Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/26/2026 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB213 || SB214 || SB215 | |
| Public Testimony: Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Unalaska, Dillingham, Offnets | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 213 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 214 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 215 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 289 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 26, 2026
1:31 p.m.
1:31:16 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Senator Cronk called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Mike Cronk
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator James Kaufman
ALSO PRESENT
Eileen Arnold, Executive Director, Tundra Women's
Coalition, Juneau; Leila Johnson, Tribal Director, Day
Haven OV/SA Shelter, Juneau; Jenny Shryock, Director,
Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education; Kasie
Luke, Superintendent, Lake and Peninsula Borough School
District, Juneau; Finn Hill, Self, Juneau; Analise Kosbruk,
Self, Juneau; Bertha Koweluk, Executive Director, Bering
Sea Women's Group, Juneau; Cheryl Humme, Arctic Women In
Crisis, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Carol Piscoya, Kawerak Inc., Nome; Grace Singh, Maniilaq
Association, Alaska Regional Coalition, Anchorage; Skye
Michael Chayalkun, Mayor, City of Chevak, Chevak; Matt
Atkinson, Self, Fairbanks.
SUMMARY
SB 213 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET;AMEND;SUPP
SB 213 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SB 214 APPROP: CAPITAL/FUNDS/SUPP/REAPPROP
SB 214 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SB 215 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
SB 215 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
CSHB 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld)
APPROP: SUPPLEMENTAL
CSHB 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld) was SCHEDULED but
not HEARD.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: NOME, BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, UTQIAGVIK,
UNALASKA, DILLINGHAM, OFFNETS
SENATE BILL NO. 213
"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;
making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c),
Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the
constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for
an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 214
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and
reappropriations; making appropriations to capitalize
funds; and providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 215
"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."
1:32:29 PM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: NOME, BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, UTQIAGVIK,
UNALASKA, DILLINGHAM, OFFNETS
1:32:37 PM
EILEEN ARNOLD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TUNDRA WOMEN'S
COALITION, JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding for domestic
violence and sexual assault prevention programs. She
specifically testified in support of an increase to the
programs. She stressed that there had been flat funding
since 2017, and inflation had had a significant impact on
the funding for the necessary services. She spoke to the
intense increases in costs for programs and services.
1:36:18 PM
LEILA JOHNSON, TRIBAL DIRECTOR, DAY HAVEN OV/SA SHELTER,
JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding for the additional $2.5
million for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault (ANDVSA). She shared that the shelter that
she directs is a last resort fleeing violence with nowhere
to turn. She stressed that there is no other agency to call
when experiencing violence and traumas. She stressed that
reduced funding results in less safety. She remarked that
inflation had increased costs and not reduced the need.
1:39:04 PM
CAROL PISCOYA, KAWERAK INC., NOME (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for two areas: public safety
and education. She specifically spoke to funding for the
Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO). She stressed that a
VPSO was funded by requiring all aspects of the
coordination to incorporate, train, and house the VPSO. She
stressed and reducing funding for any aspect of the program
would reduce the effectiveness of the VPSO. She remarked
that small increases have not resulted in necessary
enhancements and needs in the schools, especially rural
schools in smaller communities. She remarked that the
recent increase in the Base Student Allocation (BSA) was
nice, it did not fulfill the needs of all students.
1:42:15 PM
GRACE SINGH, MANIILAQ ASSOCIATION, ALASKA REGIONAL
COALITION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support
of funding for the VPSO program, and also thanked the
committee for past funding for the program. She also spoke
in support of funding for K-12 education, and thanked the
committee for the recent increase to the BSA. She spoke in
support of funding for behavioral health programs. She felt
that basing the state's funding for the behavioral health
programs on revenue from tobacco and alcohol sales was
going in the wrong direction.
1:46:21 PM
SKYE MICHAEL CHAYALKUN, MAYOR, CITY OF CHEVAK, CHEVAK (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for VPSOs
and maintenance for roads. He remarked on the positive
impact on capital projects on the infrastructure and public
facilities in smaller communities. He spoke in support of
funding for behavioral health services. He felt that the
mental health services were a shared responsibility between
the state and local municipalities. He urged the committee
to consider funding the quality services across the state,
and protect voter approved local projects.
1:50:03 PM
MATT ATKINSON, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke
in support of $10 million funding for tourism marketing. He
stated that tourism was one of the highest private sector
economies in the state. He remarked that many other states
invested in their much smaller tourism markets. He spoke to
the appeal of Alaska for visitors, including the jobs and
revenue for the state. He remarked that it was a growing
economy, and there was a risk of losing the market share in
the global market of tourism.
1:52:55 PM
JENNY SHRYOCK, DIRECTOR, BRISTOL BAY REGIONAL CAREER AND
TECHNICAL EDUCATION, testified in support of funding for
the residential school program. She remarked that funding
for the residential school program increases the value of
education for the students in the program.
1:54:33 PM
KASIE LUKE, SUPERINTENDENT, LAKE AND PENINSULA BOROUGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT, JUNEAU, echoed the remarked of Ms.
Shryock. She remarked that the use of funds for the program
was guided by all students in the partnership.
Ms. Shryock urged the committee to keep the Bristol Bay
Regional Career and Technical Education funding.
1:56:26 PM
FINN HILL, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding for
the Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education
program. She stated that she had completed the program and
was currently a pilot. She stated that the program was
beneficial to students.
1:57:47 PM
ANALISE KOSBRUK, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding
for the Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education
program. She stated that the program gave her access to
cultural programs, and found that she wanted to go into the
health profession. She felt that the program provided
enriching opportunities for students across the state.
1:59:15 PM
BERTHA KOWELUK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BERING SEA WOMEN'S
GROUP, JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding the ANDVSA. She
stated that she was a survivor of domestic violence. She
remarked that she had every opportunity, which was
different than conventional survivors. She stressed that
she needed the funding in order to keep staff. She stressed
that funding and urgency were necessary to build
partnerships and retain staff. She remarked that she was
also one of the lowest paid employers in Nome.
2:02:46 PM
CHERYL HUMME, ARCTIC WOMEN IN CRISIS, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of funding for the ANDVSA services. She remarked
that her shelter was the only shelter on the North Slope
Borough, with only 28 beds. She stressed that they went
into schools for education and also community outreach. She
stressed the shelter's vital role in the community, and the
funding was necessary for the shelter to remain open.
Senator Cronk thanked those in person, especially the young
people, who came to testify.
2:05:19 PM
AT EASE
2:05:37 PM
RECONVNED
Senator Cronk that the committee would reconvene at 2:30PM.
2:05:46 PM
RECESSED
2:29:22 PM
RECONVENED
Senator Cronk stated that the committee would reconvene at
2:45PM.
2:29:40 PM
AT EASE
2:45:25 PM
RECONVENED
SB 213 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 214 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 215 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld)
"An Act making appropriations, including supplemental
appropriations, capital appropriations,
reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending
appropriations; capitalizing funds; and providing for
an effective date."
CSHB 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld) was HEARD and HELD in
committee for further consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
2:46:10 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 2:46 p.m.
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