Capitol Report: April 3, 2026

Capitol Report: April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

House Operating Budget Advances; President Pitney Presents University's Capital Budget Needs to House Finance; UAF Leaders Update Senators on Alaska Native Language Center

The Alaska State Capitol saw plenty of activity this week as the House Finance Committee worked late into the evenings considering over 100 proposed amendments to the FY27 state operating budget.

Some of the amendments sought changes to the University of Alaska budget, including a handful that would have cut funding from the budget for public safety needs at all three universities, as well as mental health services funding for students across the UA system and compensation funding for university employees. Those three priorities were added during the House Finance Budget Subcommittee process by Representative Galvin, who strongly and successfully defended each of those UA priorities late into the night on Wednesday with the help of her colleagues.

In addition to maintaining funding for employee compensation, student mental health services, and public safety needs, two amendments sponsored by Representative Galvin and supported by the university were adopted:

• $750K for the UAF Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative (ACMC) to help unlock a $160 million federal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which ACMC is a top finalist for. Legislators have shown enthusiastic support for ACMC after hearing about the large federal award that they are right on the doorstep of receiving, and state support for this effort will increase ACMC's competitiveness that much more.
• $1.8 million for university employee healthcare cost increases. This amendment was a technical fix to ensure the House operating budget aligned with the Board of Regents' request for employee compensation, which includes medical, dental, and vision plan costs.

The House Finance Committee has advanced the FY27 operating budget onto its next stop: the House floor. Once the budget gets scheduled for the floor, members will have an opportunity to further amend the bill before sending it to the Senate. The UA team will continue tracking the budget very closely as it moves through the legislative process.

House Finance Hears UA Capital Budget Priorities

On Thursday afternoon, President Pitney was before the House Finance Committee to discuss UA's top capital budget priorities, which begins with critical deferred maintenance projects at all three universities, including community campus facilities across the state. Hardworking facilities leaders at UAA (Associate Vice Chancellor Chris McConnell), UAF (Director Cam Wohlford), and UAS (Director Nathan Leigh) all participated in the hearing. The team highlighted the most urgent deferred maintenance needs at each university and provided detailed information on how building and system failures have an impact on student experiences.

Committee members also heard about the need for additional student housing due to increased demand and growing enrollment across the UA System, which will continue to be an ongoing conversation as the university looks for ways to partner with the state on increasing the housing supply for students.

Projects that received partial state funding in prior years and now need the remaining funds in order to be completed include the UAA Leaders Archives Consortium Library Renovation ($1.25 million) and the UAS Sitka Campus New Dock and Mariculture Training Facility ($2 million). The legislature and the governor supported funding for half of the requested amount for each of these projects last year, which allowed UAA and UAS to make significant progress, but securing the remaining funds from the state this year would ensure these projects can be completed.

Ted Stevens Legislative Interns Recognized in Juneau

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom hosted a celebratory event for this year's cohort of Ted Stevens Legislative Interns at the governor's residence earlier this week. UA President Pat Pitney, UAS Chancellor Aparna Palmer, and university faculty and staff were all in attendance to recognize the twelve interns working in the Capitol this session, as well as thank legislators for their continued support and mentorship of Alaska's future leaders.

Individuals from the Ted Stevens Foundation and the Peak Trust Company were also present and recognized for their generous financial support of the internship program. That financial support is critical for participating students, many of whom have to rent temporary housing in Juneau, incur travel costs, and pay tuition for the twelve credits they earn through the program, all while working full time in the Capitol. Students interning in the Capitol this year come from all across the state: five from UAA, four from UAF, and three from UAS.

The Ted Stevens Legislative Internship Program continues to be a hugely successful program, with dozens of legislators eager to host an intern in their office year after year, and students not only gaining invaluable experience working in state government, but often going on to have impressive careers in Alaska.

UAF Leaders Present to Senate Education Committee on Alaska Native Language Center

On April 1, UAF Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga, Interim Provost Charlene Stern, Interim Vice Chancellor Bryan Uher, and Dean Teisha Simmons testified on the status of the Alaska Native Language Center (ANLC). Good information was provided about the importance of Native languages to UAF and the state of Alaska.

What We're Watching

Tuesday, April 7

• 12:00 p.m. - Lunch & Learn: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education: Providing Sustainable Solutions for College, Career, and Technical Training by Kerry Thomas, Executive Director, and Kate Hillenberg, Director of Communications and Outreach. Sponsored by Representative Carrick.

Wednesday, April 8

• 8:00 a.m. - House Education: Senate Bill 181: Employment Information Disclosure.
• 3:30 p.m. - Senate Education: House Bill 28: Teacher/State Employee Student Loan Program. House Bill 176: University of Alaska Fees.

Thursday, April 9

• 9:00 a.m. - House Finance: House Bill 133: Payment of Contracts.
• 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: Senate Bill 214: Appropriations: Capital/Funds/Supplementals/Reappropriations.
• 1:30 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 264: Appropriations: Capital/Funds/Supplementals/Reappropriations.
• 1:30 p.m. - Senate Finance: House Bill 78: Retirement Systems; Defined Benefit Option.

Friday, April 10

1:30 p.m. - Senate Labor & Commerce: Senate Bill 217: Employer Contributions.