Legislature(2025 - 2026)ADAMS 519
05/14/2025 01:30 PM 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 | |
| SB96 | |
| HB105 | |
| HB174 | |
| SB64 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 174 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 105 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 174
"An Act relating to the regional educational
attendance area and small municipal school district
fund; relating to Mt. Edgecumbe High School; and
relating to teacher housing."
3:08:46 PM
AT EASE
3:11:24 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Foster asked for an introduction of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBYN NIAYUQ BURKE, SPONSOR, thanked the
committee for hearing the bill. She relayed that the bill
would amend Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA)
fund language to include both major maintenance and
construction at Mt. Edgecumbe High School; and major
maintenance for teacher housing in regional education areas
and small municipal areas as allowable uses for the fund.
The legislation would remove the $70 million cap on funding
value.
3:14:40 PM
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Foster asked for a review of the fiscal note.
PAUL LABOLLE, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER, reviewed
the Department of Education and Early Development fiscal
note, OMB component 2737.
Co-Chair Foster clarified the control code and noted the
fund source is general funds.
Co-Chair Foster moved to questions from the committee.
Representative Stapp thanked the sponsor for bringing the
bill forward. He supported the bill.
Representative Tomaszewski asked if there were any
requirements to attend Mt. Edgecumbe.
Representative Burke replied that anyone was welcome to
attend. Mt. Edgecumbe was a public boarding school.
3:18:16 PM
Representative Tomaszewski asked if there was a maximum
number of students. He asked if there was a waiting list.
Representative Burke replied that there were about 400
students in attendance, because there was limited dorm
space. She believed the department said they received
around 600 applicants per year. She deferred to the
department for detail.
Representative Hannan stated that working at Mt. Edgecumbe
was her first job out of college.
Representative Bynum appreciated the bill. He agreed with
Representative Stapp. He recognized it was a state school
and the responsibility of maintaining the school fell
directly on the state. He asked for verification that the
bill did not take away the state's responsibility for
maintenance.
Representative Burke replied affirmatively.
3:21:57 PM
Representative Jimmie stated that Mt. Edgecumbe seemed like
a prestigious school, and felt that it was important to
maintain the school. She queried the year that
Representative Burke graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe.
Representative Burke replied that she graduated from Mt.
Edgecumbe in 2009.
Representative Allard commented on the generations of those
in attendance of Mt. Edgecumbe related to Representative
Burke.
Representative Burke stated once an Edgecumbe brave always
an Edgecumbe brave. She shared information about her
family.
3:23:53 PM
Representative Bynum looked at the FY 26 cost in the fiscal
note. He noted the building maintenance facility
specialist, and whether it was connected with residential
design and construction. He asked if it was a worst case
fiscal note.
Representative Burke noted that an individual from the
department was on the line, but the intent was to figure
out how to include housing under major maintenance for
REAAs. She remarked that there was a number of rural
districts had housing, but the question was whether the
expertise needed for the future.
Representative Bynum remarked that being state owned it
seemed there were resources available that may not be
available.
3:27:17 PM
HEATHER HEINEKEN, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT (via
teleconference), relayed there were two parts to the bill
one position was specific, but the other did not have any
technical expertise.
Representative Bynum stated that the explanation made sense
to him.
Representative Stapp MOVED to REPORT HB 174 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note.
HB 174 was REPORTED out of committee with six "do pass"
recommendations and three "no recommendation"
recommendations and with one previously published fiscal
impact note: FN1 (EED).