Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-05-07 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2508 HB 263 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 263(FIN) "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" was read the third time. Senator Rauscher moved the bill be returned to second reading for all amendments offered today. Without objection, the bill was returned to second reading. Senator Rauscher offered Amendment No. 1 : Page 69, following line 8: Insert a new subsection to read: "(c) The amount of receipts received by the state during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, under sec. 20001(b)(5), P.L. 115-97 (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017) for leases in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that are remaining after the appropriations made in secs. 25(a) and (b), ch. 10, SLA 2025, and after the transfer made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, under AS 37.14.150, estimated to be $2,988,000, is appropriated as follows: 2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2509 (1) $2,000,000 to the Department of Public Safety to establish a state trooper post in Talkeetna to provide public safety services necessary to support increased activity and development associated with resource extraction along the northern Parks Highway corridor, including the areas of Willow, Talkeetna, and Trapper Creek, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2028; (2) the remaining amount, estimated to be $988,000, to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority for the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas from the coastal plain for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2028." Senator Rauscher moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 1. Senator Stedman objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 1 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 263(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 1? YEAS: 6 NAYS: 14 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Cronk, Kaufman, Myers, Rauscher, Tilton, Yundt Nays: Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski and so, Amendment No. 1 failed. Senator Rauscher offered Amendment No. 2 : Page 75, line 11, following "2027.": Insert "It is the intent of the legislature that community assistance funding, including funding provided to nonprofit organizations, be used in a manner that does not conflict with art. VIII, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska." Senator Rauscher moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 2. Senator Stedman objected. 2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2510 The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 2 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 263(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 2? YEAS: 6 NAYS: 14 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Cronk, Kaufman, Myers, Rauscher, Tilton, Yundt Nays: Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski and so, Amendment No. 2 failed. Senator Rauscher offered Amendment No. 3 : Page 31, line 12: Delete "27,728,900" Insert "28,103,900" Delete "16,955,600" Insert "17,330,600" Page 31, line 13: Delete "21,072,100" Insert "21,447,100" Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Senator Rauscher moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 3. Senator Hoffman objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 3 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 263(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 3? YEAS: 6 NAYS: 14 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2511 Yeas: Cronk, Kaufman, Myers, Rauscher, Tilton, Yundt Nays: Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski and so, Amendment No. 3 failed. Senator Myers offered Amendment No. 4 : Page 69, line 18: Delete "to the general fund" Insert "as follows: (1) the amount authorized under AS 37.13.145(b) for transfer by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation on June 30, 2026, estimated to be $2,504,800,000, to the dividend fund (AS 43.23.045(a)) for the payment of permanent fund dividends and for administrative and associated costs for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027; and (2) the remaining balance, estimated to be $1,492,065,095, to the general fund" Page 69, lines 19 - 22: Delete all material. Reletter the following subsections accordingly. Page 98, following line 21: Insert a new subsection to read: "(b) If the unrestricted state revenue available for appropriation in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, is insufficient to cover the general fund appropriations made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the amount necessary to balance revenue and general fund appropriations is appropriated to the general fund from the budget reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska)." Reletter the following subsection accordingly. Page 98, line 22: Delete "appropriation" Insert "appropriations" 2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2512 Page 98, line 23: Delete "(a) of this section is" Insert "(a) and (b) of this section are" Page 98, line 26: Delete "and (d) - (f)" Insert "(c)(1), (d), and (e)" Senator Myers moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 4. Senator Stedman objected. Senator Wielechowski rose to a point of order. President Stevens cautioned members to proceed in order. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 4 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 263(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 4? YEAS: 3 NAYS: 17 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Myers, Rauscher, Tilton Nays: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt and so, Amendment No. 4 failed. HB 263 Senator Hoffman offered Amendment No. 5 : Page 33, line 5: Delete "37,586,000" Insert "38,178,000" Delete "20,745,400" 2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2513 Insert "21,337,400" Page 33, line 8: Delete "2,155,200" Insert "2,747,200" Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Senator Hoffman moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 5. Senator Stedman objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 5 was adopted. Senator Hoffman offered Amendment No. 6 : Page 20, line 20: Delete "6,520,600" Insert "7,170,600" Delete "6,295,500" Insert "6,945,500" Page 20, line 21: Delete "6,520,600" Insert "7,170,600" Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Senator Hoffman moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 6. Senator Stedman objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 6 was adopted. Senator Hoffman offered Amendment No. 7 : Page 60, following line 19: Insert new material to read: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Legislature * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "APPROPRIATION GENERAL OTHER ALLOCATIONS ITEMS FUND FUNDS Legislative Operating Budget 1,000,000 1,000,000 Session Expenses 1,000,000 " 2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2514 Adjust fund sources and totals accordingly. Senator Hoffman moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 7. Senator Stedman objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 7 was adopted. Senator Hoffman offered Amendment No. 8 : Page 94, line 15: Delete "$164,106,000" Insert "$163,926,000" Senator Hoffman moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 8. Senator Stedman objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 8 was adopted. SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 263(FIN) am S was automatically in third reading. The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 263(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; 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" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 263(FIN) am S Third Reading - Final Passage Budget Reserve Fund Section(s) - Effective Date(s) YEAS: 17 NAYS: 3 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt Nays: Myers, Rauscher, Tilton and so, SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 263(FIN) am S passed the Senate. 2026-05-07 Senate Journal Page 2515 Senator Giessel moved for the adoption of the constitutional budget reserve fund section. The question being: "Shall the constitutional budget reserve fund section (Article IX, Section 17(c) Constitution of the State of Alaska) be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 263(FIN) am S Adopt Budget Reserve Fund Section(s)? YEAS: 17 NAYS: 3 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt Nays: Myers, Rauscher, Tilton and so, the constitutional budget reserve fund section was adopted. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clauses. Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment.