Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/27/2026 09:00 AM Senate 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 | |
| Public Testimony: Fairbanks, Copper River Valley, 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 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."
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."
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: FAIRBANKS, COPPER RIVER VALLEY, OFFNETS
9:04:06 AM
CARRIE NASH, BOARD PRESIDENT, ALASKA CENTER FOR CHILDREN
AND ADULTS, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in
support of $5.72 million in funding for the Infant Learning
Program (ILP) and to increase eligibility guidelines to
broader guidelines. She was the mom of two kids with
special needs and was the board president for the Alaska
Center for Children and Adults (ACCA). She relayed that
ACCA provided early intervention and family support. She
asserted that every child served by ACCA that avoided
special education in public schools saved the state up to
$229,000. She stressed that supportive families made the
state great.
9:05:45 AM
ERIN MOROTTI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INTERIOR ALASKA CENTER
FOR NON-VIOLENT LIVING, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
spoke in support of $2.5 million for the Council on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA). She was
responsible for fiscal stewardship and ensuring that state
investment translated into measurable public safety
outcomes. She cited that in FY 2025, her organizations
provided thousands of crisis hotline calls and nights in a
shelter. She discussed a consumer that received immediate
shelter, legal assistance housing assistance, and other
services. She mentioned the outcome preventing additional
law enforcement response, medical costs, and deeper
involvement by the Office of Children's Services (OCS). She
cited that the economic burden of sexual assault and
domestic violence estimated to be $7 billion statewide. She
discussed funding cuts resulting in her organization's
ability to provide legal services.
9:08:20 AM
HEIDI HAAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA CENTER FOR CHILDREN
AND ADULTS, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in
support of $5.72 million in funding for ILP as well as
expanding eligibility. She relayed that she was the parent
of a young adult that had received early intervention
services. She supported aligning eligibility of ILP with
school-based special education services would decrease the
number of children that needed special education services
and would result in savings.
9:09:45 AM
JORDAN SANFORD, PRESIDENT, DOYON TOURISM, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), spoke in support of tourism marketing
funds. She noted that Doyon Tourism owned tourism
businesses across the state and supported hundreds of
seasonal and year-round jobs. She cited that tourism
generated $5.6 billion in economic impact and supported
48,000 jobs statewide. In 2024, tourism contributed $181.7
million in state revenue. She cited that Alaska was
outspent by competing destinations. She argued that in a
competitive marketplace, visibility drove visitation and
therefore revenue.
9:11:39 AM
AT EASE
9:25:51 AM
RECONVENED
ERIKA BURR, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified
in support of increased K-12 education funding. She relayed
that she was a parent and a high school teacher. She
discussed the need for smaller class sizes at the high
school level, where many classes had more than 30 students.
She mentioned that larger class sizes signified less
engagement and less connection with the teacher. She
discussed the need for teachers to have time for planning.
She discussed the importance of sports, music, and art. She
was concerned about wages leaving the state.
9:29:15 AM
ANGELA BLANDOV, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke
in support of education funding. She was a mother of three
older adult children. She had an adopted child that had a
variety of challenges including fetal alcohol syndrome and
cerebral palsy. She was a survivor of domestic violence.
She thought there were serious problems in the Ketchikan
School District, including a shortage of para educators.
She mentioned that her child had been assaulted in school.
She discussed impending funding cuts to school activities.
She supported ILP. She discussed the importance of early
intervention.
Ms. Blandov discussed necessary accommodations that schools
were not equipped to handle. She stressed the need for more
help and support in school. She was concerned teachers were
not receiving needed support. She discussed school closures
in the state.
9:34:05 AM
DEBRA FOSTER, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke
in support of increased funding and expanded eligibility
for ILP. She was the parent and guardian of two children
with special needs. She had seen the impact of early
intervention. She thought eligibility expansion would save
the state money.
9:35:18 AM
KARI ROGERS, SELF, GLENNALLEN (via teleconference),
testified in support of increased funding for public
education, including funding for teachers. She supported
the hiring of quality teachers that could be retained. She
mentioned the lack of a defined benefit program for
teachers, which she thought led to teachers looking for
employment elsewhere. She promoted maintenance of school
infrastructure. She mentioned support for legal aid for
groups such as seniors, veterans, individuals with
disabilities, and others.
9:38:07 AM
AT EASE
9:52:19 AM
RECONVENED
WADE BINKLEY, PRESIDENT, RIVERBOAT DISCOVERY, FAIRBANKS
(via teleconference), supported $10 million in funding in
the capital budget for the Alaska Travel Industry
Association (ATIA). He recounted that his grandparents had
founded the family business and were instrumental in
forming the Alaska Visitors Association. The association
had been started with a $25,000 grant from the territorial
legislature. He mentioned that the previous year's
appropriation being vetoed down to $2.5 million. He noted
that his business employed about 20 full-time year-round
staff and about 180 seasonal employees. He thought it was
important to provide young people with meaningful jobs that
taught foundational life skills. He thought tourism created
opportunities for young people and kept young Alaskans
connected to their homes. He cited that in 2024, tourism
contributed $180 million directly to the General Fund. He
thought tourism was the state's most sustainable and
renewable resource.
9:55:31 AM
AT EASE
10:05:02 AM
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.
CSHB 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld) was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.
Senator Cronk discussed the agenda for the afternoon
meeting.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|