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AlaskaHB 26134th Legislature (2025-2026)House

EDUCATION FUNDING

Sponsored By: Andi Story (Democratic)

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Districts get scheduled aid and growth payments

Districts receive one-twelfth of annual state aid by each month’s 15th, based on student-count data reported the previous year. The regular schedule no longer recalculates the final three months using current-year data. For eligible school or intensive-services count increases, Alaska must pay added aid for earlier months by the next month’s 15th. Later payments use the new count, and Alaska cannot cut another district’s aid to cover the increase. Districts must report enrollment, three-year averages, and intensive-services counts within two weeks after the 20-school-day count ending October’s fourth Friday.

Districts keep funding offsets during changes

Districts can use an additional offset for enrollment decreases covered by the school-consolidation funding adjustment, even after another same-year offset. This added offset is unavailable when the consolidation includes construction of a new facility. Districts qualifying under the old school-size funding rules on July 1, 2026, can keep using that calculation. They can continue only while they remain eligible under the old rules.

Schools get stronger funding count protections

Community and charter school funding uses the highest student count: the prior three-year average, previous year, or current year. In communities with average enrollment above 425, each separately run school facility counts as one school. Small alternative schools are no longer grouped with the district’s largest school. For fiscal years ending June 30, 2027–2029, schools must fill missing three-year-average data using pre-amendment data for each missing year.

Schools use higher intensive services counts

Districts use the highest eligible intensive-services count from the prior year, current year, or an optional February 15 count. Students must need and receive intensive services; count-period students must be enrolled on that period’s last day. The funding formula multiplies the selected count by 13. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, districts must use prior-law data for the year ending June 30, 2026, when current count data is unavailable.

Schools face limits on funding counts

Districts must count part-time students under state education rules. A part-time correspondence student cannot count as more than one full-time student for district funding. Districts cannot include students in their own district-wide early education programs in district funding counts. Schools also cannot count four- or five-year-olds in early education receiving other state or federal funding outside the school-funding chapter. These limits change funding counts, not families’ access to early education.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Andi Story

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Maxine Dibert

    Democratic • House

  • Rebecca Himschoot

    Not • House

  • Andy Josephson

    Democratic • House

  • Calvin Schrage

    Not • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 112 • No: 88

House vote • 5/12/2026

PASSED Y31 N9

Yes: 31 • No: 9

House vote • 5/11/2026

AM NO 7 ADOPTED Y24 N16

Yes: 24 • No: 16

House vote • 5/11/2026

AM NO 2 FAILED Y19 N21

Yes: 19 • No: 21

House vote • 5/11/2026

AM NO 3 FAILED Y19 N21

Yes: 19 • No: 21

House vote • 5/11/2026

AM NO 5 FAILED Y19 N21

Yes: 19 • No: 21

Actions Timeline

  1. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE

    5/17/2026Senate

  2. (S) FN12: (EED)

    5/17/2026Senate

  3. (S) FN11: (EED)

    5/17/2026Senate

  4. (S) FN10: (EED)

    5/17/2026Senate

  5. (S) FN9: (EED)

    5/17/2026Senate

  6. (S) FN8: ZERO(EED)

    5/17/2026Senate

  7. (S) NR: BJORKMAN

    5/17/2026Senate

  8. (S) DP: TOBIN, KIEHL, STEVENS

    5/17/2026Senate

  9. (S) EDC RPT SCS 3DP 1NR SAME TITLE

    5/17/2026Senate

  10. (S) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

    5/16/2026Senate

  11. (S) EDUCATION at 01:00 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

    5/16/2026Senate

  12. (S) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

    5/16/2026Senate

  13. (S) EDUCATION at 12:00 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

    5/16/2026Senate

  14. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

    5/16/2026Senate

  15. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 261(EDC) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

    5/16/2026Senate

  16. (S) EDUCATION at 11:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

    5/16/2026Senate

  17. Audio/Video

    5/16/2026House

  18. (S) Heard & Held

    5/15/2026Senate

  19. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

    5/15/2026Senate

  20. Video

    5/15/2026House

  21. (S) EDC, FIN

    5/14/2026Senate

  22. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

    5/14/2026Senate

  23. (H) VERSION: CSHB 261(FIN) AM

    5/13/2026House

  24. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

    5/13/2026House

  25. (H) RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP

    5/13/2026House

Bill Text

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