APPROP: SUPPLEMENTAL
Sponsored By: HOUSE RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
27 provisions identified: 22 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.
More Medicaid and mental health funding
The law funds Medicaid services with $395,516,800 for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. It also adds $500,000 for behavioral health programs. Up to $10,000,000 of unspent funds on June 30, 2026 can be reused for behavioral health clinic services in FY 2026 and FY 2027. Most funding is effective March 1, 2026, and the re-used funds are available June 30, 2026.
More scholarships and college grant money
The law transfers about $129,598,900 into Alaska’s higher education investment fund on March 1, 2026. It also funds $3,321,600 for student aid in 2025–2026. $2,214,400 goes to Alaska Performance Scholarships and $1,107,200 goes to Alaska Education Grants. Eligible college students can receive these awards.
More money for wildfire and disasters
The law deposits $98,715,900 into the fire suppression fund. It adds $40,000,000 and $35,000,000 to the disaster relief fund. It also provides $1,841,600 to Natural Resources for fire suppression work in 2025–2026. These funds are available March 1, 2026.
Big boost for rural health care
The law provides about $272.2 million in federal funds for a rural health transformation program. The money spans work in the years ending June 30, 2026 through June 30, 2028. It also adds $4,350,000 for public health in 2025–2026. These funds are effective March 1, 2026.
Stable funding for Alaska higher education
The law keeps key higher education funds from expiring. Appropriations in sections 15(b)–15(d) and 16 do not lapse, preserving capitalization and the transfer to the Alaska higher education investment fund. It also continues $29,800,000 for the University of Alaska for COVID‑19 economic response programs for years ending June 30, 2023 through June 30, 2027. The funds include $10,000,000 for a drone program, $7,800,000 for critical minerals research, $5,000,000 for heavy oil recovery research, and $7,000,000 for mariculture research. These rules take effect March 1, 2026.
Stronger wildfire and disaster recovery funding
The state adds $52,982,700 to the fire suppression fund for wildfire response. It lets the Commerce Department use any HUD disaster recovery money that arrives in FY2026 and FY2027. It also ties one disaster‑relief appropriation to Alaska’s FEMA match rate being 25% as of June 30, 2026. If that match rate changes, the funding is adjusted. These provisions take effect March 1, 2026.
More support for WIC and assistance
The law provides $31,441,900 for public assistance in 2025–2026. It includes $4,500,000 for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). This keeps benefit delivery and local offices running. Funding is effective March 1, 2026.
Prisons and inmate health care funded
The law funds corrections operations in 2025–2026: $20,000,000 for population management and $20,000,000 for the institution director’s office. It adds $1,117,500 for community residential centers and $2,952,500 for inmate physical health care. Up to $3,033,189 is reappropriated for handheld radios and communications gear, effective June 30, 2026. Most corrections funding is effective March 1, 2026.
Energy help for rural communities
The law funds bulk fuel upgrades and high‑energy‑cost grants with $30 million. It adds $150,870 for electrical emergencies. It also provides $250,000 for rural energy assistance in 2025–2026, effective March 1, 2026. These capital projects follow standard lapse rules under state law.
More funds for roads and airports
The law adds $69,695,087 in state match and $459,000 for federal‑aid aviation and highway programs. The unspent Alaska capital income fund balance on June 30, 2026 goes to critical DOT&PF maintenance. About $5,022,658 in prior DOT&PF balances is reappropriated for emergencies and critical repairs, effective June 30, 2026. It also shifts some DOT&PF operating availability to January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
Upgrades to Medicaid, SNAP, and senior services
The law funds tools to improve program operations. It gives $2,273,300 to build a Medicaid cost allocation tool, with $2,046,000 federal and $227,300 state match, available through the year ending June 30, 2031. It gives $1,119,000 to build a senior and disabilities services tool, with $698,500 federal and $420,500 state match, available through the year ending June 30, 2027. It also provides $5,954,328 from the general fund for new SNAP investment projects, available for the years ending June 30, 2025 through June 30, 2028. These changes take effect March 1, 2026.
University campuses and arts projects funded
The law gives the University of Alaska $38,000,000 for 2025–2026, including $23,000,000 for budget needs and $15,000,000 for the Troth Yeddha' Campus. It adds $8,000,000 for the Museum of the North Planetarium capital project. It also provides $12,900 in federal funds to the state arts council. Most items are effective March 1, 2026. Capital projects follow state lapse rules.
Retirement funds pay profit-sharing fees
The law uses retirement fund assets to pay outside investment managers’ profit‑sharing fees. It appropriates the amount needed, estimated at $13,600,000, for the year ending June 30, 2026. This payment reduces net assets in the retirement funds. The law is effective March 1, 2026.
Child support system gets upgrade
The law funds a $3,651,843 capital project to replace the Child Support Case Management System. This helps process child support payments and cases. The capital funding follows state lapse rules.
Senior benefit payments are funded
The law funds the Senior Benefits Payment Program with $1,125,000 for 2025–2026. If you are an eligible senior (65+), this supports the payments you may receive. Funding is effective March 1, 2026.
Legal services and court programs funded
The law provides $3,300,000 to the Office of Public Advocacy to reduce case backlogs in FY 2026 and FY 2027. It adds $38,600 for therapeutic courts. It also sets aside $32,024 to pay legal judgments and settlements. These funds are effective March 1, 2026.
Match provided for cybersecurity grants
Up to $130,000 in unspent funds is reappropriated to match state and local cybersecurity grants. This is effective June 30, 2026.
State parks and recreation funded
The law provides $1,325,500 for state parks and outdoor recreation in 2025–2026. Funding is effective March 1, 2026.
Support for coastal communities and fisheries
The law provides $6,000,000 for capital projects to protect coastal Alaska Native communities. It also funds $651,400 for commercial fisheries management across Alaska regions in 2025–2026, effective March 1, 2026. The coastal protection grant follows standard state lapse rules.
Emergency aid for nonpublic schools
The law provides about $65,500 in federal ARPA funds to help nonpublic schools in the year ending June 30, 2026. The funding is effective March 1, 2026.
School building sale funds for 2026-2027
The law lets the state use proceeds from the Stratton building sale in Sitka for later years. Starting March 1, 2026, the money is available for the years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027. The funds support maintenance and operations for the Department of Education and Early Development.
Oil and gas oversight upgrades
The law funds a data system upgrade at the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission with $1,201,081 as a capital project. It also provides $40,900 for commission operations in 2025–2026, effective March 1, 2026. The capital project follows state lapse rules.
Support for state housing finance operations
The law directs $15,300,000 from Alaska Housing Finance Corporation operations receipts to AHFC for operations. The funding covers the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. This supports core housing finance services. The law is effective March 1, 2026.
Funding for tax and treasury operations
The law provides $316,800 to the Department of Revenue for taxation and treasury operations. It covers the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. The law is effective March 1, 2026.
Lower payments for Goose Creek prison
The state lowers the payment for Goose Creek Correctional Center obligations and fees. The amount is set at $14,894,358 for the year ending June 30, 2026. The prior estimate was $16,170,163. The Department of Administration receives the appropriation.
Capital project funds follow lapse rules
The law treats appropriations in sections 4 and 17 through 20 as capital project funds that lapse under state law (AS 37.25.020). This rule took effect March 1, 2026. It sets when those capital funds expire if they are not used.
Sets retroactive dates for sections
Sections 1–8, 9(a)–9(c), 9(e), 10–17, 20(a), 21, and 23 are effective March 1, 2026. Sections 9(d), 18, 19, and 20(b) are effective June 30, 2026. These rules set when funding and authorities take legal effect.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
HOUSE RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER
4/10/2026House(H) SIGNED INTO LAW 4/2 CHAPTER 1 SLA 26
4/10/2026House(H) 2:20 P.M. 3/27/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
3/27/2026House(H) VERSION: CCS HB 289(BRF SUP MAJ FLD H)
3/25/2026House(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y40
3/25/2026House(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
3/25/2026House(H) CBRF SECTION(S) FAILED Y22 N18
3/25/2026House(H) CC REPORT ADOPTED Y40 CCS HB 289
3/25/2026House(H) CC REPORT TAKEN UP
3/25/2026House(H) CC REPORT: CCS HB 289 RECEIVED 3/24/26 8:27 A.M.
3/25/2026House(H) TECHNICAL TITLE CHANGE
3/25/2026House(H) CC REPORT READ AND HELD
3/25/2026House(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
3/25/2026Senate(S) CBRF SECTION(S) ADP VOTE Y16 N4
3/25/2026Senate(S) CC RPT ADPTD Y19 N1 CCS HB 289
3/25/2026Senate(S) TECHNICAL TITLE CHANGE
3/25/2026Senate(S) CC REPORT READ AND TAKEN UP
3/25/2026Senate(S) CC REPORT: CCS HB 289 RECEIVED 3/24 8:29 A.M.
3/25/2026Senate(S) Moved CCS HB 289 Out of Committee
3/23/2026Senate(S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB289 at 03:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
3/23/2026Senate(H) Moved CCS HB 289 Out of Committee
3/23/2026House(H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB289 at 03:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
3/23/2026HouseAudio/Video
3/23/2026HouseAudio/Video
3/23/2026House(H) LIMITED POWERS FREE CONFERENCE GRANTED
3/20/2026House
Bill Text
CCS HB 289
3/25/2026
CCS HB 289(brf sup maj fld H)
3/25/2026
Enrolled HB 289
3/25/2026
SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S
3/11/2026
SCS CSHB 289(FIN)
3/4/2026
CSHB 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld)
2/25/2026
CSHB 289(FIN)
2/18/2026
HB 289
2/4/2026