Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

May 22, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Legislature adjourned Sine Die from the regular session on Wednesday. The Governor called us into special session immediately afterwards at 10am on Thursday, May 21st to consider legislation for a gasline.

In the last week of session, we passed important legislation, including the consolidated public safety legislation and several other priority bills.

And the Governor vetoed House Bill 78 establishing a pension. The Legislature met immediately in joint session to consider overriding that veto, but the vote failed and the veto was sustained.

Please read on for more information.

The Governor Calls a Special Session

The 120th day of session was Wednesday, May 20th. The Alaska Constitution requires that the Legislature adjourn no later than 120 days after convening. On Wednesday, the 34th Legislature adjourned Sine Die. Because this was the 2nd year of session, all legislation that did not pass is now dead.

The Governor called a special session beginning on Thursday, May 21st at 10am. The Legislature did not pass the Governor's proposed tax cuts for a gas line before regular session adjourned. The special session will focus solely on legislation to enable a gas line.

Passed Legislation

House Bill 239, the public safety bill, passed the Senate 20-0 and the House 39-1.

→ HB 239: Consoidated Public Safety Bill

House Bill 239 includes over ten priority bills to improve public safety in Alaska, including raising the age of consent from 16 to 18, banning AI-generated child sexual abuse material, and increasing penalties for drivers who fail to stop and assist when they cause an injury. Passed the Legislature 5/20

→ HB 314: Architects, Engineers, Landscape Surveyors (AELS)

HB 314 extends the AELS board and includes a registered interior designer seat on the board. It also provides a pathway to licensure for qualified interior designers. This license would fortify the workforce and allow qualified professionals to provide services independently without the need for customers to hire a higher-cost architect. Passed the Legislature 5/16

→ SB 252: Uniform Commercial Code

The Uniform Commercial Code ensures that private parties doing business have stable and uniform laws regardless of where they operate their business. Every state, including Alaska, uses the Uniform Commercial Code already. SB 252 incorporates improvements to the UCC that will update our laws for digital assets. Passed the Legislature 5/20

→ SB 41: Mental Health in Schools

Senate Bill 41 recognizes the importance of mental health education for our young people and directs the Department of Education and Early Development to adopt guidelines for mental health curriculum. Passed the Legislature 5/20

→ HB 52: Minors and Psychiatric Hospitals

House Bill 52 adds transparency, communication, and accountability to youth psychiatric hospitals. It requires DOH to publish an annual report on the use of restraint. And it requires telecommunication between youth and their parents and guardians for 2 hours a week. Passed the Legislature 5/17

→ HB 133: Prompt Payment

House Bill 133 seeks to ensure timely payment from the State of Alaska to parties that provide essential support under state agreements. The State relies on nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal organizations to deliver critical services to Alaskans. HB 133 would levy penalties and interest against the state when payments are delayed. Passed the Legislature 5/17

→ HB 28: Teacher Student Loan Program

HB 28 creates a three-year pilot program to help teachers in hard-to-fill roles in Alaska repay their student loans. It authorizes a $43.7 million one-time energy cost relief payment to school districts and a 10 percent increase in state per-pupil transportation funding. And it includes reporting requirements for Alaska’s correspondence study programs. Passed the Legislature 5/20

Budget Update

Operating Budget

The operating budget passed the House and Senate and now goes to the governor. Due to higher oil prices than anticipated, additional funding was available to support essential services. Some of the appropriations will depend on oil prices staying high. The operating budget includes:

A $1,000 dividend with a $200 energy relief check
$1.27 billion for K-12 public education
$144 million outside of the BSA to Alaska’s school districts. This funding includes a one-time $115 million investment and $29.1 million in energy relief grants. A portion of this education funding depends on the price of oil in the coming weeks.
$8 million for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
$15 million for bulk fuel loans for rural Alaska

Capital Budget

Over $32 million for deferred maintenance for the University of Alaska to fund the top 18 projects listed
$93.6 million for K-12 deferred maintenance, including rural school infrastructure, to fund the top 33 projects on the major maintenance list
$9.3 million to the renewable energy fund
$15 million for the Port of Alaska

The Governor Vetoes the Pension Bill

On Monday, the Governor vetoed House Bill 78, which established a pension for public employees. Alaska has one of the worst retirement systems in the nation, and many of our teachers, public safety workers, and other public servants are unable to retire with dignity.

On Monday, Governor Dunleavy vetoed the bill. The Legislature met in joint session to consider overriding the veto. We needed 40 votes to override it, but only 33 Legislator voted to override.

The veto is discouraging. A pension for our public employees would help alleviate severe vacancies in our public services and slow the outmigration of working families from Alaska.

Happy Memorial Day

Community Events

Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Summit

When: Wednesday, May 27 at 8:00 am - Thursday May 28 at 5pm

Where: Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center

MMIP Red Dress Gala

When: Friday, May 29 from 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Where: Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center

Join us for a powerful two-part event focused on raising awareness, fostering education, and building advocacy around the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis impacting Alaska and Indigenous communities across the nation.

Hosted by the MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group Partners:

Alaska Native Women's Resource Center

Alaska Native Justice Center

Data for Indigenous Justice

Native Movement

Together, we honor our loved ones and work toward justice, healing, and change. For more information and purchase tickets, click here.