In the recent legislative session that concluded on Tuesday, Alaska lawmakers focused primarily on critical issues such as the state budget, education funding, and revenue measures, while some objectives like public pension and election reforms lagged behind.
Among the 33 bills passed during the 120-day session, lawmakers addressed a variety of topics, ranging from updates to insurance laws to the establishment of Women’s History Month and the extension of certain boards and commissions.
This year, however, three significant bills emerged in the final days of the session that are particularly noteworthy.
First on the list is a landmark bill aimed at reducing Alaska’s recidivism rate, which is the highest in the nation. The measure allows prisoners access to technology, specifically tablets, while they are incarcerated.
Lawmakers highlighted the necessity of this bill, arguing that access to tablets can facilitate educational opportunities and other essential services, such as telemedicine, for inmates.
Sen. Robert Myers, a Republican from North Pole, emphasized the struggles inmates face in accessing educational resources as they re-enter society. He stated, “Providing inmates with access to tablets and the rehabilitative services they facilitate is a proactive attempt to make our communities safer.”
He clarified that these tablets are meant to connect inmates to vital services, and not to serve as a luxury item in prison.
The proposed legislation, known as House Bill 35, garnered considerable support, passing the House with 28 votes in favor, despite opposition from 12 House Republicans. The Senate approved the bill unanimously.
Another significant bill that gained traction during the session focused on improvements to Upper Canyon Road, which serves as an important access point into Chugach State Park, the most visited park in Alaska.
The road, currently under split jurisdiction between the local Anchorage service area and the park, has faced maintenance challenges, often congested with vehicles belonging to outdoor enthusiasts.
The recently adopted bill will enable the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to transfer jurisdiction of the road to the city of Anchorage, allowing for more effective maintenance and safer conditions for residents and visitors.
Rep. Ky Holland, an independent lawmaker representing an Anchorage Hillside district, called the legislation a “wonderful opportunity to build on the resources and assets in the community.”
Similarly, Rep. Julie Coulombe, a Republican from another Hillside district, pointed out that the roads leading to popular trails were “destroyed by a lot of traffic,” describing the current conditions of the road as “super-super dangerous.”
The bill received significant bipartisan support, passing with 35 votes in the House and 18 in the Senate, though it faced opposition from four House Republicans and one in the Senate. The bill has been transmitted to Governor Dunleavy for his signature before June 7.
Lastly, lawmakers introduced and passed a bill designed to enhance funding for Mt. Edgecumbe High School, the only state-owned educational facility. This legislation lets the school compete directly with other educational institutions across Alaska for maintenance funding.
Historically, Mt. Edgecumbe has been excluded from the state’s annual ranked list of maintenance projects for schools, as responsibility for its campus has been assigned to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
The new bill aims to rectify this issue, allowing the school based in Sitka to be ranked among other primary educational facilities for funding consideration.
Sitka Republican Sen. Bert Stedman remarked, “A lot of our leaders and future leaders of the state are coming out and have come out of Mt. Edgecumbe, so what we’re trying to do here is put Mt. Edgecumbe on a level playing field.”
Sen. Lyman Hoffman, a Democrat from Bethel, also criticized the previous system, stating that relying on the transportation department’s project list to secure funding for a school was inappropriate.
He asserted, “This school doesn’t belong on this list. It belongs on the list of the Regional Educational Attendance Areas.” This transition aims to better highlight the needs and maintenance requirements specific to Mt. Edgecumbe.
The bill received strong support in both chambers, passing unanimously in the Senate and with 34 votes in favor in the House. However, five House Republicans voted against it.
This year, a renewed focus on funding school building maintenance emerged among Alaska lawmakers, yet a persistent structural deficit over the years has made it challenging to tackle the comprehensive list of school maintenance projects.
In a positive step, lawmakers approved $38 million in school maintenance funding this year, which will cover the top nine projects identified on the state’s ranked maintenance list.
Additionally, they allocated $2.7 million specifically to replace dorm windows at Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
As the session wrapped up, the governor had yet to comment on the bill regarding Mt. Edgecumbe or the overall school maintenance funding approved by the Legislature.
Governor Dunleavy has a history of vetoing substantial school maintenance funding, including previous allocations exceeding $17 million intended for Mt. Edgecumbe just last year.
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