Legislature(2025 - 2026)ADAMS 519
03/09/2026 09:00 AM House FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB263 || HB265 | |
| Subcommittee Closout Reports | |
| Department of Environmental Conservation | |
| University of Alaska | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 263 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 265 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 263
"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."
HOUSE BILL NO. 265
"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."
9:08:41 AM
^SUBCOMMITTEE CLOSOUT REPORTS
9:08:42 AM
^DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
9:08:43 AM
TIMOTHY CLARK, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE SARA HANNAN, reviewed
the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of
Environmental Conservation:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Environmental Conservation held a total
of three meetings and submits the following
recommended department operating budget for FY27 to
the House Finance Committee.
RECCOMMENDATIONS:
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF): $22,881.6
Designated General Funds (DGF): $27,505.6
Other Funds: $26,704.7
Federal Funds: $45,076.1
Total: $122,168.0
This represents a zero percent change in funds between
the subcommittee recommendation and the governor's
amended budget proposal.
Positions:
Permanent Full-Time: 560
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 9
Total 569
BUDGET ACTIONS
The subcommittee accepted the six budget items put
forward by the administration and added one item. This
is item number five, on page four of the Budget Action
Report.
This removes a $1,968,100 UGF appropriation to Spill
Prevention and Response and replaces that figure with
monies from the Oil and Hazardous Release Prevention
and Response Fund.
In recent years, some UGF has been appropriated to
Spill Prevention and Response out of concern for the
sustainability of the SPAR fund.
However, the recent settlement of more than $24
million from the Flint Hills refinery has greatly
increased fund holdings, making the UGF appropriation
no longer necessary.
The administration's requests included $319,000 in
UGF, DGF, Other funds, and Federal funds spending to
meet the costs of implementing the Information
Technology employee classification study. These
increases are necessary to bring compensation for
these positions into professional parity.
9:11:44 AM
Co-Chair Josephson asked what happened to the part of the
Flint Hills settlement that was not used in the next year's
budget.
Mr. Clark replied that it was his understanding it would
rest in the fund to help ensure its sustainability for many
years into the future.
Co-Chair Josephson asked if Mr. Clark had queried about the
fund's sweepability.
Mr. Clark replied in the negative.
Co-Chair Josephson stated he was told it was not sweepable.
9:12:52 AM
AT EASE
9:16:09 AM
RECONVENED
^UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
9:16:16 AM
MONICA SCHWINGENDORF, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ALYSE GALVIN,
reviewed the subcommittee recommendations for the
University of Alaska:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
University of Alaska held a total of four meetings and
submits the following recommended operating budget for
FY27 to the House Finance Committee:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF): $369,755.1
Designated General Funds (DGF): $310,797.3
Other Funds: $253,116.8
Federal Funds: $229,820.8
Total: $1,163,490.0
Compared to the FY27 Adjusted Base/House Committee
Substitute 1, the subcommittee recommendations
represent an increase of $11,817.4 (3.3 percent) in
Unrestricted General Funds and a decrease of $9,776.4
(-3.0 percent) in Designated Funds. There is no
difference in Other Funds and Federal Receipts.
Positions:
Permanent Full-Time: 3,848
Permanent Part-Time: 270
Temporary: 0
Total: 4,118
BUDGET ACTIONS
Compared to the FY 27 governor's amended budget, the
subcommittee recommendations increased the position
count by 10 positions or 0.2 percent. The House
Finance Budget Subcommittee for the University of
Alaska reviewed the FY2027 Governor's budget request
and recommends the following changes:
Items 2 and 3 are related. Item 3 modifies item 2 by
changing the fund source for $9,776,400 from
University Receipts to Unrestricted General Fund. This
item is for non-union staff salary adjustments,
changing the funding source from University Receipts
to UGF. University Receipts require raising student
tuition, auxiliary services and indirect costs, sales
and rentals of university property, gifts and grants,
among other sources. These sources of revenue vary and
can be unpredictable on a year-to-year basis.
Unrestricted General Fund, on the other hand, is a
predictable fund source which will only be impacted by
a decrement passed in an enacted budget.
Pages 5 and 6, Items 19, 23, and 27 are all related
subcommittee additions requested by the Board of
Regents. A total of $1,076.0 UGF for five Permanent
Full-Time (PFT) was recommended to address public
safety concerns across all three University of Alaska
campuses: University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA),
University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF), and University
of Alaska, Southeast (UAS).
• Starting with item 19, UAA's Police Department
has experienced a sharp increase in property
crimes and crisis calls since 2022. An increment
of $500.0 UGF for two PFTs was recommended in
order to support two new police officer positions
and cover non-personnel costs such as body
cameras, vehicle cameras, and less-than-lethal
tasers. It would also allow UAA to make two
currently temporary commissioned security officer
positions permanent and support 40 hours of
crisis intervention training to improve responses
to mental health incidents.
• Looking at item 23, UAF currently does not have
enough dispatchers in its emergency
communications center for 24/7 coverage. An
increment of $326.0 UGF for two PFTs for
dispatchers. This funding would also be used for
body and vehicle cameras to improve law
enforcement integration and support de-escalation
efforts.
• Looking at item 27, UAS currently does not have a
full-time safety officer. For the past two years,
students and employees at UAS have raised safety
concerns and requested increased campus safety
measures, including additional cameras and a
greater safety presence. An increment of $250.0
UGF included one campus safety officer and campus
physical security such as security cameras,
building access systems, emergency phone kiosks,
and modernizing existing security measures.
Items 20, 24, and 28 are all related subcommittee
additions requested by the Board of Regents. A total
of $965.0 UGF for five PFTs was recommended to
strengthen student mental health services and expand
capacity across all three University of Alaska
campuses. For context, recent statistics show 92
percent of suicides in Alaska were the result of
mental health crisis. Additionally, in 2025
approximately 30 percent of students who received
support from Student Health and Counseling Center in
Anchorage reported experiencing suicidal ideation.
• Starting with item 20, this item is an increment
of $440.0 UGF for three PFTs at UAA. Two of these
positions are in-house providers and one position
is a care team coordinator. It also includes
funding to expand telehealth services.
• Looking at item 24, this item is an increment of
$350.0 UGF for one PFT at UAF for a clinical
psychologist. Adding this position would offset
turnover and staffing shortages, increasing the
likelihood that students receive consistent,
high-quality psychological and counseling
services. This funding would also help establish
a predoctoral interns and postdoctural residency
program.
• Looking at item 28, this item is an increment of
$175.0 UGF for one PFT at UAS for a case manager.
This position would improve support for students
facing challenges related to food insecurity,
housing, and academic needs. Currently, UAS has
only one in-house counselor, despite the growing
demand for case management services. This funding
would also support virtual counseling services to
meet increased demand. Virtual care would allow
after-hours access and provide services to out-
of-state students who cannot see the in-person
counselor due to Alaska licensure restrictions.
Currently, students may wait up to two weeks for
an in-person counseling appointment.
Items 21, 22, 25, and 26 were denied. The University
transferred Higher Education Investment Fund receipts
(HEIF) from the Troth Yeddha' Campus to the College of
Indigenous Studies. The original appropriation of
those funds to Troth Yeddha' Campus was appropriated
in the language section of the bill. The transfer in
the numbers section was made by mistake. Legislative
Finance Division already fixed this in their Adjusted
Base reports.
Ms. Schwingendorf concluded her report and thanked the
committee.
Co-Chair Josephson thanked Ms. Schwingendorf and asked
members if they had any questions.
9:24:09 AM
Representative Bynum shared his concerns about the shift
into UGF for personnel and university expenses. He thought
it was a bad trend to push an additional $2 million worth
of personnel adds and the change from university receipts
to UGF to try to reduce impacts on tuition. He understood
the desire to keep tuition low but the cost shifting to UGF
masked the many needs of the university and continued the
pressure on general funds.
HB 263 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 265 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Josephson reviewed the schedule for the afternoon
meeting.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 263 HFIN Subcommittee Reports 030926.pdf |
HFIN 3/9/2026 9:00:00 AM |
HB 263 |