US Edition
Alaska Legislature Approves Austere Operating Budget with $1,000 PFD, but Savings Draw Fails
- The Alaska Legislature concluded its session early on May 20, 2025, after passing a lean operating budget that allocates a Permanent Fund payout of $1,000.
- Lawmakers faced a budget deficit largely due to falling oil revenues and failed to approve a nearly $200 million draw from the main savings account to cover current shortfalls.
- Despite partisan divisions and limited debate, the Legislature passed 32 bills including an override of the governor's veto on education funding and postponed contentious measures like election reform and pension revival.
- Speaker Bryce Edgmon highlighted the session's completion ahead of the constitutional deadline as a notable success despite various obstacles, while Minority Leader Mia Costello voiced frustration over the lack of significant energy legislation and expressed concern about relying on savings to balance the budget.
- The Legislature expects a more difficult next session requiring significant use of savings to balance the budget amid continued fiscal constraints and will reconvene in January 2026.
9 Articles
9 Articles
Lawmakers or lawbreakers? Legislature just cracked the foundation of Alaska's independent private sector development engine
The Alaska Legislature adjourned Tuesday after passing a combined operating and capital budget totaling $6.2 billion in Undesignated General Fund spending — slightly down from $6.454 billion last fiscal year. When federal funds are included, the total budget swells to nearly $16.3 billion. But buried in the spreadsheets is a problem: a $180 million hole […] The post Lawmakers or lawbreakers? Legislature just cracked the foundation of Alaska’s in…
Alaska Beacon
Fairbanks Daily News-MinerAlaska Legislature overrides Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of public school funding bill
Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, votes in favor of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy's veto of House Bill 57 on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)Alaska’s public schools may see the largest permanent funding boost in well over a decade, after the Alaska Legislature voted for the first time since 2002 to override a sitting governor’s veto. With a 46-14 vote, lawmakers significantly increased Alaska’s per-student public funding form…
Juneau Empire
Peninsula ClarionAlaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles
Juneau Empire Juneau Empire - The Voice of Alaska's Capital Since 1912 Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD. Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles Mark Sabbatini
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