[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6097572,"mediaKeyId","2827961-0734dc6eee1aafe8434214ab999fcaa1","parentId",2827961,"title","Votes at a glance: committee actions on HB 53 amendments — March 30, 2025","audioSeconds",2989,"startMs",6256000,"endMs",9245000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827961-0734dc6eee1aafe8434214ab999fcaa1&start=6256&end=9245","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827961-0734dc6eee1aafe8434214ab999fcaa1/thumbnail_6256000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097572/Alaska/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-actions-on-HB-53-amendments-March-30-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097572-5292f113bb9580163280c9b82ba484e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915987&Signature=bHGDJK478~CkmlPf-xviwEY4WlVXJvGnNxW8AYUuwMnVL0E7UDQ0D91L0EOwbkVx6ZA6cjIN~-4NXkoFTlvDojNfnjCYL77-qvsZO3OHklEaE-zIBBnth~iwXp7Ek4C-gC2llUYd5K7JxavlUfP1sWS3TzBQInz7UhPwe2kQQiTyCx~R7otRsQEmsKkcp7-3jMysMHb7J1fwjHCSMrUODHv1XLZ3BtuS4ZD-vHJvKDOMwPsRA~-osFeM0fIwL2crQ3e4r~6mhMN0gMAVhXQNx0aiVmzNgGuHBSdgl19Cu9XF9MU4c4Wsl69m1tOHfWQX6PTpkcR1-8Zf1ehOmUH43w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","The House Finance Committee considered a package of amendments to House Bill 53 on March 30. Below are the committee’s recorded actions and key details for each item mentioned in the hearing.

Amendment 46 — Special Education Service Agency (CESA): Adopted, 6-5
- Motion: Co-Chair Josephson moved adoption of Amendment 46 to add funding aimed at CESA and services for students with low-incidence disabilities. Supporters said the agency faces a shortfall (cited by the chair as roughly $482,000) and warned a wait list would conflict with IDEA requirements; opponents raised concerns about adding budget increments without identified offsets. The committee adopted the amendment on roll call (6 yes, 5 no).

Amendment 49 — Teacher incentive: Tabled
- Motion: Representative Galvin moved an amendment that would fund $5,000 incentive payments to nationally board-certified teachers and related renewal fees. Committee members discussed available fiscal estimates and whether to attach intent language or a not-to-exceed figure. The committee voted to table Amendment 49 for later consideration.

Amendment 50 — Minecraft / coding licenses: Adopted, 8-3
- Motion: Representative Jimmy moved to remove funding for a Minecraft-based coding certification program; proponents argued free alternatives exist, while opponents said the program produced industry-recognized certifications and helped bridge digital divides. The committee adopted the motion to remove (vote to adopt the amendment was 8 yes, 3 no), meaning the committee approved the amendment as moved.

Amendment 53 — Test fishery receipt authority: Adopted (voice/no sustained objection)
- Motion: Co-Chair Josephson moved and explained that the amendment restores $500,000 in test-fishery receipt authority to fund observer contracts that provide management data for fisheries. Legislative Finance explained this restores previously budgeted receipt authority; no sustained objection remained and the amendment was adopted.

Amendment 56 — Medicaid/abortion intent language: Failed, 5-6
- Motion: Representative Staff moved longstanding intent language intended to restrict state Medicaid funding for elective abortion services while allowing care in life-or-death or medically necessary situations. Legislative Legal Services advised the committee that Alaska Supreme Court precedent requires the state to provide medically necessary abortion services under Medicaid and cautioned the committee that singling out abortion services could be unconstitutional. The committee rejected the amendment on roll call, 5-6.

Amendment 60 — Dementia education and prevention planning (DEPP): Adopted, 9-2
- Motion: Representative Staff moved a $100,000 allocation for dementia prevention program planning and outreach aligned with the CDC’s Healthy Brain Initiative roadmap for American Indian and Alaska Native peoples; members cited benefits of prevention and local outreach. The committee adopted Amendment 60 on roll call, 9-2.

Other items
- Several amendments (47, 48, 51–55, 57, 59, 52 at times) were not offered or were withdrawn by the sponsors during the session. Representative Bynum moved to rescind action on Amendment 14 earlier in the hearing and later withdrew that rescission motion after receiving assurances she could raise the issue again.

What’s next
- The committee folded adopted amendments into the committee version of HB 53. Final funding and policy choices remain subject to reconciliation with the Senate and final floor action.

Committee members and staff who spoke during these votes included: Co-Chair Josephson; Co-Chairs Foster and Shrogy; Representatives Galvin, Bynum, Johnson, Hannon, Tomaszewski, Allard, Stapp, Jimmy (teleconference), and others; Legislative Finance staff Alexi Painter and Morgan Foss; Legislative Legal Services staff Marie Marks and Megan Wallace; fiscal analyst Connor Bell.

Votes and tallies above reflect committee roll call or recorded outcomes as read into the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/31/2025 01:30 PM House FINANCE","oneSentenceSummary","The House Finance Committee handled multiple HB 53 amendments on March 30; several were adopted and others were tabled or failed after divided debate.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097577,"Committee rejects intent language to bar state funding for elective abortion services, 5-6",1457,7338000,8795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827961-0734dc6eee1aafe8434214ab999fcaa1&start=7338&end=8795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827961-0734dc6eee1aafe8434214ab999fcaa1/thumbnail_7338000.jpg","/articles/6097577/Alaska/Committee-rejects-intent-language-to-bar-state-funding-for-elective-abortion-services-5-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097577-c7eaa613f16e7733a059e8e411c0a3f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915987&Signature=FyP2eOZuOSAlDLXxHcGJrP7D8Nym7UfTMEfsJs1-cIxhAxOOAERQH6xtYtPKApNdOVR5d9ZGOgGB9Yjrrrznlu~fhWHRq-j3jHzLDCIC6WBauS6Do0uVGIdkvcowuQmOc776nLDL0LPa2exGJNSj3ndClcY6rJQiL1EjXSAEWZhaOv420WamxZ-cVHmA8uigmRPBINBJ2EnM6uTzAkOeaidGzVmLs5zxf3NEXaGo4HVmzHps19AL8cK14LPC3cWdXk9T7iCvM7rAcAOfVI3NMxvGWnVmqFrA70pIIr0tIidn06ZC9R8cRd3qqiQep2zgtnxfdW1NhUGeIPTkqeFt8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Staff moved Amendment 56, an intent provision long used in past operating budgets to restrict state appropriations for abortion services that are not medically necessary, but the committee rejected the amendment by a 5-6 roll call.

Sponsor remarks framed the amendment as a policy to prevent state Medicaid funds from being spent on elective abortions while preserving funding for life‑threatening or medically necessary services. Supporters described the language as longstanding budget language and said it is intended to allow emergency care while avoiding state funding of elective procedures.

Several members raised legal questions. Marie Marks of Legislative Legal Services told the committee that the Alaska Supreme Court has previously held the state must fund medically necessary abortion services for eligible women under Medicaid and the state constitution’s equal protection requirements. Marks told the committee: “the Alaska Supreme Court has held that the state must fund medically necessary abortion services for eligible women for coverage under the Medicaid program, just as the state funds pregnancy services for women covered under Medicaid.” She added, “in my opinion, this language clearly singles out abortion services” and that a similar restriction could be found unconstitutional if challenged.

Members split on policy and legal risk. Supporters said the amendment is customary and reflects a consistent policy choice; opponents and several legal advisers warned that singling out abortion in this way could violate Alaska constitutional equal-protection analysis and cited prior litigation that required medically necessary coverage.

The committee called the roll; the amendment failed on a 5-6 vote. The committee’s rejection preserves the current budget language as drafted before Amendment 56 and means no new intent restriction was adopted at this meeting.

The debate spanned policy, constitutional law and Medicaid implementation. Members requested clarification from Legislative Legal Services and noted the topic may reappear in future sessions or court proceedings.","The House Finance Committee voted down Amendment 56, an intent provision that would restrict state Medicaid funding for abortion services except where federally required, after a divided debate and legal counsel warning about Alaska Supreme Court precedent.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097580,"House Finance restores $482,000 for Special Education Service Agency after debate on rural needs",3380,1184000,4564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827961-0734dc6eee1aafe8434214ab999fcaa1&start=1184&end=4564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827961-0734dc6eee1aafe8434214ab999fcaa1/thumbnail_1184000.jpg","/articles/6097580/Alaska/House-Finance-restores-482000-for-Special-Education-Service-Agency-after-debate-on-rural-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097580-61a41967754802dce07cf1764a8c82f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775915987&Signature=Az8jnqc2guhcyBXVL~d7A~2PE1f8z4z1nQ-9cKgqMuI7Ztcl1Ec1xe3uFA59wbepfYWisooYNOdBy91muxfOZxO305XZF5Kt5v~c6PJ-oV4npCNAqkUlJXoOfvHxpPo~ws96BMUuqkImlCqz6QVYisaAzTbHK-Av0u3ozi~Dtjnf7c4XX~eCXyVeClf~r~D3HvrBBxQnuhnPZanBzDsUVd9OtNBZkvRLvwqE4DMdygOxnH3sbArolpj2zg9Ow2eSH0Q4MBzLLW3FYq2g23xY~QxP3h0ikbr2MtH5hNaRLkFZTD3lOy3FOAEvo2fgFv2Rq1AYEzWFz66C72qIb6zhfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Co-Chair Josephson moved Amendment 46 to increase funding for the Special Education Service Agency, known in the hearing as CESA, and the committee adopted it by a 6-5 vote.

The amendment adds funding intended to help CESA serve students with low-incidence disabilities in smaller and rural districts. Co-Chair Josephson told the committee that CESA’s statutory role is to “provide special education services including itinerant outreach services to students who are deaf, deaf blind, intellectually disabled, developmentally disabled, hearing impaired, blind and visually impaired, orthopedically disabled, health impaired in other ways, and severely emotionally disturbed, and to students with multiple disabilities.” He said the agency faces “a funding shortfall of about $3 a child or $482,000.”

Committee members debated whether to add money to the budget this late in the process and asked where the added funds would originate. Representative Johnson said she was “not willing to go into the dividend any further” without backup on funding sources. Josephson and other supporters said possible sources include new revenue proposals, a constitutional budget reserve (CBR) draw, or other budget priorities to be weighed during the legislative process; they emphasized the program’s role serving rural students who lack locally available specialized services.

Legislative Finance staff explained CESA’s funding mechanism during the hearing. Alexi Painter of the Legislative Finance Division said that CESA’s statutory funding calculation is “based on the entire student population of the state,” while intensive special-education multipliers go to districts. Painter added that CESA may serve students who do not qualify for the 13x intensive multiplier and that, despite overall declining student counts, the population of students needing CESA services (low‑incidence disabilities, or LIDs) has grown in absolute terms.

Members raised legal and programmatic concerns. Supporters warned that without added funding CESA could be forced to implement a wait list and that a wait list could violate federal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which mandates timely special education services. Opponents cautioned the committee to avoid adding increments without specifying offsets or identifying funding sources.

After debate the committee called the roll on Amendment 46; the amendment was adopted by a vote of 6 to 5.

The committee’s action will be incorporated into House Bill 53 and carried forward through the budget process for final disposition by the full Legislature.

Sources at the hearing identified affected groups and places: testimony and written letters came from rural districts including Galena and Petersburg, and from the Governor’s Council on Disabilities. Supporters emphasized that CESA is primarily used by smaller and rural districts and by home‑schooled students who need specialized supports not available locally.

The committee then continued to other amendments on the HB 53 agenda.","The House Finance Committee adopted Amendment 46 to add funding for the Special Education Service Agency (CESA), citing growing demand for services to students with low-incidence disabilities in rural Alaska and a reported $482,000 shortfall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: committee actions on HB 53 amendments — March 30, 2025

Committee rejects intent language to bar state funding for elective abortion services, 5-6

House Finance restores $482,000 for Special Education Service Agency after debate on rural needs