HB 338 establishes the Alaska Work and Save Program, allowing employees without access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan to voluntarily contribute to retirement savings using their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) payments. The bill modifies the PFD application process to let eligible Alaskans direct $25-$100+ (in $50 increments) from their PFD toward the program, with automatic enrollment at a default contribution rate. The Department of Revenue will administer the program, handle contributions, and charge a 7% administrative fee (not deducted from PFD payments). This applies to all Alaska workers who earn compensation in the state and lack workplace retirement plans, using existing PFD funds rather than creating new government spending.
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.
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 172 gives Alaska's Corrections Commissioner new authority to reduce housing costs by consolidating facilities or sending prisoners to out-of-state facilities. It requires that prisoners with over seven years remaining in their sentence, placed out-of-state, be housed separately from non-residents. The Department of Corrections must annually estimate cost savings from these measures and report them, with potential state funding for education programs using those savings. The bill directly affects prison placement decisions, correctional facility operations, and state budget allocations. It focuses on measurable cost reductions rather than policy outcomes.
HJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Alaska's annual state spending to a percentage (capped at 15%) of the state's average real gross domestic product (GDP) over the previous five years. Certain spending, including permanent fund dividends, bond proceeds, disaster response, and specific public enterprise revenues, is exempt from this limit. To exceed the limit for capital projects or permanent fund appropriations, the legislature would need a three-fourths vote and voter approval, while regular spending beyond the limit would only be permitted for declared disasters. The amendment would apply to fiscal years starting in 2028 and requires voter approval at the next general election.
SB 36 would limit annual state appropriations (spending) to 12% of Alaska's average real gross domestic product (GDP) over the previous five years, adjusted for population growth and inflation. It specifically excludes certain spending types from this limit, including bond proceeds, disaster relief funds, permanent fund dividends, and some trust fund allocations. The governor would be required to report annually on how the state budget complies with this spending cap. This bill requires a constitutional amendment to take effect and is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.
HB 51 establishes a new state spending limit requiring annual appropriations to not exceed 12% of Alaska's average real gross domestic product (GDP) over the previous five years, adjusted for population growth and inflation. This directly affects the governor's budget process, as it mandates that all state spending (excluding certain bond proceeds, disaster funds, and specific trust accounts) must comply with this GDP-based cap. The bill also requires the governor to submit annual reports calculating how budget appropriations align with this limit and to update these reports with supplemental budget requests. The law is conditional on a future constitutional amendment that would exclude certain spending types (like bond proceeds) from the calculation, and it takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 100 would impose a 5% tax on all campaign spending made in Alaska for federal political campaigns, including media, salaries, consultants, and expenses required to be reported to the Federal Election Commission. This tax must be collected by the federal campaign and paid at the time of expenditure, with remittance to the state department. The bill directly affects federal candidates, committees, and political action committees conducting campaign activities within Alaska. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and is in addition to any local municipal taxes. The tax applies only to spending occurring within the state for federal elections.
