Capitol Report 2024

May 17, 2024

LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS: UA Appreciates Legislative Support on Priority Issues

The 33rd State Legislature officially adjourned on May 16, just a short time after the constitutionally mandated 121-day deadline. With the UA’s operating and capital budget largely settled, our remaining priorities were placed in House Bill 148 (HB148). UA’s Government Relations team was up late into the night as things came down to the wire, but in the end, the bill passed the Senate floor and was concurred with in the House before the session deadline expired.  

Last Minute Changes and Delays to HB148 Created High Drama in the Last 72 Hours of Session

HB148, carried by Representative Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna), is a critical bill for UA. By the last day of the session (May 15), HB148 included language that:

• expanded the scope of the Alaska Performance Scholarship program, which will help with in-state enrollment, 

• extended the sunset on the Education Tax Credit program, continuing a program that incentivizes third parties to donate to UA for educational purposes, and 

• preserved UA’s funding allocation for the Technical Vocation and Education Program (TVEP), which supports education and training in important workforce areas like construction, heavy-duty equipment operations and maintenance, maritime navigation, and many others.

Senator Click Bishop (R-Fairbanks) worked with Senator Donnie Olson (D-Golovin) to amend the bill in Senate Finance on May 14 to add the provisions that preserved UA’s TVEP funding allocation. The bill passed out of the committee, but wasn’t heard on the Senate Floor until mid-day on May 15. 

The Senate debated several other bills throughout May 14 and 15, pushing HB148 further down the calendar. Late that afternoon, Senator Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage) insisted that the Senate hear HB148 so the House could concur before the end of session that night. The Senate finally heard HB148, passed it 20-0, and sent it back to the House.

The UA Government Relations Team assisted Representative Ruffridge’s office throughout the evening to ensure the House took up and concurred with the Senate changes. House Floor debates have been notoriously long this year, so there was real concern that the bill would inadvertently slip through the cracks and not be passed before session ended. Around 10:06 p.m., the House concurred on HB148.

The House remained in session after that, debating other matters past midnight until they adjourned sine die. Many other bills didn’t get passed before the end of session and will have to be put forward again next year to be considered.

Intrigue for Other UA-Focused Bills

• Senate Bill 13 (SB13) from Senator Rob Myers (R-North Pole) is the UA textbook transparency bill. Initially, it appeared that the bill might be used as a vehicle for other policies and legislation. However, it eventually went to the floor and passed on May 15, unchanged from its original language.    

• House Bill 120, by Representative Frank Tomaszewski (R-Fairbanks), is related to hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses for certain nonresident postsecondary students. On May 14, HB120 was amended on the Senate floor amendment related to include language on “adoption and foster care for animals,” and appeared to be headed toward passage. The House initially concurred with the Senate changes on May 15, but later reversed course and asked the Senate to rescind the amendment. The Senate did not, so the bill died.

Closing Thoughts

The legislative session moves very quickly during the final days, with many parallel moving parts and very tight timeframes. We’re very pleased that both bodies passed our key priorities in HB148 before the end of the session.

Many thanks to the students, staff, faculty, and alumni who helped raise a voice and advocated for this year. This truly could not have been done without you!

May 10, 2024

With Bipartisan Support, the House Adopts the Capital Budget, and the Final Operating Budget Takes Shape in Conference Committee

The 121st day of the Legislative session is less than a week away, and lawmakers are working hard to get several pieces of legislation across the finish line before the May 15 statutory deadline. The Legislature is getting closer to finalizing the operating and capital budgets. This week, the House adopted the capital budget, and both bodies selected members for a conference committee to reach a consensus on the operating budget.

In addition, both bodies met in a joint session to confirm the Governor’s commissioners and appointees to state boards and commissions - including the University of Alaska Board of Regents appointees. Two regent-appointees, Seth Church and Steve Colligan, were up for confirmation. Both were approved unanimously.

Capital Budget

By a vote of 39Y-1N, the House adopted a revised capital budget earlier this week. The House’s version of the capital budget adds approximately $100 million to the $3.9 billion budget proposed by the Senate. Most of the funds are federal, but $500 million comes from the state’s unrestricted general funds (UGF). A sizeable $63 million chunk of the state funds is for K-12 school maintenance projects and another $28.6 million for the following UA deferred maintenance projects:

1. UAA -  East Campus Learning Hub Renewal Project: Social Sciences Building and UAA/APU Consortium Library
2. UAA - Major Re-investment in Health (SMH/PSB) and Community Engagement (WWA)
3. UAA - Campus Wide Code Compliance, Emergency Services, and Security Improvements; Roof and Exterior Envelope Replacements; Mechanical/Electrical System Upgrades
4. UAF - Campus Wide Student Health and Safety; Cutler Roof; Patty Pool Compliance
5. UAS -  Juneau Campus Safety & Regulatory Compliance - covered walkways, security cameras and door-locking systems
6. UAA - Kodiak Campus Wide: Priority investments in mechanical, electrical, energy egress, exterior doors, and roofs
7. UAA -  Prince William Sound Campus Wide: Priority investments in mechanical, electrical, fire alarm systems, roofs, campus interiors, and campus accessibility
8. UAA - Mat-Su Campus Wide: Priority investments in mechanical, electrical, and interior system
   

The capital budget also includes $10 million in state funds to advance the University’s Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft System Integration, $11.1 million ($2.2 million in state matching funds and $8.9 million in federal funds) for the Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture & Sequestration project, and $1 million for the  Alaska Energy Data Storage and Access Revitalization Project.

Conference Committee

After the House rejected the Senate’s changes to the state operating budget, both bodies elected three lawmakers to a six-person conference committee. The committee is responsible for addressing the variations between House and Senate versions of the bill, and ultimately coming up with a final consensus bill. This year’s conference committee has “limited powers of free conference.” This terminology refers to the items the conference committee may consider. A “closed” conference means members must stick to the selections included by both bodies. A “free” conference means committee members can return to the drawing board and suggest any means to resolve the budget differences. A conference with “limited powers of free conference” means that the committee has guardrails on the items they can freely consider.  In this case, the AGWA/UAW union agreement with the UA has been submitted to OMB, Administration, and Senator Stedman’s office for consideration for inclusion in the final budget during the conference committee discussions.  UA has encouraged the committee to accept the agreement.

The conference committee met multiple times this week but has yet to finalize the UA budget. Outstanding university system budget items include compensation and fixed costs increases; expanding pilot programs for teacher preparation and healthcare professionals; campus public safety and security upgrades at UAA; and R1 research status funding for UAF.  Noteworthy:  Intent language was approved on Wednesday (i.e., the House and Senate conference committee members agreed) that the UA Museum of the North would help facilitate a bone transfer from the American Museum of Natural History.  The bones are known as the “Childs Frick-Alaska Quaternary Mammal Collection.”

Priority Legislation

On Tuesday morning, the House passed House Bill 55, the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP) reauthorization. The bill was immediately transmitted over to the Senate, and it received only one committee referral. It has been sent to the Senate Finance Committee and is expected to be heard in the next few days. It must still pass the full Senate if it passes through the Finance Committee. If the Senate makes any changes, the House will also need to vote to adopt those changes. While the timeline is tight, the Senate has indicated that HB 55 is a priority bill, and they intend to hear it quickly.

Several other UA priority bills are well-placed for passage. Multiple bills addressing the education tax credit sunset are also in Senate Finance, the final committee of referral. House Bill 144, by Representative Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldonta), eliminating the education tax credit sunset, and House Bill 89, by Representative Julie Coulombe (R-Anchorage), extending the sunset date to 2028, are both in Senate Finance awaiting final action. 

Similarly, House Bill 148, expanding the Alaska Performance Scholarship, is also awaiting final passage by the Senate Finance Committee.

Regent Confirmations

Lawmakers came together for a 4-hour joint session on Tuesday to consider the Governor’s commissioners and appointees to state boards and commissions. Among the appointees considered were UA Board of Regent appointees Seth Church and Stephen (Steve) Colligan. Both were unanimously approved and will remain on the Board through 2027 before they are up for reconsideration.

Seth Church owns Jewel Isaac LLC, a general contracting company that provides commercial construction services throughout the State of Alaska, and is also a co-owner of Sabe Capital LLC, The Laundry Company, and many other real estate ventures. Regent Church has served the State of Alaska on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and the Marine Transportation Advisory Board. He was elected National Youth Chair for the Coalition of Juvenile Justice, was a Business Advisory Board Member for Students Who Enjoy Economic Thinking at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and served on the Minority Ethnic Committee for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. Regent Church and his wife, Mayya, reside in Fairbanks.

Steve Colligan is a lifelong Alaskan; he holds an Associate of Applied Sciences in petroleum engineering technology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and has studied engineering at UAF and the University of Alaska Anchorage. Regent Colligan has national and international experience specializing in information technology integration, geographic information systems, and geomatics.

What We’re Watching

Typically, at the end of the session, the Legislature transitions into the “24-hour rule” once a conference committee has been announced. This rule refers to the time needed to notice public meetings. Usually, the Legislature must give 7 days notice on a bill hearing; however, once the 24-hour rule is enacted, hearings may be noticed 24 hours in advance. This means that next week’s schedule has not yet been determined.

May 3, 2024

The Senate Passes the Operating Budget While the House Takes its First Pass at the Capital Budget

With 12 days left in the regular 121-day legislative session, the House and the Senate are both moving quickly toward final budget proceedings and, eventually, adjournment.

On Wednesday morning, the House Finance Committee released its first draft of the capital budget. The revised capital budget includes three great new additions for the university system. The House version of the budget adds funding for deferred maintenance at Mat-Su and Prince William Sound Campuses. This is on top of six UA deferred maintenance projects selected by the Senate. 

All Deferred Maintenance Projects Funded in the Capital Budget:

1. UAA -  East Campus Learning Hub Renewal Project: Social Sciences Building and UAA/APU Consortium Library
2. UAA - Major Re-investment in Health (PSB) and Community Engagement (WWA)
3. UAA - Campus Wide Code Compliance, Emergency Services, and Security Improvements; Roof and Exterior Envelope Replacements; Mechanical/Electrical System Upgrades
4. UAF - Campus Wide Student Health and Safety; Cutler roof; Patty Pool Compliance
5. UAS -  Juneau Campus Safety & Regulatory Compliance - covered walkways, security cameras and door-locking systems
6. UAA - Kodiak Campus Wide: Priority investments in mechanical, electrical, energy egress, exterior doors, and roofs
7. UAA -  Prince William Sound Campus Wide: Priority investments in mechanical, electrical, fire alarm systems, roofs, campus interiors, and campus accessibility
8. UAA - Mat-Su Campus Wide: Priority investments in mechanical, electrical, and interior systems

The new capital budget draft includes $2.22 million for the UAF Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture & Sequestration Project, which wasn’t included in the Senate’s version.

Later Wednesday, the Senate passed the operating budget from the floor. Procedurally, when a bill is passed from its second body, the legislation returns to its body of origin, which votes to accept, or “concur” on, the changes of the second body. If the original body does not concur, a six-person conference committee is selected to negotiate the final terms of the bill. In the case of the operating budget, the bill will be returned to the House, and it is anticipated that they will not concur with the changes. We expect a conference committee to be announced by May 6. The committee will likely begin meeting early next week. The two budgets can be compared here, and the university transactions can be compared here. Notably, the Senate version doesn’t include UA’s request for $20 million in one-time funding to reach R1 Research designation status at UAF. This is one of UA’s most significant operating budget priorities, alongside compensation and fixed cost increases.  Many voices are being raised on this issue.  

UA comes to an agreement with graduate student workers for a union contract

On Tuesday afternoon, the University System Office announced a “tentative agreement” on a labor contract with the Alaska Graduate Workers Association (AGWA). The contract extends through the end of 2026. It includes provisions to increase graduate student workers' pay and allow extended facility access, time off, and bargaining unit input over health insurance, among other terms. The agreement covers students at UAA, UAF, and UAS. 

Now that the terms of the agreement have been reached, the agreement must be approved by the Board of Regents and the Department of Administration. The Legislature ultimately has the final funding approval of the contract agreement, and it must add in a budget increment for the union before the session concludes for the funding to materialize for FY 25. The UA Government Relations team submitted a budget amendment, incorporating the terms of the agreement.  Legislative consideration is the next step.     

Priority Legislation

House Bill 144, by Representative Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldonta), was heard on the House Floor on Wednesday and Thursday. The bill eliminates the sunset provision of Alaska’s current education tax credit program. The program allows organizations to receive a tax credit for donations or research contributions to Alaskan educational institutions. The sunset provision requires the program to be reauthorized every few years. Removing the sunset would allow the program to exist in perpetuity.  Notably, the bill was amended on the House Floor by Representative Sarah Vance (R-Homer) to require that any organization receiving tax credits for research contributions make the research available to the state. The Floor debate was the first that many heard of Representative Vance’s idea, and the ramifications still need to be pondered further. The bill passed out of the House by a vote of 35Y-4N. 

In addition to House Bill 144, two other bills exist to extend the education tax credit program. House Bill 89 from Representative Julie Coulombe (R-Anchorage) updates Alaska tax credit laws and extends the sunset date to 2028. The bill is currently in the Senate Finance, along with Senate Bill 120 by Senator Jesse Bjorkman (R-NIkiski), which also extends the sunset for the tax credit program.

House Bill 55, the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP) reauthorization, was heard in the House Finance Committee Tuesday and will be heard again on Monday morning. If the committee passes the bill, it will need to be voted again on the House floor and then sent to the Senate, where it will need to rush through the committee process and receive approval from the Senate. Several lawmakers, including 5  of the 6 co-chairs for the House and Senate finance committees, have identified this as a priority piece of legislation, so we are optimistic that it will make it through in the 11th hour.

UA In the Capitol

Next Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., the House and Senate will meet jointly in the House chamber to consider all of the Governor’s appointees to state boards and commissions. This includes the University of Alaska Board of Regents. In 2023, Governor Dunleavy appointed two new members, Stephen Colligan and Seth Church. Lawmakers will ultimately vote on confirming the appointees. The joint confirmation session typically lasts between 2 and 4 hours.

What We’re Watching

Saturday, May 4

• 10:00 a.m. - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 10:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled

Monday, May 6

• 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: Senate Bill 187 - Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental / House Bill 55: Extend Workforce Invest Board Allocations
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled

Tuesday, May 7

• 9:00 a.m. -  Senate Finance:  Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 10:00 a.m. - House Finance:  Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 11:00 a.m. - Joint session: Consideration of Governor’s Appointments to Boards & Commissions 
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 1:30 p.m. -  Senate Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled

Wednesday, May 8

• 9:00 a.m - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 9:00 a.m. -  Senate Finance:  Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 1:30 p.m. -  Senate Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled

Thursday, May 9

• 9:00 a.m - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 9:00 a.m. -  Senate Finance:  Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 1:30 p.m. -  Senate Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled

Friday, May 10

• 9:00 a.m - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 9:00 a.m. -  Senate Finance:  Bills previously heard/scheduled
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: Bills previously heard/scheduled

 

April 26, 2024

The Senate Passes the Operating Budget Out of Committee and Plans for Floor Vote Next Week While the House Considers Capital Budget Changes

Budget

Yesterday morning, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved its committee substitute to the operating budget. The budget remains largely unchanged from the previous Senate Finance Committee substitute released last week. The only updated provision relevant to the University of Alaska is newly added intent language requesting that the UA Museum of the North facilitate the return of a quaternary mammal collection currently housed at the American Museum of Natural History. The provision was brought forward by Sen. Click Bishop (R-Fairbanks).  Ultimately, the Senate Finance Committee substitute appropriates $331.3 million in unrestricted general funds to the university system. 

From here, the operating budget will go to the Senate Floor, where members are expected to vote on the bill by May 2. Once the operating budget passes the Senate, the bill will be transmitted back to the House for “concurrence” approval. Traditionally, the House rejects the Senate changes, and a six-person “conference committee” comprised of members of both bodies is announced. The committee is ultimately responsible for identifying agreements on the budget and developing a final substitute. Once the substitute is created, it returns to both bodies’ floors for final passage. We anticipate a conference committee to be selected by May 6. Both bodies firmly believe they can finish the budget by May 14, the final day of the legislative session. 

While the Senate Floor will consider the operating budget next week, the House Finance Committee will review the capital budget. It’s scheduled for twice-a-day hearings Tuesday-Friday. Theoretically, the House will pass the capital budget by May 9, allowing for a similar conference committee procedure.

In other budget news, the legislature has approved an extension of funds the university system is receiving for our economic development projects, including drones, critical minerals, heavy oil, and mariculture research. This allows these programs to continue to spend money originally appropriated for FY23 and FY24.  The extension now stretches to June 30, 2026.

Priority Legislation

Earlier this week, the Senate Finance Committee heard House Bill 89 by Representative Julie Coulombe (R-Anchorage). The bill introduces a new tax credit for businesses offering childcare benefits or programs and extends the current tax structure, which includes education tax credits. The University of Alaska spoke to the committee about the benefits of the tax credits to the university system. Many partners around the state use these credits to directly fund the UA on workforce, research, and academic programs.

Notably, the Technical Vocational Education Program reauthorization bill, House Bill 55, has been scheduled for a hearing in House Finance next Tuesday. This bill, which is carried by Rep. Ashley Carrick (D-Fairbanks), is imperative for institutions receiving state funding for Alaska’s workforce development programs, including the university system. Last year, UA received approximately $6 million from the program. Without it, funding for over 80 UA programs will be in jeopardy. For the bill to pass the legislature, it needs to not only make it out of the House Finance Committee but also across the House Floor and through the entire Senate. This is a particularly large lift this late in the session; however, several lawmakers have identified HB 55 as a priority bill and expect to push it through.

In the Spotlight

The Office of Representative Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage). 

Representative Andy Josephson

Represents: Anchorage: Campbell Park, Diamond Business District, East Sand Lake, Midtown, and Taku/Campbell

Membership: House University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee, House Finance, House Legislative Budget & Audit, House Select Committee on Legislative Ethics

Bill sponsorship: 

• HB 11: Crime: Assault In The Presence Of A Child
• HB 12: Municipal Regulation Of Trapping
• HB 13: Applicability Of Human Rights Commission
• HB 14: Aggravating Factors At Sentencing
• HB 15: Peer Support Counseling Program
• HB 16: Medicaid Optional Svcs & Cost Containment
• HB 22: Peace Officer/Firefighter Retire Benefits
• HB 33: Oil Spills/Pollution: Penalties; Prevention
• HB 80: Incompetency; Civil Commitment
• HB 162: Gun Violence Protective Orders
• HB 238: Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree
• HB 239: Workers' Comp & Post-Traumatic Stress
• HB 240: Defense Of Pub. Officer: Ethics Complaint
• HB 241: Reproductive Health: Legal Protections
• HB 244: Refined Fuel Surcharge
• HB 248: Informed Consent For Pelvic Exams
• HB 261: Vehicular Homicide Offenses
• HB 262: Residential Rent Increase Notice
• HB 263: Affirm. Defense For Disabling Trap/Snare
• HB 354: Restrict Restaurant Use Of Polystyrene
• HCR 5: Preventing Orca Bycatch
• HCR 14: UAA Law School; Law School Partnerships
• HJR 1: Const. Am: Repeal Marriage Section
• HR 9: Rights Of Parents, Teachers, & Students

Representative Andy Josephson was born in Anchorage just after the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake. Andy attended public schools and grew up in a politics and baseball household.  Andy attended Whitman College, earning a BA in History in 1986, while spending one year at the University of York, England. His connection to Britain and friends there remains strong.

Andy completed a Master of Arts in Teaching at UAA in 1992, and taught in rural Alaska from 1991-1994 in Kalskag, Alaska for the Kuspuk School District. He gave up his first passion (history) and attended law school at Penn State from 1994-1997, returning to Alaska and serving as a law clerk to two superior court judges in Fairbanks and Kenai. After his clerkships, Andy joined the District Attorney’s office, principally serving as a prosecutor in Kotzebue. He then worked in private practice in Anchorage from 2001-2012. Since 2012, Andy has worked exclusively as a state representative. He lives with his wife, Donna, a Lutheran School teacher, in midtown Anchorage.

Alexander Schroeder

Alex is a Finance and Policy Analyst in Juneau fighting for adequately funded education, both at the K-12 and collegiate levels. Funding for the university faced significant budget reductions while Alex was still an undergraduate student at UAA. Now, after a decade of flat funding, K-12 education is causing school districts all around Alaska to consider closing schools and discontinuing programs like IGNITE. Alex believes that Alaska's best investment is educating our youth and young adults. In his words, “Without this, the state will continue to see a steady decline in talent and innovation as people look elsewhere to start their future.”

For these reasons, Alex became the first person in his family to receive a master's degree, and returned to Alaska as a freshly-minted political theorist. He says that “a robust and well-funded public education system is largely responsible for my academic success. I thank the fantastic educators at Bartlett High School who prepared me for college. Go Golden Bears! Now, it is my turn to return the favor and utilize government to adequately fund public education so that Alaskans from any background can succeed.”

Lisa Keller

Lisa Keller was born and raised in Anchorage and graduated from Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. She attended the University of Oregon, Eugene, earning a B.A. in political science. She owns Multisport Training of Alaska, is the General Manager of Running Free Alaska, and is a host of Outdoor Explorer on Alaska Public Media. She is a founding board member of the Alaska Run for Women, YWCA Alaska, the Alaska Triathlon Club, and Running Free Alaska. She has spent most of her adult life in the fitness and outdoor world, but true to her political science degree, she has never shied away from political activity. Lisa has two daughters who both graduated from Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. Her older daughter left for warmer climates and never looked back, graduating from the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she lives with her husband and twin boys. Her younger daughter is currently enrolled at the University of Alaska Anchorage and is an Alaska girl through and through, just like her mom.

For more information about bill sponsorship or other topics, you can reach Representative Josephson’s office directly by phone: (907)-465-4939, or by email: Representative.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov

What We’re Watching

Tuesday, April 30

• 10:00 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental” / House Bill 55: “Extend Workforce Investment Board Allocations”
• 11:00 a.m. - Senate Floor - House Bill 144: “Repeal Education Tax Credits Sunset”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental”

Wednesday, May 1

• 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental”

Thursday, May 2

• 10:00 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental”

Friday, May 3

• 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations; Supplemental”

 

The Senate unveils their initial changes to the operating budget while the House begins review of the capital budget

Budget

After a seamless budget swap last Friday, the House and Senate are reviewing the opposite bodies’ budgets. The House Finance Committee is reviewing the Senate’s capital budget while the Senate Finance Committee has already unveiled its own committee substitute for the operating budget. Notably, the new version provides full UGF funding for the university system’s fixed cost increases. These fixed costs include increases for cyber security, property insurance premiums, and maintenance. Simultaneously, the Senate Finance Committee removed $20 million in funding for reaching R1 research status at UAF, $3 million for teacher preparation and healthcare pilot programs at UAA, and $1.2 million for campus security improvements.  The Senate will consider member amendments to the operating budget early next week. Once the bill leaves the Finance Committee, it will be considered by the entire Senate on the chamber floor. Senators may offer additional amendments during that time. A six-person conference committee will ultimately decide any differences between the final House and Senate operating budgets. 

Priority Legislation

Extending Alaska’s Education Tax Credits Program - The Alaska Education Tax Credit (ETC) program was established by the Legislature in 1987 to encourage private businesses to make charitable contributions to support in-state educational institutions. In return, these businesses receive credits to offset their taxes. The ETC program must be renewed by the legislature every few years. Without a renewal or extension, the program is currently set to sunset on January 1, 2025.  Several bills are moving through the Legislature to either extend or remove the sunset requirement entirely:

• Senate Bill 120, a Senate Education Bill carried by Senator Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), extends the program to January 1, 2031. It also updates the contribution limits, expanding the cap from $1 million to $5 million. SB 120 is in the Senate Finance Committee. However, it has yet to show movement since mid-February.
• House Bill 144 by Representative Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna) takes an alternative approach. Rather than extending the education tax credit program sunset, it removes the sunset date entirely, extending the program in perpetuity. Notably, in this legislation, the cap for the ETC program remains at $1 million. A hearing on HB 144 has been scheduled for Monday morning in the House Finance Committee.
• House Bill 89 by Representative Julie Coulombe (R-Anchorage) also extends the ETC program in a roundabout way. The legislation introduces a new tax credit for businesses offering childcare benefits or programs. The new tax credit is added as a subsection to several Alaska Statutes that allow businesses to claim tax credits for education programs, including the ETC program. The legislation extends the current tax credits for three years.  A hearing on the bill is scheduled on Tuesday morning in the Senate Finance Committee.

What We’re Watching

Monday, April 22

• 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 144: Repeal Education Tax Credits Sunset
• 1:00 p.m. - House Judiciary - House Bill 163: FAFSA Raffle
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance - Senate Bill 187: Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations / Presentation: “Fiscal Update” by Legislative Finance Division

Tuesday, April 23

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: House Bill 89: Child Care: Tax Credit/Assistance/Grants
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance - Senate Bill 187: Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations / Presentation “Historical Capital Budget Information” by Legislative Finance Division

Wednesday, April 24

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” / Presentation: “Fiscal Update” by Legislative Finance Division
• 3:30 p.m. - Senate Resources: House Bill 50: “Carbon Storage” by Frank Paskvan, Affiliate Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks

April 12, 2024

House Debates Operating Budget Amendments While the Senate Releases Revised Capital Budget

It’s been a budget-centric week in Juneau. The House spent multiple long days debating the operating budget and associated amendments on the floor while the Senate released and considered a revised capital budget. The bodies are expected to swap budgets as early as this afternoon. 

Budget

Earlier in this session, the House and the Senate arranged to swap their respective operating and capital budgets on April 12. Traditionally, a swap of both budgets is part of the budget review process and allows each body to have a fair shot at operating and capital state budgets. While that hasn’t happened in the last several years, the agreement is an attempt to return to the traditional process. 

To meet the April 12 swap deadline, the House has hosted marathon floor sessions to complete its annual operating budget review this week. The budget, House Bill 268, was introduced on the House Floor on Monday, and the body began amendment review on Tuesday. More than 130 budget amendments were drafted, however many were not offered on the floor. The House considered amendments well into the evenings on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The final amended budget was debated again and ultimately passed out of the House on Thursday afternoon.

House Budget Amendments

Several of the 130+ drafted operating budget amendments impacted the university system's operations:

• Representative Carrick (D-Fairbanks) introduced an amendment to increase the UA operating budget by $740,000 for increased student mental health services. The amendment failed 17Y-23N.
• Representative Carpenter (R-Nikiski) introduced two amendments, eliminating $29.8 from UA’s supplemental budget for program funding for drones, critical minerals, enhanced oil recovery, and mariculture research, and $20 million from the operating budget to cut funding to help UAF reach R1 research status. Members of both the House majority and minority spoke strongly against both amendments. Finance Co-Chair Representative DeLena Johnson (R-Palmer) defended the supplemental funding for research programs, noting the $29.8 million was already appropriated in previous years’ budgets, and the inclusion in this year’s supplemental budget is strictly for the extension of the timeframe with which funds may be used. She also highlighted UA’s excellence in drone research. Representative Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks) and Representative Dan Saddler (R-Eagle River) also heralded UA’s affected research areas and highlighted industry accomplishments in each, urging continued support. Rep Stapp and Rep. Carrick also highlighted the return on investment in funding UAF’s R1 research status. Representative Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage) noted the opportunities that will come with R1 status, and Representative Zack Fields (D-Anchorage) emphasized the short two-year time frame UAF has to meet the criteria for R1 Research status. Ultimately, the first amendment failed 9Y-31N, and the second failed 5Y-35N.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, the Finance Committee introduced a committee substitute for its capital budget bill, Senate Bill 187. The Senate Finance Committee Substitute of SB 187 added $200 million in unrestricted general funds (UGF), for a total of $460 million UGF for the state capital budget. The revised budget includes the following for the University of Alaska system:

• $1.0 million in general funds for Alaska Energy Data Storage and Access Revitalization Project

• $10.0 million in general funds for year three of the UA Alaska Drones Project funding - $5 million from UGF and $5 million from university receipts.
• $5.6 million in receipt authority for the UAF University Park Early Childhood Development Center 
• $26.4 for deferred maintenance:
• $4,375,000: UAA: East Campus: Social Sciences Building and UAA/APU Consortium Library renewal 
• $955,000: UAA: Kodiak Campus: Mechanical Electrical, emergency Egress, Exterior Doors and Roofs 
• $5,125,000: UAA: Code Compliance, Emergency Services, Security Improvements; Roof and Exterior Replacement 
• $4,375,000: UAA: Deferred Maintenance for PSB, SMH, and WWA Campus Buildings
• $10,500,000: UAF Campus Wide: Student Health and Safety; Cutler Roof; Patty Pool Compliance 
• $1,070,000: UAS Juneau Campus: Safety & Regulators Compliance; Walkways, Security

Find more information on these projects in the FY 25 University of Alaska Operating and Capital Budget Request (Redbook)

The Senate Finance Committee adopted two technical amendments and passed the bill Thursday morning. In a rare move, the Senate considered the bill the same day on the floor.   The Senate is debating additional amendments this morning and is expected to pass the bill this afternoon. Once it has passed the Senate floor, it will be transmitted to the House.

 

Priority Legislation

House Bill 55 - the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP) reauthorization was passed out of the House Labor & Commerce Committee on Monday afternoon. The bill was revised last week to return the legislation to a clean reauthorization of the program as it currently stands. On Monday, the committee accepted a conceptual amendment that reduced the reauthorization period to one year, meaning that the program will need to be approved again in 2025. Now that the House Labor & Commerce Committee bill has passed, it goes to the House Finance Committee.  

House Bill 89, which contains the Education Tax Credit (ETC) program extension (administered through the Department of Revenue, of which the University is a beneficiary), passed out of the Senate Health And Social Services Committee on Thursday afternoon. It will now go to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.  

In the Spotlight

The Office of Representative Alyse Galvin

From left - right: Representative Alyse Galvin, Meredith Trainor, Claire Fordyce.

Representative Alyse Galvin

Represents: Spenard, Rogers Park, and Midtown Anchorage

Membership: House Finance Committee, House University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee

Bill sponsorship: House Bill 156: “Income Tax,” House Bill 383: “Early Childhood Literacy,” House Joint Resolution 18: “Social Security Benefit Reduction Repeal”

Representative Galvin is a mom, a community leader, an Alaskan legislator, and a fighter for public education throughout our state. Alyse first gained recognition as a

leader of Great Alaska Schools, organizing parents, students, educators, and community leaders to fight for our kids and protect our schools. In 2022, Alyse was elected to the State House of Representatives to represent Midtown Anchorage, including Spenard and Rogers Park, and serves on the House Finance Committee.

Alyse is a graduate of the University of California San Diego, where she met her husband of 35 years, Pat. Together, they are the proud parents of four amazing kids raised in Alaska, and now celebrate a wonderful grandson. Alyse’s family came to Alaska to serve in WWII, and she grew up in a diverse Alaskan family of bankers, builders, mechanics, misfits, and outlaws. Alyse started working when she was eight years old – and has been a living example of the power of resilience and grit since her early days. When not working, Alyse enjoys gardening, quilting, fishing, playing bridge, and cooking for her family.

Meredith Trainor is Representative Galvin’s Chief of Staff – this is her first legislative session. Before joining Rep Galvin’s team, Meredith spent 8 years as Executive Director of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. She moved to Southeast Alaska in 2016 to accept that position, but her first and most memorable summer in Alaska was spent in Arctic Alaska in 2005, studying how plants might adapt to climate change at the University of Alaska’s Toolik Lake Field Station.

She still has coffee out of her ancient Toolik Lake Field Station mug many mornings, but her roots are firmly in Southeast these days, where she lives with her partner, Colin, and a “purebred Alaskan mutt” named Rhubarb.

Claire Fordyce is Representative Galvin’s Legislative Aide and Constituent Services lead. Claire has enjoyed being a student in UA courses both on-site and online for decades, earning over 40 credits in Undergraduate, Professional, and Graduate courses ranging from Remote Sensing to Anthropology of Natives of Alaska and the Arctic, from certificates in Chemical Dependency Counseling to Sculpture, Family Empowerment, and post-graduate classes in Disabilities. An ardent supporter of the UA system, Claire believes strong communities and schools go hand in hand with well-resourced Universities, which attract students and retain quality professors. She has appreciated the cultural enrichment that the University of Alaska Southeast has provided to her life in Juneau. She and her husband Clay live in Juneau, as does their daughter. They also have a child and grandchildren in Anchorage, and a son in Seattle.

Public Testimony Opportunities

With the Capital budget in hand, the House Finance Committee will conduct public testimony on the bill on Thursday afternoon at 1:30. If you’d like to testify,  please call in or arrive at your local LIO at least 30 minutes before the allotted testimony time. Alternatively, you can send written testimony to housefinance@akleg.gov 

What We’re Watching

Monday, April 15

• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Finance University of Alaska Subcommittee: University of Alaska FY25 Budget Closeout

Wednesday, April 17

• 9:00 a.m - Senate Finance: HB 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”  
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 269: “Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations” /  SB 187: “Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations”

Thursday, April 18

1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 269: “Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations” /  SB 187: “Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations”: Public Testimony

April 5, 2024

The House Finance Committee Finalizes Operating Budget Amendments While the Senate Releases Draft Capital Budget

The House Finance Committee wrapped up its extensive budget-related amendment process earlier this week and is now considering the finalized amended package. Meanwhile, in Senate Finance the committee introduced a draft capital budget which will be reviewed today and next week.

Budget

Earlier this week the House Finance Committee continued its overview of nearly 100 budget amendments. They wrapped up the amendment process on Wednesday evening. Notable among the accepted amendments was one from Representative Alyse Galvin (D-Anchorage) to add funding into the operating budget for campus security measures at UAA campuses. The total increase of $1,020,000 is funded partially from the unrestricted general fund ($816,000) and partially from university receipts ($204,000). The funds allow UAA to increase the number of sworn officers available on campus and to install updated physical security systems such as cameras and building access systems.

Later this afternoon the committee will introduce a cleaned-up committee substitute that includes all the newly accepted amendments. The committee is required to vote on the new bill substitute before it can be transmitted to the House floor for a debate of the full body. The timeline for the budget to reach the House floor is likely to be early next week.

In the Senate, the Finance Committee began closing out state agency budget overviews. This process will continue over the next two weeks with the University of Alaska budget closeout expected to take place on April 15. The finalized department budgets will inform the Senate’s version of the state operating and capital budgets. 

The Senate also released a draft capital budget earlier this morning. A review of the capital budget will be continued next Wednesday in the committee. Notably, the draft budget does not include funds for UA’s deferred maintenance or funds needed to meet a federal match requirement on UAF’s Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture and Sequestration Project. This budget is the starting point for negotiations with the House, so much work remains.  

The Senate capital budget reflects a belief that the House has many items that are still unbudgeted (like millions in payments to the Department of Education and necessary payments for broadband access grants and fire suppression, etc.). The capital budget also anticipates “margins” open for the expected House/Senate negotiation on the Permanent Fund Dividend amount, which remains unsettled and potentially expensive.

Legislative Priorities

On Wednesday afternoon, the House Labor & Commerce once again considered House Bill 55, the Technical and Vocational Education Program (TVEP) reauthorization bill. The committee authorized a committee substitute to the bill which would reauthorize the program in its current form for another two years. This clean reauthorization provides funding stability for UA’s technical and vocational education programs. The committee will consider additional amendments to the bill this afternoon after which it may pass the bill out and onto the House Finance Committee. 

Upcoming

Arctic Encounter Symposium to Spotlight UA Excellence

The University of Alaska is proud to co-host the 10th International Arctic Encounter Symposium (AES) in Anchorage from April 10 to 12. AES is the largest annual Arctic policy event in the United States and aims to confront the shared interests and concerns of the United States and the global community on current and future Arctic issues.

While some details remain TBD, UA students, faculty, research, and leadership will be well-represented during the three-day symposium, as a large number of panelists and speakers are UA-affiliated. Faculty and students from all three UA universities will speak about UA's leadership in Arctic security, energy, education, fisheries, changing climate and environment, and community development.

UA is also hosting two-panel discussions. The “Building Arctic Leaders” session will feature faculty and students from Tamamta, the Climate Scholars program at UAF, ADAC-ARCTIC at UAA, and the AK Coastal Rainforest Center at UAS. The “Building Indigenous and Inclusive Education Across the Arctic” session includes panelists from UAA, Canada, and Norway. President Pitney will provide remarks during the symposium highlighting UA’s contributions to global Arctic expertise. 

More information about the symposium is available on the AES website.

What We’re Watching

Wednesday, April 10

• 8:00 a.m - House Education: HCR 14: “UAA Law School; Law School Partnerships”
• 1:30 pm - Senate Finance: SB 187: “Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriation”

Friday, April 12

• 1:00 p.m. - House Judiciary: HB 163: “FAFSA Raffle”
• 3:30 p.m. - Senate Resources: Presentation “Cook Inlet Region Low Carbon Power Generation with Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage Feasibility Study” by Frank Paskvan, Affiliate Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Northern Engineering

 

March 29, 2024

House Finance Committee Considers Amendments to Newly Revised Budget 

All eyes are on the House Finance Committee this week as members begin to sort through budget amendments. The committee needs to finish its revisions before the full House body can vote on the bill. 

Budget

Last Friday morning, the House Finance Committee unveiled its most recent committee substitute for the annual state budget. Notable among the updates was $175 million for one-time education funding and $2,272 per person for dividends and energy relief payments. House Finance’s operating budget leaves a surplus of $152 million which can be used to cover additional operating requests or capital expenditures. Other unfunded operating requests include $23.5 million for low-income senior benefits and $40 million for rural school internet funding. Any funding for UA’s deferred maintenance must come from this remaining surplus and will need to compete with these other requests..

The House Finance Committee began considering budget amendments on Wednesday afternoon. To date, 96 amendments have been published on akleg.gov, the legislative bill tracking website. Of the 96,  9 relate to the University of Alaska. As of this writing, the House Finance Committee has worked its way through the first two that relate to UA.

• Budget Amendment 9, sponsored by Rep. Stapp, provides the University of Alaska with the full $20 million required to reach R1 designation at UAF. The $20 million is funded by the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF). Previously, the budget appropriated $10 million in general funds. The increase allows UAF to strengthen its doctoral programs and increase graduate student enrollment. The amendment also adds $3 million in one-time funding for UA’s Teacher Education and Healthcare programs. The amendment passed 9-2.
• Budget Amendment 10 removes budget language funding UAF’s R1 designation request over two years with the second year contingent upon UAF meeting set graduate enrollment numbers. Amendment sponsor Rep. Will Stapp withdrew the amendment upon passage of Amendment 9.  Budget Amendment 10 was no longer necessary.
• Amendments 89-95, sponsored by Rep. Josephson and Rep. Galvin, have yet to be heard. They focus on improving student mental health services, campus public safety, statewide recruitment and retention efforts, expanding UA’s workforce programs, building UAF’s food security research, and funding athletics.   

Committee members reviewed amendments through Thursday evening and they will resume the process again next  Monday morning. Meanwhile, the Senate has scheduled a review of the Capital budget starting next Thursday.

In the Spotlight 

Governor Mike Dunleavy and the Governor’s Legislative Office (GLO)

Governor Mike Dunleavy was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He moved to Alaska in 1983 and received his M.A. in education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1992. He worked as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in northwest Alaska before moving with his family to Wasilla. He served on the Mat-Su Borough School Board, including two years as board president. In 2012 he was elected to the Alaska State Senate - a position he held until he ran for Governor in 2018. Outside the world of politics, the Governor enjoys rafting, snowmachining, fishing, camping, hiking, and hunting.  Governor Dunleavy has been working with the University in various areas, including workforce, energy, drones, and specific research that helps the economy of Alaska.  

Laura Stidolph is a lifelong Alaskan, who grew up in Juneau and Excursion Inlet. She studied at the University of Oregon and UAS. After working in the legislature for a decade as well as for the private sector in telecom, she accepted the legislative director position for Governor Dunleavy. She enjoys foraging, gardening, and spending time with her children.

Anna Latham grew up in Yakutat and has lived in the communities of Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau. After graduating from UAS Anna spent a decade working in the transportation industry, before moving to positions in the legislature and within the State of Alaska. She enjoys skiing and berry picking in her spare time.

Victoria Schoenheit is a third-generation Alaskan, growing up in Fairbanks and the Kenai Peninsula. After attending the University of Alaska, she began her career with the Department of Law. Victoria has served the Governor’s Legislative Office for the past two administrations and enjoys biking and spending time at her family cabin on Prince of Wales Island.

 Mary Landes is a lifelong Juneauite. After graduating from Montana State University, she returned to Juneau to work seasonally. She’s a friendly face in her first year in the GLO, and her goal is to travel to all 7 continents before she turns 30.

Arctic Encounter Symposium to Spotlight UA Excellence

The University of Alaska is proud to co-host the 10th international Arctic Encounter Symposium (AES) in Anchorage from April 10 to 12. AES is the largest annual Arctic policy event in the United States and aims to confront the shared interests and concerns of the United States and the global community on current and future Arctic issues.

While some details remain TBD, UA students, faculty, research, and leadership will be well-represented during the three-day symposium, as a large number of panelists and speakers are UA-affiliated. Faculty and students from all three UA universities will speak about UA's leadership in Arctic security, energy, education, fisheries, changing climate and environment, and community development.

UA is also hosting two panel discussions. The “Building Arctic Leaders” session will feature faculty and students from Tamamta, the Climate Scholars program at UAF, ADAC-ARCTIC at UAA, and the AK Coastal Rainforest Center at UAS. The “Building Indigenous and Inclusive Education Across the Arctic” session includes panelists from UAA, Canada, and Norway. President Pitney will provide remarks during the symposium highlighting UA’s contributions to global Arctic expertise. 

More information about the symposium is available on the AES website.

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What We’re Watching

Monday, April 1

• 10:00 a.m. - House Finance: HB 268 “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental, Amended”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 268 “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental, Amended”

Tuesday, April 2

• 10:00 a.m. - House Finance: HB 268 “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental, Amended”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 268 “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental, Amended”

Wednesday, April 3

• 10:00 a.m. - House Finance: HB 268 “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental, Amended”

Thursday, April 4

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: SB 187 “Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations”

Friday, April 5

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: SB 187 “Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 268 “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental, Amended”

March 22, 2024

Education Remains in the Spotlight After Legislators Could Not Produce Votes Necessary to Override Governor’s Education Package Veto  

The Capitol has, at times, felt tense this week after lawmakers narrowly voted to uphold Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto of an omnibus education bill. The vote to override the veto, requiring two-thirds legislative support, fell one vote short on Monday evening. That means that school districts may not see requested per-student funding increases. As several school districts face large budget deficits, education funding remains a hot topic in the Capitol. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House Finance Committee are preparing to consider budget amendments before passing the operating budget to a vote of the full House.

Budget

The House Finance Committee was scheduled to take up amendments to the state operating budget this week. However, marathon floor sessions have delayed hearings, and the amendments will likely be considered next week instead. Both houses have agreed to a tentative date of April 12 to transmit the budget from the House to the Senate. To do so, the House will need to first finalize amendments in the House Finance Committee before sending it to the House Floor, where the body will hear the bill and consider further amendments before taking up a final vote. Based on the current trajectory, a House floor vote on the budget will likely happen the first or second week of April.

UA in the Capitol

Last year, Governor Dunleavy appointed two new members to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Regent-appointees Stephen Colligan and  Seth Church are both subject to the regular legislative confirmation process. Typically, appointees present their credentials to related House and Senate committees before being considered for a joint-body vote. Both appointees Colligan and Church spoke before the House and Senate Education committees this week. The hearings were straightforward, and the committees each voted to forward both names for a joint confirmation vote. The joint vote will likely occur at the end of April or early May.

House Bill 144, which concerns education tax credits, was considered in the House Finance Committee. Representative Justin Ruffridge and his staff presented the bill and provided an overview of the benefits of tax credits to private-sector businesses and the university. The committee held the bill for amendments. The bill is scheduled to be heard again next week.

House Bill 55, the Technical Vocational Education Program reauthorization bill, was referred to the House Labor & Commerce Committee earlier this week. The committee will hear the bill for the first time this afternoon and again next Monday.

What We’re Watching

Monday, March 25

• 3:15 p.m. - House Labor & Commerce: HB 55: “Extend Workforce Invest Board Allocations”

Wednesday, [Date]

• 8:30 a.m. - House Finance: HB 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget, Capital, Supplemental, Amendment”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget, Capital, Supplemental, Amendment”

Thursday, March 28

• 8:30 a.m. - House Finance: HB 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget, Capital, Supplemental, Amendment”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget, Capital, Supplemental, Amendment”

Friday, March 29

• 8:30 a.m. - House Finance: HB 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget, Capital, Supplemental, Amendment”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget, Capital, Supplemental, Amendment”

 

March 18, 2024

Lawmaker’s Hit Day 60, Focus on Budget and Education Legislation

Last week, while the University of Alaska had spring break, the Legislature remained in session. Lawmakers focused on the budget, receiving new economic outlooks, and taking public testimony. The Legislature also revisited several education bills.

Budget

Last Monday, the House Finance Committee introduced a revised operating budget. The updated budget incorporated changes made in House Finance subcommittees, including the addition of $6.1 million in Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) for UA for compensation, and another $3.9 million in UGF for projected increases to property insurance, cyber security, and maintenance. The House Finance Committee then hosted public testimony from Alaskans across the state Tuesday through Thursday.

Separately, The Department of Revenue released a new spring revenue forecast last week. Agency representatives indicated that with slightly increased oil prices, the state is likely to gain ~ $58 million in FY 24, ending June 30, and an additional $140 million in FY 25, starting July 1. However, some of that money—roughly $28 million—is already reserved for a one-time energy relief payment included with this year’s permanent fund dividend payment to Alaska residents. 

Also key in legislators' budget discussions is the addition of funding for K-12 education. Senate Bill 140, an omnibus education package that included a $680 increase to the base student allocation (BSA), was vetoed by the Governor on Thursday. In a Friday press release, the Governor indicated that the bill didn’t go far enough to increase charter schools or teacher retention funding. A veto override by the Legislature requires a ⅔ majority vote - or 40 out of the 60 lawmakers - opposing the Governor’s veto. The Legislature has not successfully overridden a Governor’s veto in several years. However, the Legislature plans to meet in a joint session at 2:15 this afternoon to attempt to override the veto.

Priority Legislation

In addition to the omnibus education funding package, lawmakers revisited several other education bills. The House Education Committee sprang back to life with consideration of House Bill 55 allocating funds to Technical and Vocational Education Programs (TVEP). The Committee passed a bill substitute that increased overall TVEP funding from .16% of unemployment insurance to .25%, effectively increasing the total yearly funds from ~ $14 million to over $20 million. Notably, the substitute reduces the portion of TVEP funding that the University receives from 45% down to 40%. However, with a larger total TVEP allocation, the University would likely see an increase of ~$3 - $4 million in funds.  The bill was successfully passed out of the House Education Committee on Friday and is now scheduled to be heard in the House Labor & Commerce Committee later this week.

Last Thursday, Senate Finance heard House Bill 148, which increases the Alaska Performance Scholarship award. The Committee heard from the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education and Dr. Paul Layer, UA Vice President of Academics and Research, on the bill's benefits. Highlights include increasing enrollment and retaining Alaskan students after graduation. The Committee heard and held the bill and will revisit it at a later date.

This morning, the House Education Committee revisited House Bill 236, creating a fund for UA’s deferred maintenance and modernization. The legislation suggests the Legislature set aside $35 million for UA each year to assist with our deferred maintenance needs. A set annual appropriation would allow the University to have budget stability and to plan for long-term improvements. Committee members passed the bill out of House Education without amendments. The bill will be referred to the House Finance Committee next, where its sponsor, Rep. Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks), sits as the chair of the UA Budget Subcommittee.

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UA in the Capitol

State of the University

President Pitney delivered the “State of the University” to a crowded room at the Anchorage Chamber on Monday. She highlighted the impacts of budget stability, celebrated boosted enrollment and an increase in research dollars. She lauded the system’s expertise in Arctic research, highlighting the $46 million recently received by UAA to lead a consortium of U.S. academic institutions and partners for the newly established Arctic Domain Awareness Center ARCTIC Center of Excellence for Homeland Security in the Arctic. The State of the University address was rebroadcast on Gavel Alaska and received positive feedback from lawmakers.

Regent Confirmation Hearings

This last year, Governor Dunleavy appointed two new regents, Stephen Colligan and Seth Church, to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Regent appointees Colligan and Church are subject to approval by the Legislature. This week, the House and Senate Education committees are hosting hearings with both regent-appointees to learn more about their backgrounds and vision for the future of UA. Regent-appointee Colligan testified this morning in the House Education Committee, and Regent-appointee Church will testify in the same committee on Wednesday morning. Both Regent-appointees will testify to the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday afternoon.

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In the Spotlight

The Office of Senator Löki Tobin

Senator Löki Tobin (Löki is pronounced lew-key) 

Membership: Chair: Senate Education; Member: Senate Judiciary, Senate Health & Social Services, Senate Transportation, Senate Select Committee on Legislative Ethics

Bill Sponsorship: SB 27: Contraceptives Coverage Insurance, SB 46: Brain Injury Awareness Month, SB 51: Controlled Substance Data, SB 100: Access to Marijuana Conviction Records, SB 101: Utilities: Renewable Portfolio Standard, SB 109: Employee Rights, Employer Speech, SB 115: Physician Assistant Scope of Practice, SB 175: Electronic device Recycling, SB 176: Board of Parole: Membership, SB 229: Gun Violence Protective Orders

About: Born and raised in Nome, Alaska, Löki Gale Tobin (she/her - pronounced Lew-key) holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She earned her master’s degree in rural development from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Peace Corps Master’s International Program, having served an extended term as a Youth Development Volunteer in Azerbaijan. Currently, Löki Gale is a Ph.D. student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and her areas of research include culturally responsive education, educator diversity, and indigenizing education systems. Löki Gale began her career working in the nonprofit sector, starting in marketing and communications before becoming a certified nonprofit fundraiser. In 2019, Löki joined the office of Alaska State Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich as Policy Director and carried legislation related to homeowner and tenant rights and expanding statewide pre-Kindergarten access. In 2022, Löki was elected to the Alaska State Senate, where she currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Löki Gale also sits on legislative policy committees for transportation, judiciary, health and social services, and legislative ethics. Löki is the Board Secretary for the Pride Foundation, a regional LGBTQIA+ community foundation, sits on the Board of Directors for the Anchorage Concert Association, and is a member of several national policy committees. Löki Gale cares deeply about her home state and doing good in the world. Löki is an avid bicycle commuter, co-hosts a podcast about Alaska politics, volunteers for her local community council, and loves to enter her home preserves in statewide competitions.

Mike Mason - Legislative Aide

Mike is a veteran Alaska journalist and broadcaster who joined the Alaska State Legislature in 2014. He served as the press secretary for the House Minority Democrats in 2015 and 2016 before becoming the press secretary for the bipartisan Alaska House Majority Coalition in 2017 and 2018. Mike then served on Rep. Chris Tuck's staff from 2019 until joining Sen. Tobin’s staff in 2023.

Mackenzie Pope - Legislative Aide 

Mackenzie is a resident of Senator Tobin’s district in the South Addition. Before coming to work for Senator Tobin, she worked in the Anchorage Mayor’s office and for the Anchorage Assembly. As a legislative aide, she now works to keep constituents engaged and informed on what’s going on in Juneau and helps prep Senator Tobin for bills coming up in the Senate Transportation Committee. She enjoys frequenting the Anchorage Public Library and backpacking around the state in her free time. UA is valuable to Mackenzie because she wants to live in a community where her neighbors can get their degrees and work in our communities without leaving the state to access education and workforce development.

Louie Flora - Legislative Aide

Louie has over a decade of experience working in the Alaska State Legislature. Louie is the lead staffer working on Senate Bill 101, which seeks to spur the transition to renewable energy in Alaska. Louie is helping Sen. Tobin staff multiple committees, including the Senate Health and Social Services Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Louie Flora is a commercial fisherman and is the former Government Affairs Director for the Alaska Center. 

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What We’re Watching

Monday, March 18

• 8:00 a.m. - House Education: HB 236: “UA Major Maintenance Modernization Fund”/Consideration of University of Alaska Board of Regent Appointee Stephen Colligan

Wednesday, March 20

• 8:00 a.m. - House Education: Consideration of University of Alaska Board of Regent Appointee Seth Church
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 144: “Repeal Education Tax Credits Sunset”
• 3:15 p.m. - House Labor & Commerce: HB 55: “Extend Workforce Investment Board Allocations”
• 3:30 p.m. - Senate Education: Consideration of the University of Alaska Board of Regent Appointees Seth Church & Stephen Colligan

Thursday, March 21

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: HB 268: Appropriations: Operating Budget: Capital; Supplemental; Amended
• 3:30 p.m. - Senate Health & Social Services: HB 89: “Child Care: Tax Credits/Assistance/Grants”

Friday, March 22

• 8:00 a.m. - House Education: HB 236: “UA Major Maintenance Modernization Fund 
• 8:00 a.m. - House Finance: HB 268: Appropriations: Operating Budget: Capital; Supplemental; Amended

 

Friday, March 8, 2024

The House Budget begins to take shape while lawmakers project limited funds for Operating and Capital budget increases

The University of Alaska had a heavy presence in the Capitol this week. The House University budget subcommittee approved budget revisions for compensation and fixed cost increases while the UA Foundation hosted a fantastic reception honoring the Ted Stevens Legislative Interns and highlighting several of UAS’s workforce programs.

Budget

Last Friday, the University of Alaska House Finance Subcommittee finalized its proposed UA annual budget. The subcommittee, chaired by Representative Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks), accepted changes to the Governor’s proposed FY 25 budget. The revisions included additional unrestricted general funds (UGF) dollars for employee compensation and fixed cost increases. In the updated budget, UA receives an additional $6.1 million for compensation, and another $3.9 million for projected increases to property insurance, cyber security, and maintenance.

On Tuesday, the full House Finance accepted the proposed budget recommendations. The committee expects to take public testimony on the revised budget and may consider additional amendments in the near future, once all the subcommittees have closed out.  

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee received a budget update from Alexei Painter, Director of the Legislative Finance Division, centering around the current revenue outlook.  A formal updated revenue forecast is due to the Legislature on March 14. However, Painter warned lawmakers not to expect significant changes from the December forecast. Without any significant revenue increases, the amount available to spend remains largely flat. With large unsettled expenditures like the PFD and school funding increases looming on the horizon, lawmakers say there may be very little funding left over for other operating or capital costs.

However, Senate Finance Committee staff still plan to conduct an informal review of the university system’s capital budget requests for the situation where funds do become available. The capital budget, pending adequate funding, is the likeliest opportunity for addressing the UA’s deferred maintenance needs. At this time, House Bill 236 addressing a long-term strategy for funding UA’s deferred maintenance, is still in its first committee of referral. 

UA in the Capitol

The Board of Directors of the University of Alaska Foundation flew into Juneau on Tuesday for their quarterly board meeting. While in town, directors stopped by the Capitol to advocate for the extension of the Education Tax Credit (ETC) program, currently set to expire this year. The Foundation also teamed up with UAS to host a legislative reception at the UAS Technical Education Center.  Lawmakers, board members, UAS staff, and community members alike joined together to tour - including a visit to an active woodworking class - and honor the current Ted Stevens Legislative Interns. The internship program has trained more than 250 students in its 30+ years. Interns have the opportunity to work in various lawmakers' offices and get everyday exposure to the public process while receiving college credit. 

Separately, the UA Government Relations team was busy this week providing testimony on House Bill 120 which would allow non-resident students to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at a reduced price, and the Technical Vocational and Education Program (TVEP) reauthorization efforts. Notably, after many weeks of inactivity, House Bill 55, the TVEP reauthorization bill, is scheduled to be up in the House Education Committee next week on March 13 and March 15.  

Public Testimony Opportunities

Next week, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the House Finance Committee will be holding public testimony opportunities on House Bill 268, the House version of the state operating budget. The public can testify in person at their local Legislative Information Offices, or by phone or email. For those showing up in person or calling in, please sign in or call in at least 30 minutes before the end of the allotted public testimony time. 

Call-in numbers:

• From Juneau: 907-586-9085
• From Anchorage: 907-563-9085
• From somewhere other than Juneau of Anchorage: 1-844-586-9085

Schedule:

Tuesday: 

• 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Off-Net callers
• 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Juneau
• 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Sitka, Petersburg, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Glenallen, Tok, Off-nets 

Wednesday:

• 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.: Homer, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Seward, Fff-nets
• 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.: Anchorage, Mat-Su

Thursday

• 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.: Fairbanks
• 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.: Bethel, Cordova, Kotzebue, Nome, Valdez, Wrangell, Utqiagvik, Off-nets

What We’re Watching

Monday, March 11

• 12:00 p.m. - Lunch and Learn: “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Prevention is Key” by Dr. Steffi Kim, University of Alaska Anchorage

Tuesday, March 12

• 12:00 p.m. - Lunch and Learn: “The Small Business Climate in Alaska” by Jon Bittner, Alaska Small Business Development Center, University of Alaska Anchorage
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” Public Testimony
• 5:00 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” Public Testimony

Wednesday, March 13

• 8:00 a.m. - House Bill 55: “Extend Workforce Investment Board Allocations”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” Public Testimony
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Judiciary: Presentation: Report on “Relations Between Intimate Partner Violence and Alaska Women’s Health” by Dr. Ingrid Johnson, University of Alaska Anchorage
• 5:00 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” Public Testimony

Thursday, March 14

• 9:00 a.m. Senate Finance: Presentation: “Spring Revenue Forecast” by Department of Revenue / Overview: “Governor’s Budget Amendments” by Office of Management and Budget
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance:  Presentation: “Spring Revenue Forecast” by Department of Revenue / Overview: “Governor’s Budget Amendments” by Office of Management and Budget
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Finance: House Bill 148: “Alaska Performance Scholarship; Eligibility”
• 5:00 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” Public Testimony

Friday, March 15

8:00 a.m. - House Bill 55: “Extend Workforce Investment Board Allocations”

March 1, 2024

Education remains in the spotlight as the budgets begin to materialize in House Finance subcommittees

The Legislature continued to focus on education funding this week. On Monday, the Senate passed the omnibus education bill sent from the House late last week. The bill was then transmitted to the Governor, who indicated he plans to hold it until March 15 before deciding whether to veto it. 

Meanwhile, legislators conducted business as usual in the Capitol. Both bodies convened in a joint session on Monday for a legislative address from U.S. Congresswoman Mary Peltola. Separately, the House Finance Subcommittees finished their business with agency budget closeouts.  

Mary Peltola Legislative Address

Congresswoman Mary Peltola returned to Juneau this Monday for her second annual legislative address. She highlighted bipartisanship and noted how well Alaska’s congressional delegation is working together. She pointed to the Monday decision by the Federal Trade Commission to file a lawsuit challenging the Kroger-Albertson grocery store merger as a result of bipartisan action with Senators Murkowski and Sullivan. Peltola also highlighted the creation of a bipartisan American Seafood Caucus. She noted that Alaska’s congressional delegation is supporting an increase of federal research dollars for Alaskan fisheries, including research into declining salmon populations. This is a timely conversation as university research has been a big topic in the Capitol.

Budget

The University of Alaska House Finance Subcommittee had two meetings this week. On Monday, the subcommittee members listened as UAF Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Anupma Prakash explained the university system’s request for support in reaching R1 research status at UAF.  Transitioning from R2 to R1 research status allows the University of Alaska to become even more of an impactful economic driver for the state of Alaska. R1 research activities can potentially expand economic activity around the state.

Separately, the same subcommittee will meet this afternoon to take up amendments to the Governor’s proposed FY 25 University of Alaska budget. Amendments passed by the committee will become finalized in the budget closeout. The entire Finance Committee will then review the University of Alaska budget, and the committee will take public testimony on the overall state operating budget.

UA in the Capitol

The university system continues to have a robust presence in the Capitol. This week, the Coalition of Student Leaders (CSL) and the UA Faculty Alliance were both in town meeting with lawmakers and advocating for the university system. CSL is composed of current students from all three UA universities. Members of the coalition present in Juneau represented Kenai, Homer, Mat-Su, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. Members of the Faculty Alliance included faculty from Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks.

Legislative Priorities

The Legislature did move two big pieces of UA’s priority legislation this week. On Monday, the House passed House Bill 148, expanding the Alaska Performance Scholarship program. The bill was transferred to the Senate and is in the Senate Finance Committee (where it superseded its companion bill, Senate Bill 56). HB 148 is now well-positioned for quick movement. However, it remains to be seen if HB 148 may be held in the Senate Rules Committee as part of an end-of-session negotiation package.  

Similarly, the House passed House Bill 89 - a comprehensive tax credit bill. The bill, which initially provided for tax credits only for childcare programs, was expanded to include education tax credits (ETC), a priority of the university system. HB 89 now allows contributions to universities from third-party entities of up to $3 million to be claimed as a credit against their state taxes. The ETC program was also amended to extend the sunset date to 2028. HB 89 was transmitted to the Senate, and many are optimistic about passage.  

What We’re Watching

Monday, March 4

• 8:30 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” 
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Tuesday, March 5

• 10:15 a.m. - House Energy: Presentation: “Cook Inlet Region Low Carbon Power Generation with Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage Feasibility Study by Frank Pasckvan, Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Wednesday, March 6

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”
• 1:30 p.m - Senate Labor & Commerce: Presentation: TVEP by University of Alaska

Thursday, March 7

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: House Bill 120: “Hunt/Fish License for Nonresident Student”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Friday, March 8

• 8:30 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

 

February 23, 2024

The House prioritizes education legislation while the Senate hears public testimony on the FY 25 budget

A recurring theme in the Capitol this session is that the political climate feels like March. The context behind this comment is that March is usually when the contentious budget conversations are in full swing and lawmakers are hunkering down for long days of debating the state budget on the House and Senate floors. This year, while the budget is still in its infancy, legislation relating to education funding has taken on a similar life of its own. 

This week the House largely cleared its committee calendar to make room for substantial debate on Senate Bill 140, the omnibus education bill, containing funding provisions for the Base Student Allocation, teacher incentive pay, and charter schools, among many other measures. When lawmakers initially failed to pass a procedural vote to adopt the most recent committee substitute to the bill, the House was thrown into flux while members worked to negotiate solutions. However, late Thursday night, the body reached a compromise and eventually passed the bill. 

Meanwhile, the Senate moved forward with its budget preparation, taking public comment from across the state on the operating, mental health, and capital budgets.

Notably, even amongst the turmoil in the House, both the House and Senate Finance Committees had time for presentations from President Pitney about the university system’s FY 25 budget request.

Dan Sullivan gives annual legislative address highlighting the University of Alaska

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan gave his annual legislative address to a joint session of House and Senate bodies on Wednesday morning. Senator Sullivan heralded both the Legislature’s and Alaska’s congressional delegations' efforts on the Willow Project reapproval. He touted an estimated $25 billion in additional private and federal investments in Alaska over the next 4-5 years - specifically in tourism cargo, aviation, and national security measures. He noted the workforce needs that come with these big investments, and highlighted the impact of the university system. 

“The University of Alaska system is doing a great job across the state providing an excellent, affordable education. Eighty percent of Alaskans who graduate from the university system stay in Alaska.” Senator Sullivan continued to praise the system with efforts as an arctic research hub.

“A few years ago, I laid out a vision to all of you about making Alaska a future intellectual research hub for so many critical areas that make us unique. Think about it: our vast minerals and natural resources, including boundless renewable energy; our unique role as America’s Arctic; our abundant oceans that we need to keep clean; and our strategic location that enhances America’s national security and provides us with huge economic opportunities.

This vision is becoming a reality and it’s really exciting. Of course, the University of Alaska is doing its part, pulling in over $225 million of research [funds] in the past year—the most they have ever done. But we’re just getting started. Let me give you some examples.

The Department of Defense’s Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, which Senator Murkowski and I got into law a few years ago, already has 40 of the best minds in the world working on these issues at their headquarters at JBER.

Not to be outdone by DOD, just a few months ago, after a full court press by your congressional delegation, the Department of Homeland Security announced a $46 million grant to UAA to focus on critical Arctic security issues.

And it’s not just Arctic security research where we have made very big progress. The NOAA research vessel, the Fairweather, is finally homeported back in Ketchikan, bringing money and research scientists and the crew of this ship back to Alaska, where it belongs.

We all worked together on this important endeavor for years. I want to thank all of you, especially Bert Stedman and his staff. I will say: The ribbon-cutting event that many of us attended in Ketchikan this past August—on a perfectly clear sky day—was one of the most satisfying celebrations I’ve ever attended!

Finally, you all have heard me talk about my passion for oceans. My Save Our Seas 2.0 Act—the most comprehensive ocean clean-up legislation ever passed by Congress—is now being implemented.

Save Our Seas 2.0 established a congressionally-chartered Marine Debris Foundation, which has enormous potential to bring innovative private sector funds and ideas to ocean clean-up.

For the past two years, I have been relentlessly pursuing this idea: This Foundation needs to be headquartered in Alaska.

Today, I am very pleased to announce that it will be… actually right down the road at an ideal place: the Juneau campus of UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and the UAS campus, which already do great ocean-oriented research. The Marine Debris Foundation based alongside these programs has enormous potential.“

Budget

After a quiet President’s Day, the Senate Finance Committee kicked Tuesday off with a presentation from UA President Pat Pitney about the UA FY 25 budget request. President Pitney provided an overview of the system’s operating and capital requests, and highlighted several of our recent achievements. Senators were particularly interested in our teacher preparation efforts. Watch the hearing here.

The House Finance Committee requested a second hearing about the budget. In this follow-up to last week’s budget overview, members were able to break down our operating requests in more detail.   

UA in the Capitol

In addition to focusing on the UA budget request, lawmakers are expressing interest in UAF’s efforts to become an R1 research institution. R1 is a designation under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for research institutions with the highest levels of research activity. Only the top 3.7% of degree-granting institutions are considered R1. To meet the criteria for R1 designation, an institution must bring in more than $50 million in research expenditures, and it must award an average of 70 or more research doctorates each year. 

One of UAF’s strategic goals is to achieve R1 research status by 2027. UAF has consistently been a high-ranking R2 institution. UAF already exceeds Carnegie’s R1 research expenditures by nearly $150 million. However, we need to increase our annual PhD graduates to meet the threshold of 70 graduates. To do so, we’re requesting one-time $20 million funding from the state to help increase the number of incoming Ph.D. candidates and boost the number of annual graduates. The funds will be used to provide graduate student stipends and faculty incentives and to strengthen student support services. 

On Tuesday afternoon, UAF Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Anupma Prakash presented the value of gaining R1 designation to the Senate State Affairs committee. She highlighted the following points:

1. By reaching the R1 designation, UAF will become even more of an impactful economic driver for the state of Alaska. R1 research activities have the potential for significant expanded economic activity in the state. 
2. This is an ambitious yet achievable target. UAF is already within arm’s reach of the R1 designation and the one-time $20 million will facilitate meeting this goal. 
3. Time is of the essence: UAF has planned and gained momentum and will be assessed on its FY24-26 performance.
4. 45 states already have an R1 institution: Alaska needs to have one to serve as an economic driver for the state. Some states like Texas, California, and New York have multiple R1 institutions.
5. During the last Carnegie Classification in 2021, 15 institutions made the jump from R2 to R1, bringing positive changes in their enrollments, research, and contributions to their states.

UA Alumni

Simultaneously, UA alumni from all of UA universities were in the building this week. Several individuals flew to Juneau this week to share their experiences as alumni with lawmakers. At an Alumni Lunch and Learn on Wednesday several folks shared the positive impacts the University of Alaska has had on their lives Our UA Alumni are so important to the conversation with the legislature. Their voices, along with our students/faculty/staff make a difference!  

Legislation 

A disagreement over scheduling occurred within the House Education Committee late last week As a result, a hearing that had been anticipated for House Bill 236 - the University of Alaska Deferred Maintenance and Modernization Fund - was not calendared. It is anticipated that the bill will be rescheduled in the near future.

House Bill 148, which improves the Alaska Performance Scholarship (by providing more notice and adjusting scholarship amounts for inflation), is scheduled to be on the House Floor today. Rep. Justin Ruffridge (R- Kenai) has spearheaded this House Education Committee bill, and we’re grateful for his focus on the important issue. President Pitney has stated that HB 148, along with its Senate companion, Senate Bill 56 (SB56), from Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage), are “game changers” for University enrollment.  

Separately, the Government Relations team was pleased to submit a letter of support for House Bill 120 by Rep. Frank Tomaszewski (R-Fairbanks). HB 120 creates a new non-resident student hunting, fishing, and trapping license. A non-resident student enrolled in classes full or half-time would be able to purchase a license at resident cost. This legislation is intended to entice non-resident students to take up new hobbies, fall in love with Alaska, and eventually stick around after graduation. While 80 percent of UA graduates already stay in-state upon completion of their programs, we support additional efforts to attract and retain out-of-state students.

What We’re Watching

Monday, February 26

• 11:00 a.m. - Joint Session - Address by Mary Sattler Peltola, U.S. Representative
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”
• 3:30 p.m. - House University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee: “Q&A: FY25 Operating Budget, Presentation: University of Alaska Fairbanks R1 Research Status”

Tuesday, February 27

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Wednesday, February 28

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”
• 3:30 p.m. - House University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee: “Q&A: FY25 Operating Budget Closeout”

Thursday, February 29

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Friday, March 1

1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

 

February 16, 2024

UA Takes a Spotlight in the Capitol Amidst a Busy Week

It was a busy week in the Capitol for lawmakers and the University alike. Senator Lisa Murkowski gave her annual Legislative address, the Governor introduced his FY 25 amended budget, the University presented its budget to the House Finance Subcommittee, and several UA priority bills were heard.

Lisa Murkowski Gives Annual Legislative Address

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff joined state lawmakers in Juneau this week for Senator Murkowski’s annual address to the Legislature. Her speech emphasized recent Federal investments in the state, including $46 million for UAA for the newly established Arctic Domain Awareness Center ARCTIC Center of Excellence, and $1.2 million from the Department of Education for UAA’s School of Social Work. She also touted upward trends in enrollment at the University of Alaska - crediting President Pat Pitney’s vision for the university system. The Senator made a direct appeal for state matching funds for the Alaska Marine Highway System, headstart Pre-K programs, vocational education, and broadband. 

Budget

On Tuesday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the Governor’s FY 25 Amended Budget. The amended budget is an annual update released in mind-February that updates the Governor’s initial Proposed FY 25 budgets with additional increments or decrements. This year’s budget increased the overall operating and mental health budgets by roughly $326 million, bringing the total FY 25 statewide totals to $10.896 billion. The increase was primarily due to an infusion of $302.9 million in federal and other outside funds, while the unrestricted general funds increased by only $20.79 million. Notably, the University of Alaska did not receive any substantial additional funds. 

The Senate Finance Committee will be taking public testimony on the operating, mental health, and capital budgets next week. Please visit your local legislative information office or call in if you'd like to testify. Please make sure to sign up for testimony by 10:15 a.m. on the day you plan to attend.

Public Testimony Schedule

Wednesday, February 21

•  9:00 a.m.: Juneau, Southeast, Prince William Sound, Kodiak, and Statewide Offnets
• 1:00 p.m.: Fairbanks, Interior, Copper River Valley, and Statewide Offnets

Thursday, February 22

• 9:00 a.m.: Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Unalaska and Dillingham 
• 1:00 p.m.: Anchorage, Matanuska Valley, and Kenai Peninsula

UA in the Capitol

President Pat Pitney joined the Government Relations team in Juneau this week to provide a UA budget overview to the House University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee. She began the presentation by highlighting our upward-trending enrollment numbers. In Spring 2024, the overall headcount of students was up by 4 percent, while first-time freshmen enrollment increased by 16 percent from the previous year. This is amidst a trend of enrollment decreases nationwide. 

President Pitney shared the FY 25 UA budget request, noting an increase of $29.2 million in unrestricted operating funds. The increase is primarily due to the $14.7 million increase in compensation, $8.5 million in fixed costs (i.e., property insurance, cyber security, maintenance), and $ 6.1 million for State and Arctic Leadership programs. The UA also requests that the Legislature approve a Deferred Maintenance and Modernization Strategy, which would suggests the Legislature annually appropriate at least $35 million towards UA facility maintenance and modernization. A long-term strategy stabilizes the UA System budget while removing the deferred maintenance conversation from the annual capital budget discussion.

The Finance Subcommittee heard briefly about UA’s efforts to achieve Tier 1 Research (R1) Status. Becoming an R1 research institution gives UA national and worldwide acclaim, allows it to submit for more competitive grants, and attracts top-tier researchers from around the world. To reach R1 status, UAF needs to graduate an average of 70 graduate student PhDs annually. The capital budget includes a $20 million one-time request for stipends, technology and staff support, recruiting, outreach, and marketing.  

Separately, university advocates from the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Extension (IANRE) and the Alaska Center for UAS Integration (ACUASI) were in the Capitol this week. IANRE director Jodie Anderson joined the Alaska Food Policy Council and the Farm Bureau in discussing food security in Alaska. Anderson shared the University’s current agriculture research and outreach advancements with lawmakers. ACUASI met with Sen. Stedman to share drone program advancements and future funding.

Priority Legislation

Several bills that UA is interested in had hearings in committees this week. Sen. Meyers’ (R-Fairbanks) textbook and course materials transparency bill (Senate Bill 13) was passed out of the House Education Committee. It is now in the final stretch and just requires final passage on the House Floor.

The House Education Committee also briefly revisited House Bill 55, reauthorizing the Technical Vocational and Education Program (TVEP). The bill extends the sunset of TVEP - an infusion of $14 million annually into workforce training programs. The University receives $6 million annually from TVEP for its vocational programs. Without the passage of the reauthorization, the University, and our workforce partners, like AVTEC, will lose this critical funding. The bill remains in the House Education Committee. Notably, it still has a long way to go before final passage, including two more committees in the House and the full suite of Senate hearings. 

Legislation relating to extending the Education Tax Credit (ETC) Program is gaining momentum. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee heard Senator Bjorkman’s (R-Nikiski) Senate Bill 120. The committee heard invited testimony from the University and industry partners on the value of the education tax credits program in training a reliable workforce. SB 120 was heard and held for public comment at a future date. Meanwhile, in the House, similar provisions were rolled into House Bill 89. Initially written to support daycare assistance and the child care grant program, the bill now also includes the extension for education tax credits. The bill was passed unanimously out of House Finance and will likely head to the House Floor next week.

Both the House and the Senate Finance Committees heard their respective bodies’ bills relating to expanding the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS). House Bill 148, a House Education Committee bill, passed out of the House Finance Committee on  Wednesday, while the Senate Finance Committee heard and held Senator Dunbar’s (D-Anchorage) Senate Bill 56. Among other updates, both bills expand the APS award amount and update the notice timeline.

What We’re Watching

Monday, February 19

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Tuesday, February 20

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: University of Alaska FY25 Budget Request
• 12:00 p.m. - Lunch and Learn: Alaska’s Changing Arctic: Coastal Infrastructure Report by Dr. Amy L. Lovecraft, Director for UAF Center for Arctic Policy Studies
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” / Overview: University of Alaska FY25 Budget by President Pat Pitney
• 3:30 p.m. - Senate State Affairs - Presentation: UA Achieving R1 Status and What it Means for Alaska’s Future

Wednesday, February 21

• 9:00 a.m. Senate Finance: Budget Testimony: Juneau, Southeast, Prince William Sound, Kodiak, and Statewide Offnets / Senate Bill 186: “Appropriations:  Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” / Senate Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations”
• 11:00 a.m. - Joint Session - Annual Address by US Senator Dan Sullivan
• 1:00 p.m. - Senate Finance: Budget Testimony: Fairbanks, Interior, Copper River Valley, and Statewide Offnets / Senate Bill 186: “Appropriations:  Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” / Senate Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”
• 4:00 p.m. - House University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee: Presentation: University of Alaska Fairbanks R1 Research Status by Anupma Prakash, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Thursday, February 22

• 9:00 a.m. Senate Finance: Budget Testimony: Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Unalaska and Dillingham / Senate Bill 186: “Appropriations:  Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” / Senate Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations”
• 1:00 p.m. - Senate Finance: Budget Testimony: Anchorage, Matanuska Valley, and Kenai Peninsula/ Senate Bill 186: “Appropriations:  Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended” / Senate Bill 187: “Appropriations; Capital; Reappropriations”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Friday, February 23

1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

 

February 9, 2024

Lawmakers Hear Key University Legislation as Session Moves Forward 

Four weeks into the second session of the 33rd Legislature, lawmakers are beginning to hurdle through legislation to cross the finish line before the end of the session. Bills not passed by the end of the session will die and need to start the legislative process over again in January 2025 with a host of new lawmakers. The University is seeing several of its key priorities scheduled over the next few weeks.

UA in the Capitol

This week, House Bill 236 - the University of Alaska Deferred Maintenance and Modernization Fund - sponsored by Representative Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks) had its first hearing in its first committee of referral. The House Education Committee listened as Rep. Stapp and Paul Mehnke, Ted Stevens Legislative Program intern from UAF, described the need for stable funding for the University to tackle its significant maintenance needs. The Deferred Maintenance and Modernization fund would suggest the legislature appropriate up to $35 million annually to a fund specifically set aside for the University to use towards its deferred maintenance and modernization projects. Lack of consistent, stable funding has led to a significant backlog of maintenance needs. The bill was heard and held in committee, where it will be taken up again with public testimony at a future date.

Dr. Amy Lovecraft, Director of the Center for Arctic Policy Studies at UAF, presented this morning to the House Special Committee on Arctic Policy, Economic Development, and Tourism. She discussed Alaska’s strategic role in Arctic Policy and described the focuses of the Center for Arctic Policy Studies. Topics covered include coastal security and infrastructure, Arctic boundaries and governance, coastal ecology, and coastal connectivity.  Dr. Lovecraft emphasized that the Center’s Alaska’s Changing Arctic: Trends in Arctic Policy Series reports are all available online.

Next week is a full week for UA. President Pitney will be in Juneau to present University budget overviews to the House and Senate Finance Committees. Each year, the University formally presents its annual budget request and enrollment updates to committee members who, in turn, deep dive into budget specifics. The House overview will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, and the Senate overview will follow the next morning at 9:00 a.m. The House Education Committee will continue to review Senate Bill 13 relating to course material costs, while the Senate Finance Committee will review Senate Bill 120 relating to extending the education tax credit, and Senate Bill 132 relating to an employment tax to cover the maintenance of education facilities. Lastly, House Finance will hear House Bill 148 expanding the Alaska Performance Scholarship.

In the Spotlight: The Office of Senator Wielechowski 

Senator Bill Wielechowski - Northeast Anchorage

Membership: Chair: Senate Rules; Vice Chair: Senate Resources; Member: Senate State Affairs, Senate Joint Armed Services, Senate Legislative Budget & Audit, Senate Committee on Committees, Senate Special Committee on World Trade

About: Bill Wielechowski has served as Senator for East Anchorage since 2007. He is currently the Senate Rules Committee Chair and Vice Chair for the Senate Resource Committee. In the legislature, he’s been a steadfast advocate for the University of Alaska and K-12 education. Over the years, he’s supported creating the Alaska Performance Scholarship program, additional funding for University programs, University deferred maintenance funding, and building critical new University facilities such as the engineering, nursing, and sports facilities.

Sen. Wielechowski states: “The University of Alaska system is vital to our economy, to keeping our best and brightest in Alaska, and to helping Alaskans fulfill their hopes and wishes. It is absolutely critical that we continue to support our students, faculty, and staff and I remain committed to continuing to fight for the University.”

What We’re Watching

Monday, February 12

• 8:00 a.m. - House Education: Senate Bill 13: “University: Textbooks/Materials Cost”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Tuesday, February 13

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: Senate Bill 120: “Extend Education Tax Credits“
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: “Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended”

Wednesday, February 14

• 8:30 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 148: “Alaska Performance Scholarship; Eligibility”
• 11:00 a.m. - Joint Session: Annual Address by the Honorable Lisa Murkowski
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Finance: Senate Bill 132: “Employment Tax for Education Facilities”
• 3:30 p.m. - House Finance: Presentation: “University of Alaska FY25 Budget Overview by President Pat Pitney”

Thursday, February 15

• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: Presentation: “University of Alaska FY25 Budget Overview by President Pat Pitney”
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: Overview: “Governor’s Budget Amendments”

 

February 2, 2024

Governor Mike Dunleavy Delivers Annual State of the State Address to Legislature 

After a wintry mix of weather across south central and southeast Alaska delayed flights to and from Juneau, the Governor’s annual State of the State address was postponed one day and held on Tuesday. Lawmakers also received overviews of the supplemental FY 24 budget that was released mid-week. 

State of the State

The Governor spoke in front of a joint audience of House and Senate members in a crowded chamber Tuesday night. In his annual “State of the State” address, Governor Dunleavy emphasized the need to make Alaska a compelling state in which to live. He highlighted his legislative efforts to improve public safety and public education and to lower the cost of energy. He also speculated that Alaska should revisit how we utilize our public lands. He noted his proposals for carbon sequestration and agriculture.   Notably, the Governor did have great things to say about the University of Alaska, highlighting improving enrollment trends and the system’s role in equipping Alaska’s workforce.

“We’ve worked with University leadership to fulfill their mission. That mission is to prepare students for the jobs of today such as nursing and STEM fields, and the jobs of the future in emerging energy technologies, Arctic research, unmanned aircraft, mariculture, and more. Implementing a different approach wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t popular. But like our approach to public safety, the evidence shows we’re making progress. This fall, for the first time in 10 years, University enrollment is up year-over-year. The freshmen class is up 14 percent over last fall and the University reports that 80 percent of its graduates find jobs in Alaska within a year. As a proud graduate of the University of Alaska and the parent of two University graduates as well, this is great news. My proposed budget provides additional resources for the University to attain the highest research certification level available. With your support for these resources, the University of Alaska will be a global leader in the research and workforce development we need for today and tomorrow.“

Click here to watch the whole “State of the State” address.

FY 24 supplemental budget

On Wednesday, the Legislature took its first peak at the FY 24 supplemental budget. Each year the Governor requests appropriations (called supplemental appropriations) that modify the current fiscal year's budget. By law, the Governor must submit supplemental requests to the legislature by the fifteenth day of the session. The legislature may modify and initiate supplemental appropriations throughout the legislative session. Notably, the supplemental budget includes a request from the university system for the extension of our recent economic development research projects in critical mineral and rare earth elements, heavy oil recovery, drones, and mariculture. The extension of these projects allows faculty the opportunity to conduct additional seasonal fieldwork and to field deploy new technology and equipment.   If approved, the extension will allow UA to utilize the funds through FY 26.

UA in the Capitol

The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) staff was in town on Tuesday to present to the House Energy Committee about energy-related takeaways from a recent trip to Iceland. Watch “What Alaska Can Learn from Iceland's Energy Transition” here.

Lawmakers were also very interested in hearing legislation expanding the Alaska Performance Scholarship. The Senate and House Finance Committees reviewed Senate Bill 56 and House Bill 148, nearly identical legislation that increases the performance award, expands eligibility, and advances the notice of award. Expanding the program allows more Alaskans to take advantage of the scholarship funds which may be used at any in-state higher education institution.

On Wednesday, the House Education Committee had its first hearing on House Bill 55 which reauthorizes funding allocations for technical vocational education programs (TVEP). UA is the largest technical education workforce provider in the state and, accordingly, is the largest recipient of the TVEP funds. Today the same committee is taking up Senate Bill 13 which requires the university to be transparent in listing the cost of all required course materials at the time of registration. 

In the Spotlight

The Office of Representative Justin Ruffridge

Representative Justin Ruffridge - Soldotna

Membership: Co-chair: House Education;  Vice-chair: House Labor & Commerce, House Health and Social Services; Member: House Community & Regional Affairs

Bill sponsorship: HB 144: Repeal education tax Credits Sunset, HB148: Improving the Alaska Performance Scholarships, HB 56: Veterinarians; Controlled Substance Data, HB 112: Profession of Pharmacy, HB 136: Reject Compensation Comm Recommendations; HB 139, Correspondence Study Program Funding, HB 195: Cook Inlet: New Admin Area; Permit Buyback; HCR 3: Suspend Uniform Rules for SB 57 

About: Justin Ruffridge moved to the Kenai/Soldotna area with his family in 1994, when his parents (both educators) braved the journey north to teach at a small Christian school. Justin graduated from high school in 2001 and went on to attend Washington State University graduating with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2008. Justin married his wife Jessie in 2004. After graduation from college, they moved back to the Kenai Peninsula to help care for Jessie’s terminally ill mother. Justin began his pharmacy career at Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, and several years later acquired the Soldotna Pharmacy and the Juneau Drug Company in downtown Juneau with a business partner. Since that time, the partnership also opened the Alpine Apothecary Pharmacy in Girdwood. Mr. Ruffridge has been active in community service including a brief tenure on the Soldotna Planning and Zoning Commission. Justin was appointed to the Soldotna City Council in 2019 and elected to a full term that October. He was the Chair of the Alaska Board of Pharmacy whose purpose is to create and enforce regulations, and the safe dispensing of medications through pharmacies across the State. Justin enjoys coaching Little League in the summer months and has advocated for those in our communities struggling to find housing. During the COVID pandemic, he worked diligently in local communities focusing on prevention, mitigation, and treatment efforts. Justin believes strongly in classical conservative values, represented by a simple truth that effective change is best accomplished over time resulting from constructive dialogue with all parties involved in the decision-making process. This is fundamentally hard work, but it is worth the effort. Creating lasting and meaningful change requires a desire to be humble, an ability to bring people together, and a willingness to learn. Justin Ruffridge was elected in 2022 as the District 7 Representative for the Alaska State House, and he is honored to serve the constituents in Kenai and Soldotna.

Bud Sexton -- Chief of Staff  

Bud Sexton was born in California, and raised in the agriculture-based Central Valley in Northern California in a small farming community. Bud married his wife Kathy in 1991 with three daughters born several years later. Bud’s experience included working for the California State Assembly, and Government Relations for a large healthcare company.

Bud and his family moved to Alaska in 2009 and quickly became involved in the Nikiski community. They were active in their church and Bud volunteered with the Nikiski Fire Department. Recognizing a passion for working in emergency situations, Bud became a full-time Firefighter/ Paramedic with the Nikiski Fire Department before transitioning several years later to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management as the Operations Manager. Mr. Sexton’s work on the Borough’s Incident Management Team included managing and coordinating responses to emergencies and disasters. Bud maintains qualifications as a Public Information Officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection including deployments on wildland fires in Alaska and the Lower 48 since 2010.

Bud looks forward to serving the residents of Kenai and Soldotna as the Chief of Staff for Alaska House District 7 Representative Justin Ruffridge.

Sabina Braun -- Legislative Aide

Sabina Braun was born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula where her grandparents first homesteaded in the 1960’s and continue to be active members of the community to this day. She graduated from IDEA in 2021 and is currently pursuing a degree in Health Sciences. This is her second year working in the Legislature and she is looking forward to serving the people of the Kenai Peninsula again.

Nora Harbour -- Legislative Aide

Nora Harbour was born in Fairbanks and raised in Alaska, moving to Juneau when she was five. Nora has a strong multi-year background in the service industry and understands the importance of customer service and communication. She has college experience and is planning to attend the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) in the fall. This will be her first legislative session, and she is looking forward to serving the constituents of District 7 in her role with the office of Representative Ruffridge.

What We’re Watching

Tuesday, February 6

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended 

Wednesday, February 7

• 8:00 a.m. - House Education: House Bill 236: UA Major Maintenance Modernization Fund
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended 

Friday, February 9

• 8:00 a.m. - House Arctic Policy, Economic Development, & Tourism Special Committee: Presentation: “Alaska’s Arctic Policy” by Dr. A.L Lovecraft, Professor and Department of Political Science Director, Center for Arctic Policy, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 268: Appropriations: Operating Budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended 

1:30 p.m. - House Judiciary: House Bill 9: Add Faculty Member University Board of Regents

January 26, 2024

President Pitney Raises a Voice for Compensation Increases and Deferred Maintenance Strategy While Visiting the Capitol

This week, lawmakers continued to hear individual legislation, and both the Senate and the House received budget updates from the directors of the Office of Management and Budget and the Legislative Finance Division. Members of both bodies were interested in the University of Alaska’s budget requests: primarily our compensation increases and our deferred maintenance. President Pitney met with lawmakers in person to share updates on both issues as well as the importance of reauthorizing the Technical Vocational Education Program, extending Education Tax Credits, and expanding the Alaska Performance Scholarship program. 

Separately, UAA Provost Denise Runge was in the capitol presenting to both the House and Senate Labor & Commerce committees. In her presentation “UAA Workforce Solutions for Alaska,” Provost Runge shared the great work that UAA and its associated community campuses are doing to build the workforce in critical areas like nursing, process technology, and aviation maintenance, to name a few. You can tune into the presentations here and here.

Advocating in the Capital

One of the most common questions the UA State Relations Office receives from staff and faculty is if they may come to Juneau and advocate for the university system. The answer is a resounding yes. However, there are a few important distinctions to make before visiting lawmakers:

• As employees of a state entity, university employees are subject to the same rules as other public employees. Public employees may advocate to lawmakers, however, they must indicate that they represent only themselves and are not speaking on behalf of the university system.
• University employees may not “lobby” lawmakers. The Alaska Public Offices Commission’s Manual of Instructions for Lobbyists and Employers of Lobbyists defines a lobbyist as a person who:
• 1) is employed or contracted and receives payments, including reimbursement for travel and living expenses, to communicate with any public official to influence legislative or administrative action for more than 10 hours in any 30-day period in one calendar year. Or
•  2) represents oneself as engaging in the influencing of legislative or administrative action as a business, occupation, or profession

A person who receives no compensation, including reimbursement of personal expenses, and limits lobbying activities to appearances before public sessions of the legislature or public proceedings of state agencies is not considered to be a lobbyist. 

• University employees may “advocate” in the Capitol. The key critical difference between advocacy and lobbying is that a person who is lobbying attempts to influence the outcome of a legislative or administrative action, while an advocate only educates about specific issues. In other words, university employees may not ask for a specific vote on any legislation, however, they may “educate” a lawmaker about an issue by sharing stories, anecdotes, observations, and concerns about an issue from their perspectives.

Tips for advocacy: 

1. Know your lawmakers: The Alaska Legislature has a handy map tool that allows a person to identify their representatives and senators. Simply fill in your address and check out the map to find your lawmakers.
2. Schedule a meeting with your lawmaker before your visit: The legislature posts information about its members and legislation on its award-winning akleg.gov webpage. Office information for each lawmaker is available online and can be used to schedule meetings with representatives and senators.
3. Know your “pitch”: Lawmakers’ time is extremely limited and meetings may be as short as 15 minutes. If you are speaking with lawmakers, have your “elevator pitch” ready. Be prepared to share your ideas, and concerns right away. If you are just popping in for a social call, please let the office staff know ahead of time so they can find an appropriate time for you to do so.
4. Be prepared to be flexible: Oftentimes, floor sessions or committee meetings run long. These take precedence over meetings, and you will need to be prepared to reschedule should one of these events occur.

Helpful resources for advocating can be found on the UA State Government Relations website. Check out our “Tips for Advocates” or the “UA System Fast Facts” overview for starters. You can also learn more about the university system's state budget request, our deferred maintenance strategy, and much more. 

In the Spotlight

The Office of Representative Ashley Carrick

Representative Ashley Carrick

Roles: Alaska State Representative for House District 35, which includes the UAF Troth Yeddha’ Campus, and is home to many of the faculty, staff, and students in the UA system. 

Membership: House Labor and Commerce Committee, House State Affairs, House Tribal Affairs, and Tourism Committee, House Labor and Workforce Development Budget Subcommittee, House Commerce Community and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee. 

Bill sponsorship: Rep. Carrick is sponsoring several bills relating to the University, including House Bill 55 to reauthorize the Technical Vocational Education Program, which grants the University and other workforce development institutions around Alaska money to provide technical and vocational education, House Bill 9 to add a faculty member to the Board of Regents, and House Bill 10 - the Textbook Cost Transparency Act - so students have a better understanding of their class costs.

UA Affiliation:  Rep. Carrick has deep roots at the University. She moved to Fairbanks from her hometown of Anchorage to go to UAF, and in 2014 she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. At her graduation that year, she was selected by her fellow students to be the commencement speaker and additionally received the Marion Frances Boswell Memorial Award for outstanding graduate. Since graduating from UAF, Rep. Carrick has worked as a Rural Alaska Honors Institute advisor. Then, in 2020 she received a master’s in public health from UAA, and in 2022 she was an adjunct professor at the UAF Community and Technical College. As a legislative staffer for former West Fairbanks Representative and University stalwart Adam Wool, Ashley helped pass the largest increase to the University’s budget after 10 years of cuts and flat funding in 2022. Since being elected to the State House, Rep. Carrick continues to be a tireless advocate for the University system and will continue fighting for greater investment in the University, including deferred maintenance funding and investments in workforce development programs. 

Why UA is valuable to Rep. Carrick: “I am a product of our world-class University system, and I have seen first-hand the significant impact that it has on our state. One of my highest priorities is to preserve educational opportunities from pre-k to postsecondary. The University of Alaska is a world-class institution of Arctic research and is a vital economic and cultural asset of Alaska. From employing thousands of Alaskans, to preparing the next generation of Alaskans for the in-demand jobs of the future, to being a center of culture and community, we must continue investing in the University system.” 

Name:   Stuart Relay

Role:    Chief of Staff: Office of Representative Ashley Carrick

UA Affiliation: Stuart lives in Rep. Carrick’s district, two blocks from UAF. He moved to Fairbanks in 2016 to attend UAF and, in 2020, got his Bachelor of Arts in political science. In 2019, Stuart participated in the UA Legislative Internship program at the Alaska State Capitol. After going back to school to finish his degree in the fall of 2019 and spring of 2020, Stuart returned to the State Capitol. He worked for former West Fairbanks Representative Adam Wool, then for Senator Kawasaki, and now for Rep. Carrick. As a student, Stuart served as the President of the Political Science Honors, a student senator for the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF), and a student employee for the UA Office of Public Affairs.

Stuart is the point of contact in Rep. Carrick’s office for many things, including University policy and the university budget. He is carrying all her legislation relating to the University and works together with the University and Rep. Carrick to push for their budget priorities.  

Why UA is valuable to Stuart: “For me personally, the University system has been an important part of my life, and I credit it with much of what I have been able to accomplish personally and professionally. On a statewide basis, I know the importance of the University as a world-class research institution and an economic hub that is not only the lifeblood of West Fairbanks but our state as a whole. The University’s success is inextricably linked to the success of its students and faculty, and when they succeed, our society succeeds.”

Name:  Cherie Bowman

Role:  Legislative Aide: Office of Representative Ashley Carrick

UA Affiliation: Cherie first came to Alaska in 1993 to work in a fish processing plant in Naknek. She eventually landed in Fairbanks, which has been her home for over 25 years. She is grateful to have had support from friends and family, which propelled her to return to school and complete her studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she recently graduated magna cum laude with honors and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, focusing on Social Justice and Legal Studies, with minors in Paralegal Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. While working on her degree, she assisted the federal TRiO Student Support Services program as a student employee. The program provides extra support to low-income, disabled, and first-generation students. This provided her with great insight as to how students engage with each other, what their needs are, and how UAF can better support them on their academic journey. Cherie has performed at the UAF Pub as a singer/songwriter and appeared in the UAF student poetry publication, Ice Box. These experiences led her to her current position in the Alaska State Legislature as an aide.

Why UA is valuable to Cherie: “I cannot stress enough how supportive the faculty and staff were during my time at UAF. With Alaska facing huge outmigration numbers and the UA system facing significant budget reductions,  it is imperative that we fund and support this system on all levels so that we are able to produce and maintain a workforce that is able to handle the needs of all Alaskans and strives to improve our quality of life.” 

What We’re Watching

Monday, Jan 29

• 7:00 p.m. - Joint Floor Session: State of the State Address from Governor Dunleavy

Tuesday, January 30

• 10:15 a.m. - House Energy: Presentation: “What Alaska Can Learn from Iceland's Energy Transition” by UAF’s Alaska Center for Energy and Power
• 1:30 p.m. Senate Finance: Senate Bill 56: Alaska Performance Scholarship; Eligibility

Wednesday, January 31

• 8:00 a.m. - House Education: House Bill 55: Extend Workforce Invest Board Allocations
• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance - FY 24 Supplemental Request pending introduction and referral

Thursday, February 1

• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance - Overview: FY 24 Supplemental Request by Lacy Sanders, Director of Office of Management and Budget / House Bill 148: Alaska Performance Scholarship

Friday, February 2

• 8:00 a.m. House Education: Senate Bill 13: “University/Textbook/Materials Cost”

 

January 19, 2024

The Legislature Returns to the Capitol with an Eye on Education and the Budget

This week, lawmakers returned to Juneau to kick off the second half of the 33rd legislative session. During the session, legislators will review legislation introduced last spring and a host of new bills introduced this year. They will also review the FY25 state operating and capital budgets and the governor’s boards and commission appointments.

Budget   

In November, the University of Alaska Board of Regents (BOR) met and approved a $337.7 million operating budget request for FY25. The request includes $14.7 million for compensation increases, $8.5 million for fixed cost increases, and $6 million for state and Arctic Leadership, and student support services. Including federal funds and other sources, the UA Board of Regent’s total proposed FY25 operating budget is $921.3 million. 

In addition to the operating budget, regents approved one-time capital requests of $20 million for UAF to reach R1 research status, $6 million for the UAA health workforce expansion programs, and $7 million to expand the UAS mariculture program. The capital request also includes $10 million to continue economic development investment in the UAF Drone Program, and $2.2 million for the carbon capture and sequestration project.

In December, Governor Dunleavy introduced his proposed FY25 state operating budget. The proposed budget includes $319.1 million in unrestricted general fund (UGF) dollars for the university system, including $6.1 million towards UA’s requested 2.5% compensation increases and $4.5 million for fixed cost increases. 

The governor’s proposed FY25 capital budget includes $10 million for UAF’s R1 research status efforts, $5 million for the UAF drone program, $2.2 million for the carbon capture and sequestration project, and $1 million for energy data storage. 

The next step in the budget process is for the Legislature to review the governor’s proposed budget and deep dive into individual government agencies' requests. Finance subcommittees will review agency operations and develop revised budget proposals. Simultaneously, the Governor will assemble an amended request, which will be published in February.

Legislative Progress

The Legislature reconvened on Tuesday, January 16. Among the first orders of business was an effort to attempt to override the Governor’s FY24 vetoes. However, the action failed. Lawmakers will now review the Governor’s proposed FY25 budget and make their own suggestions. 

In addition to the university system's annual operating budget and the one-time capital requests, UA is pursuing a legislative strategy for consistent annual state funding for its deferred maintenance backlog. This session, Representative Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks) introduced House Bill 236, creating a "University of Alaska Major Maintenance and Modernization Fund.” The proposed legislation could allocate $35 million annually to an approved list of deferred maintenance projects. The university has been working in concert with the Governor’s Office and Legislative leadership on the particulars of the legislation. The fund would create much-needed stability for the university system and allow for additional bonding for major maintenance projects.

On top of reviewing the state operating and capital budgets, the Legislature is also responsible for confirming the Governor’s nominees to various state boards and commissions. The Governor appoints nominees to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, who are subject to the same Legislative confirmation process. This session the Legislature will review two regent nominations: Seth Church of Fairbanks and Stephen Colligan of Wasilla. Both regent-appointees will meet with individual lawmakers and present their background to the House and Senate Education Committees before being subject to a joint confirmation vote in the spring.

Other university priorities:

• Extending the Education Tax Credits program: The Education Tax Credit program, which has been in effect since 1987, allows businesses to write off contributions to qualified Alaskan educational institutions. The current tax credit sunsets January 1, 2025. Two pieces of legislation were introduced in 2023 to continue the program: Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski) introduced Senate Bill 120 to extend the program, while Representative Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna) sponsored House Bill 144 to repeal the sunset entirely. Notably, HB 144 was rolled into Senate Bill 140, an education omnibus bill, in the House Rules Committee this Wednesday. SB 140 also contains provisions for funding internet in schools, increasing the base student allocation (BSA), and adding safeguards for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Public testimony is scheduled for this bill on Saturday, January 20, at 10:00 a.m. The university supports the education tax credit language in SB140 and takes no position on the remainder of the bill.
• Upgrading the Alaska Performance Scholarship: In 2010, the Alaska Legislature passed legislation that created the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS). The scholarship aims to retain the brightest Alaska students here in the state. However, a 2023 APS Outcomes Report indicated that student eligibility has dramatically decreased since inception, and only 22% of eligible students utilize the scholarship. Borrowing from recommendations in the report, the Legislature has introduced multiple bills to address expanding the scholarship’s eligibility. House Bill 148, sponsored by the House Education Committee, provides for earlier scholarship award notice, allows for career and technical education credits to be applied toward eligibility, removes the standardized testing requirements, and increases student award level. Senator Dunbar is sponsoring the Senate’s “companion bill,” Senate Bill 56, which is identical to the House version. Both bills have been referred to the Finance committees of their respective bodies.  
• Reauthorizing the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP): In 2000, the Legislature established the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP), designating a portion of the Unemployment Insurance receipts for career and technical education. As the State’s largest workforce provider, the University of Alaska has been a major recipient of TVEP funding since the program’s inception. TVEP is currently slated to sunset on June 30, 2024. Representative Ashley Carrik (D-Fairbanks) introduced House Bill 55 to reauthorize the TVEP program.

In the Spotlight

The Office of Representative Will Stapp

Representative Will  Stapp

Roles:   Alaska State Representative - House District 32 (E. Fairbanks, Ft. Wainwright, Badger Rd.), Member: House Finance, Chair: House University Finance Sub-Committee, Chair: House Health & Social Services Finance Sub-Committee

UA Affiliation:  Rep. Stapp attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks to pursue his Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He was President of the Phi Alpha Theta UAF History Honors Society, and a student veteran. As a legislator, Rep. Stapp has advocated for funding the UAF Drone Program, and honored the UAF Student Government with a Legislative Citation. He still regularly appears on campus to engage with faculty and staff, and will ultimately find time to finish his degree program.

Why UA is valuable to Rep. Stapp: “The university adds economic value to the state whether it is through workforce development, worldwide research opportunities, or providing innovative solutions to uniquely Alaskan or Arctic region issues. Investment in the economic drivers such as the university are key to the economic success of the state.”

Name:   Bernard Aoto Jr.

Role:    Chief of Staff: Office of Representative Will Stapp

UA Affiliation:  Bernard attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and graduated in 2020 as a first-generation student with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice. He was President of the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF), President of the UAF Model United Nations club, served as a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha UAF Political Science Honor Society, and a member of the Student Veteran Association. As a student, Bernard advocated for establishing the Student Support Fund, renovating the Wood Center Bowling Alley, and establishing the Festival of Native Arts as an official UAF Tradition. As an alumnus, he advocated on behalf of the university through the UA Alumni Association.

Why UA is valuable to Bernard:  “The university is a pillar of what makes the state of Alaska great. The university emphasizes quality higher education while also serving unique areas such as Arctic research, Alaska native studies, and Arctic engineering. It is through working and interacting with the faculty, staff, and students at the university that allows people like me to better understand complex issues, gain social and cultural competency, and develop connections with the future generations of leaders in Alaska.”

Name:   Clifton Coghill

Role:  Legislative and Finance Sub-committee Aide: Office of Representative Will Stapp

Why UA is valuable to Clifton:  “The University of Alaska (UA) is valuable for several reasons, contributing significantly to the state and beyond. Here are some aspects of the university's value: 1. Education and Workforce Development: • The university contributes to the development of professionals in various fields, including science, technology, healthcare, business, and the arts. 2. Research and Innovation: • The university's research activities contribute to advancements in knowledge and technology, benefiting not only Alaska but also the broader academic and scientific communities. 3. Cultural and Community Impact: • UA campuses often serve as cultural and community hubs, hosting events, performances, and activities that enrich the cultural life of Alaska. 4. Economic Impact: • The university itself is a significant employer and contributes to the local economy through its operations and the spending of students and staff. 5. Alaska's Unique Challenges: • Given Alaska's geographical and environmental challenges, UA is uniquely positioned to address issues like climate change, natural resource management, and sustainable development, providing solutions that are specific to the state's needs.”

Name: Honour Miller-Austin

Role: Legislative Aide for Representative Stapp

Honour was born and raised in Juneau, and is a strong believer in individuality and acknowledges that no one single life pathway works for everyone. After high school, she explored many career paths before finding her passion working within the legislature. She is constantly learning, growing, developing skills, and creating a network of resources. Honour is delighted to bring her passion and enthusiasm to the office.

Name: Paul Menke

Role: UAF Ted Stevens Legislative Student-intern 

UA affiliation:  A relative newcomer to Alaska, Paul came to UAF in 2020 to pursue an undergraduate degree in Political Science. He currently serves in ASUAF Student Government as a Senator. During his time in the Senate, he has successfully advocated for increased financial resources for student academic travel and the prioritization of in-person learning.

What We’re Watching

Saturday, January 20

• 10:00 a.m. – House Rules: Senate Bill 140: “Internet for Schools” -  invited and public testimony.

Monday, January 22

• 9:00 a.m. – Senate Finance: Senate Bill 186: Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended / Senate Bill 187: Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations
• 1:00 p.m. – House Resources: House Bill 177: “Critical Natural Minerals Plan and Report”
• 1:30 p.m. – House Finance: Overview of the Governor’s FY 25 Operating Budget by Lacey Sanders, Director of the Office of Management and Budget

Tuesday, January 23

• 9:00 a.m. – Senate Finance: Senate Bill 186: Appropriations: Operating budget; Capital; Supplemental; Amended / Senate Bill 187: Appropriations: Capital; Reappropriations

Wednesday, January 24

• 9:00 a.m. – Senate Finance: Overview of the Governor’s FY 25 Operating Budget by Lacey Sanders, Director of Office of Management and Budget
• 1:30 p.m. – House Finance: Fiscal overview of the FY 25 by Alexei Painter, Director of the Legislative Finance Division
• 1:30 p.m. – Senate Labor & Commerce: Presentation: UAA Workforce Solutions for Alaska by UAA Provost DR. Denise Runge

Thursday, January 25

• 9:00 a.m. – Senate Finance: Fiscal overview of the FY 25 by Alexei Painter, Director of the Legislative Finance Division