Legislature Moves Forward with a New Education Bill

Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

May 2, 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The latest bill to fund public education is House Bill 57. Introduced as a bill to regulate the use of cell phones in schools, the Senate added a $700 Base Student Allocation increase, a 10% increase in student transportation, improved policies for charter schools, and more.

The bill now goes to Governor Dunleavy for his consideration.

House Bill 57: The New Education Funding Bill

Governor Dunleavy vetoed House Bill 69 last week. The bill would have permanently raised the Base Student Allocation by $1,000 without additional policy changes. To review that bill, click here.

As required by Article II, Section 16 of the Alaska Constitution, the Legislature met in Joint Session on Tuesday to consider overriding the veto. The vote failed 33 - 27. For a non-appropriations veto, the Legislature needs 40 out of 60 Legislators to approve the override.

Representative Zack Fields (HD 17) introduced House Bill 57 to regulate cell phone use in schools. Last week, the Senate amended HB 57 to include education funding and important education policies. They increased the BSA by $700 and pupil transportation by 10%. Further amendments include:·

Charter School Reforms: Allowing year-round application submissions, faster state appeal decisions (reduced from 90 days to 45 days), simplified contract renewals, and requiring written justification for termination or non-renewal.
Classroom Size Policy: Requiring districts to establish average target class sizes, generally not exceeding 23 students for PreK-Grade 6 and 30 students for Grades 7-12, with annual reporting to the education department.
Wireless Device Regulation: Prohibits student cellphone use during the school day unless the district adopts another policy.
Reading and Vocational-Tech Support: Establishing reading proficiency incentive grants (subject to appropriation) and increasing the secondary career and technical instruction funding factor (subject to appropriation), with funding contingent on the passage of related legislation.
Task Force: Creation of a legislative Task Force dedicated to analyzing education funding and accountability for future policy work.

The House concurred with the Senate version of HB 57 on April 30. It now goes to the Governor, who can sign the bill, let it become law without a signature, or veto it.

Community Information

Alaska Constitution PDF

Did you know that you can access the Alaska Constitution online? The Alaska Constitution is unique in many ways. It was written in Fairbanks over the winter of 1955-56 by 55 delegates, including 49 men and six women. There was a single Alaska Native delegate.

The Alaska Constitution Convention Delegates chose to leave much power to future legislatures, including broad principles rather than minute details. The Alaska Constitution is roughly half the size of the average state constitution.

Alaska's constitution grants strong power to the executive. Ours is the only constitution that requires a 3/4 vote to override a governor's appropriations veto. It is the highest threshold in the country.

Access the Alaska Constitution Online

Real ID

Alaska travelers! Still need a REAL ID? State of Alaska DMV can help. Check out their REAL ID checklist page.

Beginning May 7, 2025, the REAL ID Act will be enforced nationwide. This means you will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card—or another acceptable form of ID, such as a U.S. passport—to board federally regulated commercial aircraft or enter certain federal facilities.

Community Events

Free Legal Clinic

When: Saturday, May 3rd from noon to 4pm

Where: Fairview Recreation Center, 1121 E. 10th Ave

Anchorage residents can access free legal assistance on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from noon to 4 PM. The Alaska Bar Association and its partners, ACLU of Alaska and Sol de Medianoche news will host the event at the Fairview Recreation Center, 1121 E. 10^th Avenue in Anchorage.

Low-income individuals can receive advice on civil legal matters, including family law, immigration, housing, name changes, probate, and more.

For those unable to attend, we offer a 24/7 virtual legal clinic at alaska.freelegalanswers.org, where low-income Alaskans can ask three civil legal questions per year, to be answered by a licensed Alaska attorney.

Learn more about these clinic and other community legal resources by visiting https://alaskabar.org/for-our-community/

Amblin for Alzheimer's

When: Saturday, May 3rd at 9am

Where: Anchorage Golf Course

Join us in celebrating a remarkable milestone—Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska's 20th Annual Amblin' for Alzheimer's! This special event brings together our community to raise awareness and support for Alaskans affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

All funds raised stay in Alaska, directly supporting individuals living with Alzheimer's and related dementias, as well as their families and caregivers, through educational programs, support groups, and care coordination.

Let's come together to make this 20th anniversary the most impactful yet!

Anchorage Citywide Cleanup

When: Saturday May 3rd, 12pm - 3pm

Where: Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park

It’s springtime in Alaska and that means it’s time for the Anchorage Chamber Citywide Cleanup presented by Matson!

Come on out to Margaret Eagan Sullivan Park at Westchester Lagoon on Saturday, May 3 from 12–3 p.m. to register your crew, pick up bags, drop off trash, and learn how you can win $5,000 in prizes by cleaning up Anchorage.

So mark your calendars and we’ll see you at the Citywide Cleanup Kickoff – Saturday, May 3, at Westchester Lagoon near the boat launch!

Full Citywide Cleanup Detail Available Online:

https://www.anchoragechamber.org/citywide-cleanup.../

Anchorage Running Club Spring Cleanup

When: May 3rd, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Where: Behind the Peanut Farm

Let’s clean up our trails and have some fun! Meet us behind the Peanut Farm and help the Anchorage Running Club get the trails ready for summer. Bring friends and family! For more information, click here.

Anchorage Parks and Recreation Volunteer Opportunities

Find ways to volunteer throughout May at the Anchorage Parks and Rec volunteer webpage: https://pointapp.org/orgs/5686

Opportunities include painting campground picnic tables, helping at the Anchorage bike rodeo, joining the annual clean-up flotilla, and digging in to help at local gardens.