Budget & Taxes in Alaska

signed · Alaska · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 289: An Act making appropriations, including supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; and providing for an effective date.

HB 289 is an appropriations bill that allocates funding for Alaska's 2025-2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) to state agencies. It provides specific funding amounts for agencies like the Department of Corrections ($20 million for Population Management), the Alaska Energy Authority ($250,000), and the Department of Fish and Game (e.g., $651,400 for Commercial Fisheries). The bill does not create new policies or programs but directs existing funds to support ongoing state operations and services. It affects all state agencies receiving these allocations, as well as Alaskans who rely on services funded through these appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 16, 2026

HB 310: An Act establishing a bed tax; and providing for an effective date.

HB 310 establishes a 3% tax on short-term lodging rentals in Alaska, applying to hotel, motel, and similar temporary stays. The tax is collected by property owners or online rental platforms (like Airbnb) at the time of payment and does not apply to stays exceeding 30 days, government employees on official travel, or foreign officials where prohibited by treaty. It is in addition to any existing local lodging taxes and takes effect January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects businesses providing temporary lodging, including short-term rental platforms and traditional lodging providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 256: An Act relating to public school students connected to the military; relating to school funding for purple star designations; and providing for an effective date.

HB 256 adds a "purple star funding factor" to Alaska's school finance formula, ensuring public schools with Purple Star designations (recognizing support for military-connected students) receive additional state funding. This directly affects eligible schools by increasing their state aid based on the number of military-connected students they serve. The bill modifies how district adjusted average daily membership (ADM) is calculated, requiring the purple star factor to be multiplied in the funding formula. It does not change the Purple Star designation criteria but guarantees these schools get extra state funds through the existing financing system. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding

signed · Alaska · House Jul 3, 2026

HB 246: An Act relating to allocations for the special education service agency; and providing for an effective date.

HB 246 establishes a funding formula for Alaska's special education service agency, requiring the state department to allocate at least $26.89 per student based on the previous year's average daily student count. If funding is insufficient, allocations are reduced proportionally. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and includes retroactive application to that date. This directly affects Alaska's public school systems and special education programs by setting a specific per-student funding standard for state allocations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

passed · Alaska · House May 17, 2026

HB 261: An Act relating to education funding; providing for an effective date by amending the effective date of secs. 10, 11, 13, and 15, ch. 5, SLA 2025; and providing for an effective date.

HB 261 modifies Alaska's education funding rules by establishing specific spending limits and allocation formulas for school construction projects. It sets a $190.6 million cap for projects approved between 1998-2006, distributing funds based on municipality school enrollment sizes (e.g., $77.9 million for districts with 25,000+ students in 2000). A separate $177.3 million cap applies to projects from 1999-2006, with allocations tied to enrollment ranges as of 2005 (e.g., $61.9 million for districts with 45,000+ students). The bill also requires department approval for early education programs to count toward district enrollment calculations. These provisions directly affect school districts and municipalities receiving construction funding based on historical enrollment data.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding

in committee · Alaska · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 245: An Act relating to workers' compensation tax rate and service fees; and relating to electronic service of workers' compensation documents.

HB 245 sets a 4% tax on workers' compensation insurance premiums for insurers and establishes annual service fees: 2.9% of employer payments (excluding second injury fund payments) for businesses, and 2.5% of insurers' workers' compensation premium income. These fees fund the state's workers' safety programs and workers' compensation administration. The bill also requires electronic service of workers' compensation documents and allows the board to adjust fee percentages annually (capped at 4%). It directly affects insurers, self-insured employers, and the state's workers' compensation program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Workers' Compensation

in committee · Alaska · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 274: An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee; relating to the powers and duties of the legislative audit division; providing for a sunset review of executive branch agencies; and providing for an effective date.

HB 274 requires Alaska's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to conduct a periodic review (every six years) of all state executive agencies. The Legislative Audit Division would manage this process, requiring agencies to submit annual reports by January 1st on their mission progress, cost-effectiveness, and service delivery. The review evaluates agencies using specific criteria, including whether they meet statutory goals, operate efficiently, and if services could be provided more cost-effectively. Based on this evaluation, the division would recommend whether an agency should be terminated, continued, or reorganized, with draft legislation to implement those recommendations. This bill applies directly to all state executive agencies subject to sunset review.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

in committee · Alaska · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 267: An Act relating to employer contributions to the unemployment compensation fund; establishing an employer contribution for the state training and employment program; and providing for an effective date.

HB 267 requires Alaska employers to pay an additional 0.4% contribution on wages subject to unemployment insurance, collected by the Department of Labor and remitted to the Department of Revenue. This new fee directly affects all employers contributing to Alaska's unemployment compensation system, with credits applied against existing contributions. The revenue collected must be appropriated to the state's employment assistance and training program account. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not alter existing unemployment contribution rate structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment

in committee · Alaska · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 275: An Act relating to an appropriation limit; and providing for an effective date.

HB 275 sets a 5% annual limit on increases to most state government spending in Alaska, adjusted for population growth and inflation. It applies to general fund appropriations (excluding permanent fund dividends, mental health trust funds, and specific bond-related spending), requiring that new annual spending cannot exceed the previous year's total by more than 5% plus these adjustments. The bill uses Anchorage's Consumer Price Index for inflation and annual population estimates from the Department of Labor to calculate the adjusted cap. This bill affects all state budget allocations subject to the limit and takes effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget

in committee · Alaska · House May 6, 2026

HB 286: An Act relating to an optional municipal tax exemption for the homes of volunteer firefighters and volunteer providers of emergency medical services or mobile intensive care paramedic services; and providing for an effective date.

HB 286 allows Alaska municipalities to optionally provide a property tax exemption for the homes of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services providers. Specifically, it permits cities or boroughs to exempt up to $10,000 of a property’s assessed value from taxation for eligible residents who are certified by the state to provide fire fighting, emergency medical, or mobile intensive care services. The exemption applies only to properties owned and occupied as a permanent residence by qualifying volunteers, with a maximum of two exemptions per property. Municipalities may choose whether to implement this provision, and the bill takes immediate effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives

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