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Education was the primary focus of this year’s Legislative session for the Senate Bipartisan Majority. Legislators started the first day of session working on HB69, the bill that sought to increase the Base Student Allocation by $1000 but was stripped of most of the controversial non-performance measures. The bill passed the legislature in mid-April by a slim 32-28 vote but then was vetoed two weeks later by Governor Dunleavy.
Legislators failed to override the veto by Governor Dunleavy and began to compromise on another education bill. HB57 was originally a simple policy bill to create a statewide school cellphone ban but several accountability measures, reporting requirements and a smaller $700 base student allocation were added in this compromise bill. The bill passed both houses with an overwhelming combined vote of 48 to 11. A veto occurred on the last possible day on Monday of this week and legislators were forced into a Joint Session to override the veto by Governor Dunleavy.
On Tuesday morning, the House and Senate overrode Governor Dunleavy’s veto of the omnibus education bill by a vote of 46-14. There was no debate. Lawmakers had worked diligently on legislation for the last four months while the Governor was absent from Juneau and unwilling to negotiate in good faith with the legislative branch.
I am proud to support this bipartisan, bicameral effort to give a small amount of aid to school districts, improve performance measures, create new avenues to support charters schools, make schools accountable for the funding they receive and help correspondence students. I am also proud that our legislature came together instead of being bullied by the Governor.
I hope this signals a future willingness for the Legislative Branch to get better engaged in guiding the state as the Legislature is the people’s branch of government and necessary for a strong republic.
| | Austerity Budget Passes Both Chambers | | |
Over the weekend, a conference committee finished the final report which reconciled the budgets with compromises between both the House and Senate. The conference committee budget spends $1.7 billion less in state funds than the Governor’s original proposed budget. The final budget includes a Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) of $1,000 per person and an FY2026 budget $381 million lower than last year's post-supplemental funding level, about a 6% year-over-year reduction in spending.
The budget is one of the tightest of budgets in the past 12 years. Tax breaks for big oil corporations adopted in 2014 have resulted in a precipitous decline in revenues from our oil resources, a drawdown from savings, a smaller PFD and budget cuts to many state agencies of which people rely on. During the same years-promises of millions of barrels of oil, more jobs and more producers has never precipitated and in fact, there are fewer barrels of oil, fewer jobs and fewer oil corporations doing business in Alaska today then there was in 2013.
The budget today prioritizes education, social services and primary services of the constitution like public safety and the University. It is based on a premise that oil will continue to be $66 a barrel (today it is at $65), the federal government continues to support essential health like Medicaid, SNAP food benefits and LIHEAP heating assistance. It also expects that the stock/bond markets will perform better so that the Permanent Fund will create enough investment earnings to cover the budget. All three major sources of revenue are rather precarious at the moment, so Alaska should consider alternatives that must include more, strategic cuts, revenue replacements for loss of federal funds and new revenues-like cutting major tax subsidies to oil and gas corporations.
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Last week I wrote about SB64, the Elections Omnibus bill that contained portions of legislation from the previous three Legislatures. Over the last five years, I have worked with Governor Dunleavy and the former Chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee, Senator Mike Shower (R-Wasilla) and the Rules Committee Chairman Senator Wielechowski to modernize state election laws. If SB64 had passed this year, it would have made for safer elections, smarter registration/voting and speedier results.
Unfortunately, the bill stumbled in the last two weeks of session as the Finance Committee had other priority bills and some of the detailed negotiations went unheard. It was a major disappointment to our office since we have worked closely with so many stakeholders, individuals with good ideas and even other states to enact the best policies. It’s my hope that the State Affairs Committee will take the lead on another version of an elections bill or continue to work through the bill that is currently in the House Finance Committee.
I am particularly excited to have a group from the National Conference of State Legislatures to host in Anchorage in the beginning of next month. The Elections and Redistricting Standing Committee will have a policy planning week to discuss best practices in elections reforms, interstate policies to track voters and federal election law. Of course, the legislators from other states will be excited to view the majestic scenery and maybe even catch a halibut!
| Working to Curb Predatory Payday Lending | |
Each year approximately 15,000 Alaskans take out payday loans, generally due to desperation. Current statutes allow short-term lenders to charge higher interest rates than traditional loans, thus taking advantage of those living paycheck to paycheck. Additionally, unlike local credit unions and banks, the 13 payday lending companies licensed in Alaska are all based out of state, sending millions of dollars in loan repayments out of the economy every year.
A bill that I first worked on with Representative John Coghill (R-North Pole) came around again and I was happy to support it this year. Senate Bill 39 by Senator Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage) passed the House on Tuesday and would remove the special exceptions for short-term lenders and hold them to the same rules and regulations as all lenders. It is my hope that we can protect low-income Alaskans from predatory lending practices. SB39 now just needs Governor Dunleavy’s signature to become law.
| | The U.S. Cannot Break Promises | | |
In 2006, the United States established the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program as part of the Afghan Allies Protection Act to assist Afghani nationals who assisted our national efforts during the wars in the Middle East. Many of these Afghan and Iraqi allies were helping our US troops as interpreters, machinists and medics and sacrificing their own safety to an autocratic regime.
However, just last week, President Trump and Secretary Noem announced an end to the special visa and the parole efforts of these individuals who are living in the US. Deporting these allies back to the country they fought, against the regimes that they fought along side the United States would put them and their families at great risk for retribution. House Joint Resolution 13 urges the President of the United States to expand evacuation efforts for applicants with approved Special Immigrant Visas and to expedite these immigrant visas.
These people fought with us against a common enemy and America owes it to these individuals and their families right now. I was pleased to be able to carry this resolution on behalf of my colleague Rep. Will Stapp who twice was deployed to Iraq during his service.
| | More Highlights Once the Dust Settles... | | There are many other ‘wins’ and ‘losses’ to discuss over the next several months. While the session is adjourned until next January, much of the work of the legislature happens during the ‘interim’ months and summer. To this end, we will have regular office hours, celebrate the summer with Picnics in the Park, meet you at town hall meetings or just see you around town. Again, please reach out to my office if there are any questions by calling 907.456.7423 or sending an email. | | |
My Staff and I are Here for You
As always, I will continue to keep you updated on what I’m working on in Juneau throughout the session. If you have any questions about anything going on in the Capitol or at home, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email – as always, my staff and I are working for you. We will assist you with the issues important to you and your family.
| | Working Hard for Fairbanks Families, | | |
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Senator
Serving the City of Fairbanks, Ft. Wainwright & Badger Road
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As your Senator, I am here to listen and help. Contact me anytime. | | | | | |
