Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

March 14, 2025

Education Funding Update

This week, the House passed House Bill 69 to raise the Base Student Allocation and improve Alaska education funding. The bill, sponsored by Representative Rebecca Himschoot of Sitka, increases the Base Student Allocation by $1,000, a $250 million annual increase in education funding. The legislation does not contain future increases to account for inflation that were part of earlier versions of the legislation.

House Bill 69 also incorporates important policy changes along with the funding increase. Some of the bill provisions include:

• Establishing a task force to assess public education funding and policy improvements
• Establishing a three-year open enrollment trial program that allows students to choose any school in their district
• Implementing annual reporting requirements on enrollment, spending, and academic outcomes for correspondence study programs
• Creating a financial incentive program to help support the Alaska Reads Act
• Creating a process for charter schools to appeal to the Board of Education if their contracts are terminated
• Requiring school districts to regulate cell phone use in public schools

The bill passed the House 24-16 on Wednesday. Next stop: the Senate, where the Education Committee has scheduled hearings starting on Monday, March 17.

Moving forward, we are working with everyday Alaskans, the governor, and all legislators in the House and Senate to find common ground on public education funding and reasonable public education policies.

The Alaska Constitution requires that we provide “a system of public education open to all children of the state.” It is essential that we adequately fund our public schools. Education is our best investment in Alaska’s future. 

Legislation Update

 This week, two of our bills moved out of committee.

Senate Bill 83: Telehealth Pay Parity

Senate Bill 83 will require that health care insurers in the State of Alaska reimburse health care services provided using telehealth at the same rate as in-person services. This legislation centers on the principle of pay parity, ensuring providers receive equivalent compensation for delivery of comparable care, regardless of whether it’s provided in person or remotely using communications technology.

SB 83 moved out of the Senate Health & Social Services Committee on Thursday, March 13 and is headed to the Senate Finance Committee.

Senate Bill 54: Extend the AELS Board; Register Interior Designers

Senate Bill 54 extends the Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors. The bill adds a pathway to licensure in Alaska for Registered Interior Designers who are qualified based on experience, education, and examination requirements.

SB 54 moved out of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Wednesday, March 12 and is also headed to the Senate Finance Committee.

Community Information

Anchorage Municipal Election Information

The Anchorage Municipal Election is Tuesday, April 1st.

-> Voting by Mail

Anchorage Elections are conducted by mail. The Municipality sent the ballots our earlier this week, and everyone will receive their ballot in the mail. After you fill out your ballot, make sure to sign the envelope. You can return your ballot in the mail with first-class postage or to one of 18 secure Municipal ballot dropboxes. There are three dropboxes in West Anchorage:

• Dimond High School
• Spenard Community Rec Center
• West Anchorage High School

You must deliver your ballot to a dropbox by 8 PM on Tuesday April 1st. Or you can send your ballot through the mail with first class postage. If you send your ballot through the mail, it must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, April 1st.

-> Voting in-person

If you don’t want to vote by mail, you can still vote in-person on election day. There are three locations to vote in-person:

• Anchorage City Hall
• Loussac Library
• Eagle River Town Center

In-person voting is open:

Weekdays, March 25–31, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 29, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.​

Election Day, April 1, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

-> Voting at a temporary address

If you will be away and unable to receive your ballot at your registered mailing address before Election Day, you may request that the Municipal Clerk send your ballot to a temporary address by completing the Application to Vote at a Temporary Address​​​​​​​​. Applications to vote at a temporary address must be received by the Municipal Clerk's Office by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 25, one week before Election Day. You can find that application here.

-> Additional information

For questions, the Anchorage voter hotline is 907-243-VOTE (8683).

You can find more information about the election, including how to vote as well as candidate and proposition information, on the Anchorage Municipal Website: muni.org/elections.

To learn more about the candidates and ballot propositions, click here.

When Alaskans vote, Alaska wins!

Community Events

Anchorage Delegation Town Hall

When: Saturday, April 5th from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Where: Cuddy Hall, UAA (3400 Seawolf Dr)

The Anchorage Delegation is hosting its annual town hall on April 5th at Cuddy Hall on the UAA campus.

Delegation co-chairs Rep. Donna Mears and Sen. James Kaufman are excited to present this forum for the public to share their concerns about our city and our state.

We will livestream this event here, on this event page. Light refreshments will be provided in the room.

You can learn more at the facebook event page.

Community Councils

Bayshore/Klatt Community Council

When: Thursday, March 20 starting at 7:00 PM

Where: Hybrid. In person at Bayshore Clubhouse (3131 Amber Bay Loop) or via Zoom. Click here for details.

Spenard Community Council

When: Wednesday, April 2nd from 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Where: In person at Spenard Recreation Center (2020 W 48th Ave). Click here for more information.

Turnagain Community Council

When: Thursday, April 3rd, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM

Where: Online only via Zoom. Click here for more information.

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, April 14th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Where: In person at Sand Lake Elementary School (7500 Jewel Lake Rd) or via Zoom. Click here for details.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Sen. Matt Claman

CONTACT INFORMATION

(907) 465-4919

Sen.Matt.Claman@akleg.gov

State Capitol Bldg. Rm 429

Juneau, Alaska 99801

https://www.alaskasenate.org/matt-claman/