Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/13/2025 04:30 PM House CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55
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| Audio | Topic |
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| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 53 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
34TH ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 and HB55
May 13, 2025
4:30 p.m.
4:30:08 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Representative Josephson called the Conference Committee
meeting on HB53 and HB55 to order at 4:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
House:
Representative Andy Josephson, Chair
Representative DeLena Johnson
Representative Calvin Schrage
Senate:
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Vice-Chair
Senator James Kaufman
Senator Bert Stedman
MEMBERS ABSENT
ALSO PRESENT:
Alexei Painter, Director, Legislative Finance Division
SUMMARY
HB 53 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP
HB 53 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 55 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 55 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 53(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; and making supplemental
appropriations."
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 53(FIN) am S
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making supplemental appropriations;
and providing for an effective date."
and
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 55(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 55(FIN) am S
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
4:30:54 PM
Senator Hoffman MOVED that Representative Josephson serve
as the presiding chair of the FY 26 Conference Committee on
HB 53 and HB 55. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so
ordered.
4:31:19 PM
Chair Josephson MOVED that Senator Hoffman serve as Vice-
Chair of the House Bill 53 and House Bill 55 Fiscal Year
2026 Operating Budget Conference Committee. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Chair Josephson reviewed procedures pertaining to the
conference committee. He noted that both the House and
Senate budget processes allowed for public testimony. That
portion of the process was concluded; the conference
committee would not accept further public testimony. Unless
invited by the Chair, only members of the conference
committee would take part in discussions or sit at the
table.
Chair Josephson observed that the Legislative Finance
Division (LEF) had been directed to prepare the "motion
sheets" for use by the conference committee. The motion
sheets summarized the differences between the two versions
of the bills before the conference committee, were located
on LFD's website, and would be updated after each meeting.
Chair Josephson explained that the conference committee
would operate under Uniform Rule 42. All action required a
majority vote from each body for adoption. A copy of
Uniform Rule 42 and related legal opinions were provided in
each member's packet.
4:32:53 PM
Vice-Chair Hoffman MOVED that all appropriations and
language in the FY 26 operating budget that were identical
in House and Senate versions of HB 53 and HB 55 be adopted.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Chair Josephson observed that the committee would need
limited powers to reach agreements. He invited a motion to
request "limited powers" for budget items for which
differences existed. In accordance with past practice, the
conference committee also requested authorization to add
collective bargaining agreements. He distributed a letter
dated May 13, 2025, for this purpose, one addressed to the
Speaker of the House and one addressed to the Senate
President. Under limited powers, the conference committee
could adopt any amount between zero and the higher of the
House or Senate version of each item subject to conference.
4:33:55 PM
Vice-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT the letters requesting
limited powers of conference for budget items that were not
identical and authorization to add collective bargaining
agreements. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Chair Josephson noted the committee would take a brief at
ease to sign the two identical letters, one for each body.
4:34:25 PM
AT EASE
4:36:04 PM
RECONVENED
Chair Josephson relayed that the committee would be meeting
to act on the operating budget bills once limited powers
were received. The conference committee meetings would be
posted on BASIS under the 24-hour rule.
HB 53 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 55 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
4:36:35 PM
Vice-Chair Hoffman MOVED to adjourn the meeting. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
ADJOURNMENT
4:36:45 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 4:36 p.m.
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