HB 338 establishes the Alaska Work and Save Program, allowing employees without access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan to voluntarily contribute to retirement savings using their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) payments. The bill modifies the PFD application process to let eligible Alaskans direct $25-$100+ (in $50 increments) from their PFD toward the program, with automatic enrollment at a default contribution rate. The Department of Revenue will administer the program, handle contributions, and charge a 7% administrative fee (not deducted from PFD payments). This applies to all Alaska workers who earn compensation in the state and lack workplace retirement plans, using existing PFD funds rather than creating new government spending.
HB 172 gives Alaska's Corrections Commissioner new authority to reduce housing costs by consolidating facilities or sending prisoners to out-of-state facilities. It requires that prisoners with over seven years remaining in their sentence, placed out-of-state, be housed separately from non-residents. The Department of Corrections must annually estimate cost savings from these measures and report them, with potential state funding for education programs using those savings. The bill directly affects prison placement decisions, correctional facility operations, and state budget allocations. It focuses on measurable cost reductions rather than policy outcomes.
SB 36 would limit annual state appropriations (spending) to 12% of Alaska's average real gross domestic product (GDP) over the previous five years, adjusted for population growth and inflation. It specifically excludes certain spending types from this limit, including bond proceeds, disaster relief funds, permanent fund dividends, and some trust fund allocations. The governor would be required to report annually on how the state budget complies with this spending cap. This bill requires a constitutional amendment to take effect and is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.
HB 51 establishes a new state spending limit requiring annual appropriations to not exceed 12% of Alaska's average real gross domestic product (GDP) over the previous five years, adjusted for population growth and inflation. This directly affects the governor's budget process, as it mandates that all state spending (excluding certain bond proceeds, disaster funds, and specific trust accounts) must comply with this GDP-based cap. The bill also requires the governor to submit annual reports calculating how budget appropriations align with this limit and to update these reports with supplemental budget requests. The law is conditional on a future constitutional amendment that would exclude certain spending types (like bond proceeds) from the calculation, and it takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 100 would impose a 5% tax on all campaign spending made in Alaska for federal political campaigns, including media, salaries, consultants, and expenses required to be reported to the Federal Election Commission. This tax must be collected by the federal campaign and paid at the time of expenditure, with remittance to the state department. The bill directly affects federal candidates, committees, and political action committees conducting campaign activities within Alaska. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and is in addition to any local municipal taxes. The tax applies only to spending occurring within the state for federal elections.
