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This year, me and my fellow state legislators were determined to help the states education system. It is no secret that Alaskan schools have been struggling financially, some would say starving, due to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) remaining unchanged for years. There have been one time boosts to the BSA over the years, but there hasn’t been a permanent, stable increase that school districts can rely on to plan their budget in more than 10 years. The legislature introduced House Bill 69 this session with the mission rectify the stagnate funding of Alaskan schools. The bill included an increase to the BSA of $1,000, and had helpful policy that would have positively affected correspondence schools, charter schools and brick and mortar neighborhood schools alike. The need for HB69 was felt in both House and Senate as the bill was passed by the majority on both bodies. Unfortunately, despite the support from both sides, including my role as a cosponsor, Governor Dunleavey vetoed the bill, and the legislature didn’t have enough votes to override the veto.
With HB69 firmly vetoed the legislature needed a bill that dealt with education and already had some legislative momentum. That bill was House Bill 57. Originally, this was legislation aiming to mandate a statewide ban of cell phone use in schools. In its new form, the bill proposed a $700 BSA increase, an increase of $14.4 million dollars in funding for correspondence schools, increases for pupil transportation funding, and the formation of a task force to bring back recommendations to the legislature next year on how best to fund public schools. It also included some Charter School Reforms such as a year-round application process, reducing state appeal decisions to 45 days, simplified contract renewals and requiring written justification for termination or non-renewal of a charter school application. Some other policy pieces included in this bill were a “Classroom Size Policy” requiring districts to lower average target class sizes, a reading proficiency incentive grant program and the original cell phone ban that was contained in HB57.
Many of the additions to HB57 were compromise policy decisions that the legislature included in their education funding bill in an attempt to work with Governor Dunleavy who time and time again said he would not sign an education funding bill that did not also contain his pet education policies. Despite the legislature lowering the increase to the BSA by $300, adding extensive charter school reforms and including the Governor’s reading incentive program, Dunleavy still vetoed HB57 on May 19th. A day later, the legislature voted to override the Governor’s veto which made it the first time that happened since 2002. I am hopeful that HB57 will continue in the process of becoming a law without any more interference from Governor Dunleavy, but he still has line-item veto power when it comes to the operating budget. That is why it is important that the people of Alaska continue to reach out to the Governor’s office to advocate for our education system. Without proper funding, out students will continue to suffer from a subpar education system.
| | Biggest Disappointment: Elections Should be Speedier & Secure -- SB 64 Stalled | | |
Every legislative session contains both victories and disappointments and the biggest frustration I dealt with this year the stalling of election reforms. I re-entered into the legislature this year with the priority to help reform the voting system to make it more accessible for Alaskan citizens. Joining me in this goal were Senators Wielechowski and Shower as well as Representatives Carrick and Vance. Together we worked on Senate Bill 64 which is an omnibus election bill that is designed to modernize Alaskan election laws, make elections safer, registration and voting smarter and produce quicker election results. For example, currently mail in ballots require a witness signature to be valid. This legislation would remove that barrier for individuals who live solitary lifestyles. SB64 also included policy to ensure that the rural citizens of Alaska would have an equal and fair opportunity to vote by creating a rural community liaison position in the Division of Elections.
Over the past five years, legislators from both sides of the aisle have been collaborating on this legislation with the goal to pass it this session before the 2026 election cycle. I was initially encouraged this legislation would pass quickly through the Senate, but that did not happen. With the main priority of most legislator’s, including myself, being the stable funding of the Alaskan School System, most of the body’s energy went into passing that legislation. While SB64 did have some forward movement this session, it didn’t move as quickly as it could of due to education being the top priority.
Even with all the setbacks, SB64 did manage to pass the Senate floor and is currently in the House Finance Committee waiting to be heard by that body. Which means that this legislation still has a good chance of being passed into law next year. The question will now become; will this bill pass early enough during the next legislative session to affect the 2026 elections? It will be close, but if the House Finance Committee hears the bill quickly at the beginning of next session SB64 can become law in enough time for that to happen. So, part of the work I’ll be doing in the interim is speaking with my House colleagues about the importance of this legislation.
| | Bittersweet Compromise: The Budget (Reduced PFDs) | |
In December, before session began, Governor Dunleavy got Alaskans’ collective hopes up by proposing a budget that included both a full Permanent Fund Dividend as well as a $1.5-billion deficit. The state’s budget woes were compounded when the 2025 Revenue Forecast came out and announced that the prices for oil were the previously projected. Ever since the passing of legislation in 2013 changing the oil tax credit system in the state, we have been receiving less revenue from that industry and our budget has been feeling the strain.
One of the most important yearly duties of any legislature is to pass a balanced budget. The legislature was given a monumental task of cutting $1.5 billion dollars, so it was fortunate that the House and Senate were able to agree on the cuts that ensured the state didn’t have a deficit this year. It is unfortunate that it came at the cost of cutting the PFD to just $1000. A cut to the PFD is regressive and harms seniors on fixed incomes, poorer Alaskans, people who live in rural Alaska and children. It is a shame that there aren’t more tools that the legislature can use to balance the budget besides cutting spending. Several revenue producing legislations has been proposed, such as SB92 which is currently in the Senate Rules Committee and SB113 which is waiting transmittal to the Governor but have not been signed into law in time to have an affect on this and next years budgets.
Our current budget crisis isn’t a surprise for anyone whose been following Oil politics for the past 15 years. In the past, most of Alaska’s budget came from revenue generated by the oil and gas industry. Which made sense since Article VIII, Section 2 of the Alaskan State Constitution states, “The legislature shall provide for the utilization, development, and conservation of all natural resources belonging to the State, including land and waters, for the maximum benefit of its people.” For the last 12 years, Alaskans have failed to get a fair share for our resources particularly in oil and gas due to the passage of SB21 in 2013 which restructured the oil tax credit system. Oil producers at the time made bold promises if SB21 was passed: more oil, more jobs and a bigger PFD. In fact, over the 12 years, we have less oil in the pipeline, fewer jobs on the North Slope and a smaller PFD. Past Legislatures and Governors have also had to balance the budget using the Constitutional Budget Reserve that has gone from $18-billion down to $2-billion today! That doesn’t sound like we are managing the valuable resource of oil for the maximum benefit of the Alaskan people to me.
In the future, I would like to see the budget bolstered through more revenue producing legislation which ensures that Alaskan resources are being managed in a way that would make the drafters of the Alaskan constitution proud. The oil in Alaska is a non-renewable resource and it is the legislature’s duty to ensure that resource is utilized to better the lives of as many Alaskans as possible rather than a few select corporations before the wells run dry. I support a full PFD and understand how it can be a lifeline to lower income families and will be working on passing legislation that garners more revenue to the State from corporate industry, so the average Alaskan’s wallet won’t have to suffer come October.
| Bill Most Futile from its Inception: Farmed Fish | |
Each year, there are bills proposed that have very little chance of passing through the legislature and waste enough of the body’s limited time that it would have been better for Alaska if they were just kept inside the confines of whatever brain created the legislation. This year that bill came from Governor Dunleavy with House Bill 111 and its companion bill Senate Bill 108. The aim of these bills was to legalize finned fish farming in Alaska, including fish farming of limited fish species. To the surprise of none, save the Governor’s office, both bills were met with heavy opposition both House, Senate and the public.
Not including those who commercial fish, sports fish, and fish for subsistence, harvesting wild fish is done by the majority of Alaskan citizens. Wild fish are so much a part of Alaska’s image that the state’s newest legislative pin is modeled after the Chinook Salmon who is just starting to make a population comeback! To propose a bill that would legalize fish farming is an affront to the Alaskan history, culture and way of life. In a state whose most popular bumper sticker is “Friends don’t let friends eat farmed fish,” it is mystery why the Governor thought this bill would make it past the first hearing.
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We have come to an end to this week’s newsletter, and I wanted to remind everyone reading that this is only the end to first half of the 34th Legislative Session. The second half will resume next year January 20th, 2026. All bills introduced this year that didn’t pass but will have the chance to continue through the legislative process during that second half. While back in Fairbanks during the interim, I want to hear your opinions about the bills that are currently being considered as well as any ideas you may have for. There is still much work left to be done, and my office wants to hear from our constituents as we prepare for next year.
This year, my first Picnic in the Park event will be held on Tuesday, June 17 at Kendall Park from 4 pm - 7 pm. I hope to see you all there!
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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. | | | | | |
