Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-04-09 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2091 HB 263 The following was before the House in second reading: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 263(FIN) am "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; 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." Amendment No. 51 was offered by Representative Schwanke: 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2092 Page 11, line 4: Delete "318,714,800" Insert "316,261,850" Delete "71,968,300" Insert "69,515,350" Page 11, line 19: Delete "19,060,000" Insert "16,607,050" Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Representative Schwanke moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 51 be adopted. Representative Galvin objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 51 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 263(FIN) am Second Reading Amendment No. 51 YEAS: 15 NAYS: 25 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Vance Nays: Bynum, Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Moore, Prax, Schrage, Story, Stutes, Underwood And so, Amendment No. 51 was not adopted. Amendment No. 52 was offered by Representative Schwanke: Page 11, line 21: Delete "4,239,300" Insert "4,729,300" 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2093 Delete "927,500" Insert "1,417,500" Page 11, line 22: Delete "4,239,300" Insert "4,729,300" Page 26, line 12: Delete "56,640,500" Insert "56,150,500" Delete "5,033,400" Insert "4,543,400" Page 26, line 19: Delete "27,439,300" Insert "26,949,300" Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Representative Schwanke moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 52 be adopted. Representative Galvin objected. Representative Stutes, citing Section 101 of Mason's Manual, rose to a point of order regarding confining remarks to the amendment. The Speaker stated that the point was well taken. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 52 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 263(FIN) am Second Reading Amendment No. 52 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2094 Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 52 was not adopted. Amendment No. 53 was offered by Representative Bynum: Page 82, line 12: Delete "$5,265,885" Insert "$7,861,885" Representative Bynum moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 53 be adopted. There was objection. Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 53 was offered by Representatives Bynum and Story: Page 1, line 3 of the amendment: Delete "7,861,885" Insert "14,594,860" Representative Bynum moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 53 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 53 be tabled. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 53 be tabled. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 54 was offered by Representative Bynum: Page 66, following line 4: Insert a new subsection to read: "(l) The sum of $16,300,000 is appropriated from the general 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2095 fund to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to be distributed as grants to employers to offset employer costs associated with providing retirement benefits to employees in the public employees' retirement system (AS 39.35) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027." Page 67, following line 4: Insert a new subsection to read: "(g) The sum of $49,500,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education and Early Development to be distributed as grants to school districts to offset employer costs associated with providing retirement benefits to employees in the teachers' retirement system (AS 14.25) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027." Page 89, following line 2: Insert a new subsection to read: "(b) The appropriation made in sec. 12(l) of this Act is contingent on passage by the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature during the Second Regular Session and enactment into law of SB 55 or a similar bill requiring employees in the public employees' retirement system (AS 39.35) to participate in the State of Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan or in the federal social security system." Reletter the following subsections accordingly. Page 89, following line 6: Insert a new subsection to read: "(d) The appropriation made in sec. 13(g) of this Act is contingent on passage by the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature during the Second Regular Session and enactment into law of SB 55 or a similar bill requiring employees in the teachers' retirement system (AS 14.25) to participate in the State of Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan or in the federal social security system." Reletter the following subsection accordingly. Representative Bynum moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 54 be adopted. 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2096 Representative Josephson objected. Representative Bynum, citing Section 122 of Mason's Manual, rose to a point of order regarding impugning the motives of members of the body. The Speaker cautioned members to refrain from impugning the motives of others. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 54 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 263(FIN) am Second Reading Amendment No. 54 YEAS: 16 NAYS: 24 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Schrage, St. Clair, Story, Stutes, Vance And so, Amendment No. 54 was not adopted. Amendment No. 55 was offered by Representative Johnson: Page 71, following line 30: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 23. ALASKA COURT SYSTEM. The sum of $680,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Judiciary, Alaska Court System, trial courts, for the addition of a superior court judge in the Third Judicial District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 88, lines 14 - 15: Delete "24(b), (c), and (i), 26, 27(a) - (h) and (j) - (p), 28(a) and (b), and 32(a)" 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2097 Insert "25(b), (c), and (i), 27, 28(a) - (h) and (j) - (p), 29(a) and (b), and 33(a)" Page 88, line 21: Delete "Sections 27(m)" Insert "Sections 28(m)" Page 88, line 22: Delete "Sections 1 - 26, 27(a) - (l) and (q), 28 - 31, 33, 34, and 36" Insert "Sections 1 - 27, 28(a) - (l) and (q), 29 - 32, 34, 35, and 37" Page 90, following line 11: Insert a new subsection to read: "(d) The appropriation made in sec. 23 of this Act is contingent on passage by the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature during the Second Regular Session and enactment into law of a version of HB 262 or a similar bill adding a superior court judge in the Third Judicial District." Page 89, line 12: Delete "Sections 27(m)" Insert "Sections 28(m)" Page 89, line 13: Delete "Sections 27(o) and (p) and 32" Insert "Sections 28(o) and (p) and 33" Page 89, line 14: Delete "Section 35" Insert "Section 36" Page 89, line 15: Delete "secs. 37 - 39" Insert "secs. 38 - 40" Representative Johnson moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 55 be adopted. Representative Josephson objected. 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2098 Representative Johnson moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 55. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 56 was offered by Representative G. Nelson: Page 8, line 7: Delete "361,054,000" Insert "359,376,820" Delete "351,625,300" Insert "349,948,120" Page 9, line 20: Delete "14,500,000" Insert "12,822,820" Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Representative G. Nelson moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 56 be adopted. Representative Hannan objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 56 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 263(FIN) am Second Reading Amendment No. 56 YEAS: 16 NAYS: 24 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood Nays: Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes, Vance And so, Amendment No. 56 was not adopted. 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2099 Amendment No. 57 was offered by Representative Schwanke: Page 11, line 4: Delete "318,714,800" Insert "318,214,800" Delete "71,968,300" Insert "71,468,300" Page 11, line 8: Delete "20,587,300" Insert "20,087,300" Page 11, following line 20: Insert new material to read: " APPROPRIATION GENERAL ALLOCATIONS ITEMS FUND Alyeska Reading Academy and Institute 500,000 500,000 Alyeska Reading Academy and 500,000 Institute" Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Representative Schwanke moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 57 be adopted. Representative Galvin objected. Representative Schwanke moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 57. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 58 was offered by Representative Schwanke: Page 58, before line 1: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 4. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. (a) It is the intent of the legislature that appropriations made in this Act to a department, agency, or commission for the payment of salary and benefits for unfilled positions be used only for the payment of overtime or bonuses for employees, or for salary and benefits for seasonal employee 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2100 positions, that are within the same division or section of the department, agency, or commission funded by the appropriation. Appropriations made in this Act for the payment of salary and benefits for unfilled positions may not be used for any other purpose, including contracting for services, purchasing supplies or equipment, or transferring money to any other line item or fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any unexpended and unobligated balance of an appropriation restricted under this section at the end of the fiscal year shall lapse into the fund from which the appropriation originated. This restriction applies to all appropriations made in this Act to any department, agency, or commission. (b) It is the intent of the legislature that, if a department, agency, or commission uses appropriations made to the department, agency, or commission in a fiscal year for overtime or bonuses for employees, or for seasonal employee salary or benefits, the department, agency, or commission prepare a report for the legislature that describes the use of the funds, including a list of the specific positions funded by the appropriation and a description of how the department, agency, or commission plans to recruit and fill the vacant positions, and, not later than December 15 following the close of that fiscal year, submit the report to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 70, line 31: Delete "secs. 11(c) - (e)" Insert "secs. 12(c) - (e)" Page 80, line 12: Delete "sec. 12(e)" Insert "sec. 13(e)" Page 84, line 7: Delete "20" Insert "21" Page 88, lines 11 - 12: Delete "sec. 8(d)(2)" Insert "sec. 9(d)(2)" 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2101 Page 88, lines 13 - 15: Delete "secs. 8(a), (b), and (d) - (f), 9(d), 11(c) - (e), 16(i), 24(b), (c), and (i), 26, 27(a) - (h) and (j) - (p), 28(a) and (b), and 32(a)" Insert "secs. 9(a), (b), and (d) - (f), 10(d), 12(c) - (e), 17(i), 25(b), (c), and (i), 27, 28(a) - (h) and (j) - (p), 29(a) and (b), and 33(a)" Page 88, line 21: Delete "Sections 27(m) and (n)" Insert "Sections 28(m) and (n)" Page 88, line 22: Delete "Sections 1 - 26, 27(a) - (l) and (q), 28 - 31, 33, 34, and 36" Insert "Sections 1 - 27, 28(a) - (l) and (q), 29 - 32, 34, 35, and 37" Page 89, line 2: Delete "sec. 10(b)(1)" Insert "sec. 11(b)(1)" Page 89, line 3: Delete "sec. 13(f)" Insert "sec. 14(f)" Page 89, line 7: Delete "sec. 22(c)" Insert "sec. 23(c)" Page 89, line 12: Delete "Sections 27(m) and (n)" Insert "Sections 28(m) and (n)" Page 89, line 13: Delete "Sections 27(o) and (p) and 32" Insert "Sections 28(o) and (p) and 33" Page 89, line 14: Delete "Section 35" Insert "Section 36" Page 89, line 15: Delete "secs. 37 - 39" Insert "secs. 38 - 40" 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2102 Representative Schwanke moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 58 be adopted. There was objection. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 58 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 263(FIN) am Second Reading Amendment No. 58 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 58 was not adopted. Amendment No. 59 was offered by Representative Bynum: Page 36, line 27: Delete "112,761,000" Insert "112,776,000" Delete "23,184,400" Insert "23,199,400" Page 36, line 31: Delete "62,122,000" Insert "62,137,000" Representative Bynum moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 59 be adopted. Representative Hannan objected. 2026-04-09 House Journal Page 2103 The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 59 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 263(FIN) am Second Reading Amendment No. 59 YEAS: 11 NAYS: 29 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, D.Nelson, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, Stapp, Underwood Nays: Allard, Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Moore, G.Nelson, Prax, Schrage, St. Clair, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Vance And so, Amendment No. 59 was not adopted. The Speaker stated that, without objection, CSHB 263(FIN) am would be held in second reading to the April 10 calendar.