2026-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 1476
HB 267                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 267 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to employer contributions to the unemployment                                                             
     compensation fund; establishing an employer contribution for the                                                           
     state training and employment program; and providing for an                                                                
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and                                                                
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                                               
2. Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                                               
3. Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 19 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to unemployment                                                                 
insurance contribution rates and the funding of workforce training                                                              
programs.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                

2026-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 1477
Alaska’s workforce requires consistent, high-quality training to meet                                                           
the demands of a modern economy. Stable, predictable funding                                                                    
ensures Alaskans gain in-demand skills and employers can fill jobs.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
This bill solves this challenge by restructuring the allocation of                                                              
unemployment insurance contributions to improve long-term stability                                                             
without increasing the overall tax burden on employers. It directs a                                                            
specific portion of collected revenue to these training accounts before                                                         
the funds are deposited into the Unemployment Compensation Fund.                                                                
This approach secures funding for workforce development while                                                                   
preserving the core purpose of unemployment insurance and                                                                       
maintaining the solvency of the unemployment insurance system.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"