Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

February 13, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, Alaska's Chief Justice Susan Carney delivered her second State of the Judiciary Address to the Legislature. She is the second female Chief Justice in Alaska.

This week, the Legislature passed a resolution extending the disaster declaration for Typhoon Halong, and the Legislature is considering a supplemental budget to meet federal matching funds for construction.

Education Funding

The Anchorage School District recently released their budget with $90 million worth of cuts to teachers, sports, nurses, counselors, and more. To read more about that budget, click here.

State of the Judiciary

On February 11^th Chief Justice Carney gave the State of the Judiciary Address to a Joint Session of the Legislature. Chief Justice Carney is the second female Chief Justice on the Alaska Supreme Court. And with the appointment of Aimee Oravec last year, the Alaska Supreme Court has majority of female Justices for the first time.

One of the focuses of the address was the extended delays in reaching a disposition. She stated that although these delays may not be present in every case, it is still a prevalent issue. The Alaskan Court System has been working hard to lower the number of pending cases, which reached an all-time high of 20,000 cases during the pandemic. The current pending case count is lower than it was before the pandemic, as there are now only 12,000 pending cases. Chief Justice Carney explained that through Supreme Court Order 2038, the courts are now prioritizing the cases filed before 2023 that were already 2 years old or older.

Chief Justice Carney spoke about the Court System's request for another superior court judge in Palmer. The Palmer Superior Courts have been overloaded with cases in their district. The Court System has resorted to bringing in retired judges or judges from other districts to hear the oldest cases in Palmer. Bringing in other judges is not a long-term solution, and Chief Justice Carney highlighted the need for another judge and funding to update the Palmer courthouse. This request is addressed in SB 212 and HB 262.

Governor's Supplemental Budget Proposal

Statewide Transportation Matching Funds

Last year, the Governor vetoed state matching funds that would have unlocked $700 million in federal transportation funding. The matching funds come at a 10-1 ratio, meaning the Legislature needs to appropriate $70 million in state funds to access the full $700 million in federal funds. Failure to appropriate the Federal funds will result in fewer construction projects this season and will hurt construction businesses that depend on state contracts.

Late last year, the Governor issued a supplemental budget request for the current fiscal year that includes adding the $70 million back into the budget. The Governor proposes taking the money for the supplemental budget from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, which acts as the State's rainy-day fund and requires a 3/4 vote in both the House and Senate to access the funds. The 3/4 vote is a high requirement.

The supplemental budget funds items that need additional money for the current fiscal year, which started on July 1st, 2025 and ends on June 30th, 2026.

Legislation Update

Disaster Declaration Extension

This week, the Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 to extend the disaster emergency declaration for Western Alaska. In October, Typhoon Halong inundated villages in Western Alaska and inflicted particular destruction on Kwigillingok and Kipnuk. Residents of these and other impacted villages evacuated their communities. Recovery and reconstruction in those communities will be difficult and expensive.

The Governor's initial disaster declaration expired after 30 days. Senate President Stevens and House Speaker Edgmon approved extensions of that declaration for the months of November, December, and January. To keep extending the declaration, however, the Legislature must approve the extension when we are in Regular Session. The resolution passed the Senate 19-0. We were surprised when the House did not pass this resolution unanimously, as House Minority members expressed concerns about fiscal aspects of the resolution. After some review, the House passed SCR 12 with a vote of 22-18.

The Governor requested permission from the Legislature to spend $39.25 million for disaster response relief. And the Governor has requested an additional $40 million from the Constitutional Budget Reserve to replenish the state disaster relief fund, which is nearly depleted.

Senate Bill 20: CPR Curriculum

Senate Bill 20 enhances the quality of health education within our state's public school system by requiring a CPR curriculum for students. This curriculum focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to increase the number of CPR-trained bystanders. The bill passed the Senate 19-0.

This summer, I witnessed the importance of CPR first-hand. As a trained EMT, I've received hundreds of hours of EMT training, but I've never had to use it. While boating the Grand Canyon this summer, my friend flipped his boat and hit a rock. When I pulled him from the water, he was not breathing. Using rescue breaths that I have learned through years of CPR training, he started breathing again and he is alive today.

I was pleased to support this bill to increase CPR education and save lives.

Reminder: 2026 Constituent Survey

Community Information

→ Alaska Constitution: A Citizen's Guide

First published in 1982, A Citizen's Guide to Alaska's Constitution provides the public with an overview of the state constitution.

"This book is about the origin and evolution of Alaska’s constitution. It discusses how the delegates to Alaska’s constitutional convention approached the subjects of the various articles; and it touches on the key ideas, words, phrases, judicial interpretations, and political history associated with the sections of each article. It provides a guided tour through Alaska’s basic law, written for the citizen who wants to learn more about the state constitution as well as practitioners who interact with the law every day." Harrison, G. S., & Fischer, V. (2025). A citizen’s guide to the Alaska Constitution (6th ed.). Alaska Historical Commission.

The guide was most recently updated in 2025 (6th ed.) and is available online.

Citizen's Guide to the Constitution

→ Transit on the Move Phase 5 Survey

Transit on the Move is the transit plan for the Municipality of Anchorage. This plan examines how the current transit system is operating and helps determine what's next; where they should add or modify service and how they can make the system better. The 2025 Plan is in its final phase! You can share your top 5 transit project priorities in the survey found here.

Community Events

Spring Fling: 80's Night

When: Saturday, February 14th 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Where: Alaska Botanical Garden (4601 Campbell Airstrip Road)

Dance your hearts out at Spring Fling: 80s Night!

On February 14th, Brighter Winter Nights is getting a Valentine's Day makeover! Complete with photo ops, 21+ beer garden, live DJs, food trucks, and the chance to rock your best 80s outfit while running through a life-size PAC-MAN SNOW MAZE!

All ages are welcome! Only guests ages 21+ may enter the beer garden, so don't forget your ID to enjoy Cynosure Brewing and Hive Mind Meadery ($7 drink tickets sold at entry). Food trucks Boom Ba Laddy's and Babycakes Cupcakes will be onsite available for purchase. All other activities are included with price of admission: $12 - non members | $8 - members | FREE for children ages 6 and under!

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.