, and service delivery. The review evaluates agencies using specific criteria, including whether they meet statutory goals, operate efficiently, and if services could be provided more cost-effectively. Based on this evaluation, the division would recommend whether an agency should be terminated, continued, or reorganized, with draft legislation to implement those recommendations. This bill applies directly to all state executive agencies subject to sunset review.
