In the last week, the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget passed out of the House, the Capital Budget passed the Senate, and the Senate Finance Budget subcommittees for each state agency finalized and forwarded their reports to the full Senate Finance Committee. It’s tempting at this point to focus on the detailed content of the bills, but we’re only partway through the process and there will be many more changes before the Legislature passes final versions.

Roads, schools, hospitals and public safety are all important to Alaskans and our economy. However, due to the decline in oil prices and other factors, our state is expected to receive $100 million less in revenue for FY2026 than FY2025, and $500 million less than was received in FY2024. The Senate is committed to a balanced budget, with restraints on spending in state departments and the biggest dividend we can afford. This means making hard choices that focus on constitutional mandates.

Conversations continue about how much the Legislature is able to fund K-12 education in Alaska. Just over a week ago, the Legislature passed a bill to the governor’s desk that is a 4.6% increase from last year’s level of education funding. Because of the expected governor’s veto, I continue to work with my colleagues on solutions that will encourage the best learning outcomes possible.

It is important to note that even if the Legislature passes a bill with funding equivalent to the 4.6% increase that the Legislature prefers, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will need to make significant cuts to educational opportunities if the local contribution remains at proposed levels. I have heard concerns from the community regarding chronic absenteeism, low test scores, and a lack of definitive standards for Alaska High School graduates. I continue to advocate for statutory language and funding to address all three of these issues. I strongly believe that we need to invest strategically while raising standards if we expect results to improve.

Every week brings hearings for bills that I have sponsored. This week we had hearings on:

SJR 19, asking Congress to honor the promise made in the Alaska Statehood Act to share 90% of revenues from oil and gas production on federal lands with the State.

SB 133, requiring swift approvals for medical treatments and prior authorizations for chronic conditions.

SB 137, extending the Boards of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives, the Board of Nursing, and the Board of Parole.

SB 151, which would better manage and prevent outbreaks of lice in our schools.

I am honored to be your state senator and I want to hear from you. You’re welcome to call my office at 907-283-7996 or email me at Sen.Jesse.Bjorkman@akleg.gov. I hope you’ll take the time to share your questions and ideas.