HB 53 Alaska House · 34th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; making supplemental appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

HB 53 is a state budget bill that allocates funding for Alaska's government operations and specific programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It provides specific dollar amounts to state departments like Administration, Information Technology, and Finance for ongoing expenses, including salaries, facilities, and retirement benefits. The bill includes provisions allowing limited transfers between certain retirement funds (up to $500,000) and incorporates unspent balances from previous years into current allocations. This funding directly affects all state agencies receiving these appropriations, ensuring continued operations for government services.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed Jul 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled HB 53 HB 53 · 15 edits
MAJOR
This diff shows a revised version of Alaska's FY2026 operating budget (HB 53) with widespread dollar amount adjustments across nearly every department, a new $5 million inter-appropriation transfer authority for facility operations added at the top of Section 1, and the removal of multiple legislative intent provisions that had directed specific agency actions (corrections facility closure analysis, federal inmate cost-sharing, Spring Creek unit closure, Regional Jails bed reduction, school district fund reporting, and office space restrictions). The act title was also expanded to include reappropriations and appropriations from the constitutional budget reserve fund.
Scope change
The act's scope was broadened by adding authority for reappropriations and appropriations from the constitutional budget reserve fund (Article IX, Section 17(c)) to the title, while simultaneously narrowing operational control by removing multiple legislative intent provisions that had directed specific agency actions and reporting requirements in corrections, education, and facility management.
FISCAL

New provision allowing the Office of Management and Budget to transfer up to $5,000,000 among appropriations within a department for facility operations, maintenance, repair, and renewal/replacement of public buildings under AS 37.07.020(e).

Anchorage Correctional Complex increased from $37,919,900 to $41,372,800 (approximately $3.5 million increase), while Spring Creek Correctional Center increased from $23,523,600 to $29,330,600 (approximately $5.8 million increase).

Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission increased from $9,300,700 to $10,086,900 (approximately $786,000 increase).

Career and Technical Education in the Department of Education increased from $7,323,700 to $9,783,700 (approximately $2.5 million increase), and Teacher Certification increased from $1,456,900 to $2,520,900 (approximately $1.1 million increase).

Student Financial Aid Programs decreased from $25,521,000 to $21,021,000 (a $4.5 million reduction), with Alaska Performance Scholarship Awards cut by $3 million and Alaska Education Grants cut by $1.5 million.

Community Residential Centers in DOC decreased from $18,030,100 to $14,651,300 (approximately $3.4 million reduction).

Widespread modest reductions across Department of Administration allocations including Centralized Administrative Services (down approximately $1.2 million), Office of Information Technology (down approximately $965,000), and Legal and Advocacy Services (down approximately $2.3 million).

SCOPE

Act title expanded to include 'making reappropriations' and 'making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund,' broadening the bill's authority beyond simple operating appropriations.

REQUIREMENT

Removed legislative intent requiring DOC to prepare a report analyzing the possibility of closing a correctional institution and submit it by December 20, 2025.

Removed legislative intent that the state no longer covers full cost of unsentenced federal inmates in state facilities, along with the requirement for DOC and Department of Law to submit a joint response on funding terms by December 20, 2025.

Removed legislative intent requiring DOC to permanently close one housing unit at Spring Creek Correctional Facility and report on efforts and cost savings by December 20, 2025.

Removed legislative intent directing DOC to reform the Regional and Community Jails program by renegotiating FY27 contracts with a two-thirds bed count reduction where unused bed rates exceeded 60%, with a status report due December 20, 2025.

Removed requirement for school districts to report fund balances (operating, special revenue, capital project, other governmental) twice annually to the Department of Education, with electronic reports to Finance committees by December 20, 2025 and February 15, 2026.

Removed legislative intent that the Department of Education not enter into new leases, expand office space, or incur new facilities costs.

DEFINITION

Department name changed from 'Commerce, Community and Economic Development' to 'Commerce, Community, and Economic Development' (Oxford comma added) throughout the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
100
Key actions
20
Committee
13
Amendments
3
Aug 2, 2025
Vetoed
(H) GOVERNOR VETO OVERRIDDEN Y45 N14 E1
lower
Jul 30, 2025
Vetoed
(H) LINE ITEM VETO AND REDUCTIONS
lower
Jul 30, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed into law 6/12 CHAPTER 10 SLA 25
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y27 N13
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) CC REPORT ADOPTED Y23 N17 CCS HB 53
lower
May 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Moved CCS HB 53 Out of Committee
upper
May 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 01:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
upper
May 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Moved CCS HB 53 Out of Committee -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
lower
May 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 01:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
lower
May 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 04:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
upper
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 04:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
lower
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 04:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
upper
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 04:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
lower
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 04:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
upper
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55 at 04:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED
lower
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
upper
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) PASSED Y16 N4
upper
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) AM NO 6 ADOPTED Y19 N1
upper
May 7, 2025
Amended
(S) AM NO 5 FAILED Y6 N14
upper
May 7, 2025
Amended
(S) AM NO 2 FAILED Y6 N14
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC
upper
May 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Moved SCS CSHB 53(FIN) Out of Committee
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.