[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6061942,"mediaKeyId","3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f","parentId",3280866,"title","Committee extends school bond debt reimbursement moratorium and debates a regulatory fix","audioSeconds",388,"startMs",4557000,"endMs",4945000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f&start=4557&end=4945","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f/thumbnail_4557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6061942/Alaska/Committee-extends-school-bond-debt-reimbursement-moratorium-and-debates-a-regulatory-fix","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061942-f4c38b2b4f070878c51d2deef9e868be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956139&Signature=KrXYfKRXPBV6pQH-Z62Qxh~Xg82Qs~J8Gr~guEyfaLvyfxin4yl2r2q0qI6MbdbCnS1KikyK-V0x1HfMQ81NJZ8Uq6dq8f79B5XgmcPmFYYMQKbLf8UGZ9VSVTaYWV-yUogLlAJKnglYt09tkttO71AjGWBk5F~WY-GwelGcmcBOvRwh26FGzF-eYh2pf6OwTnUu1SMnfwD8UQYMLbrQLVsL~fb7tsPTej42KoMRf2Xtyp9RGt-zQ22LB3ePlhCs29R0So2knzKbTljvh6KSsn6LNldQ0TYFaS7vCxPEir9-p7j-Jg9LIdau9QwiT0i3UyGp0ZBRL9B8LQoBnrbKNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","Liz Harpold, staff to Senator Olson, reintroduced Senate Bill 184 to the Senate Finance Committee as a proposal to extend the moratorium on school bond debt reimbursement for an additional two years.

The bill would continue the existing moratorium that has been in place for a decade, the committee was told. Senator Kiel offered an amendment that he said addressed a recently circulated draft regulation from the Department of Education that, if adopted, could redefine school-district operating fund calculations and thereby shift money away from noninstructional expenditures such as student nutrition and pupil transportation.

Kiel described the amendment as an effort to \"maintain the rules that we have now\" by codifying the regulatory definition of the operating fund in statute so the department would not be able to \"completely rewrite how we've done school finance and school funding since 1998.\" He said the draft regulation could eliminate funding streams that districts and legislators have provided for noninstructional services; the transcript cites examples including roughly $400,000 for student nutrition in one district and $13,000,000 for pupil transportation in Anchorage as areas that could be affected.

Kiel said he would offer the amendment but later withdrew it, saying he needed to gather details and answer additional questions from committee members before proceeding. Other senators on the committee urged that the policy concern be referred to the appropriate education policy committee for further vetting.

Senator Stedman and Senator Kauffman urged keeping the bill narrowly focused on maintenance and capital reimbursement rather than broader programmatic funding policy. The chairman accepted Senator Stedman’s motion to report SB184 from committee with attached fiscal note and individual recommendations; the motion carried with no objection recorded in the transcript and the committee signed the report.

The hearing record shows the committee took testimony previously and reviewed fiscal notes; no amendments were adopted at this hearing and the sponsor withdrew the offered amendment so the underlying bill was reported out with committee recommendations for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/12/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE","oneSentenceSummary","Liz Harpold, staff to Senator Olson, reintroduced Senate Bill 184 to the Senate Finance Committee as a proposal to extend the moratorium on school bond debt reimbursement for an additional two years.","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},6061946,"Senators consider Alaska-run flood insurance proposal to replace federal program",1328,3290000,4618000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f&start=3290&end=4618","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f/thumbnail_3290000.jpg","/articles/6061946/Alaska/Senators-consider-Alaska-run-flood-insurance-proposal-to-replace-federal-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061946-fbe029cfc802561fe261eeac122712c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956139&Signature=krnA2I9gBRHWUIzlp4eN-oySajA0wCYzZIN5BPNGWvxtgvx-mFa5qgDVKFTnJK-aQptvH7iIdRjaRuTJal1agSpMNSuvQucQKpzFRwI7xGc6xXJHZ56XAiC3Y67ad6AhsqBcBh~Bhb80bRtOUQG~8HUXWQYPxye5-s8cP3rbzNlW7ibfsQje4cfu7GU96Yz44i6svlXg42OKcnChTqoawzRsv4X5O6zIvg~h8j1kb60SJLoLHC07Ll3eLzNw4BfwxHyk2qemjau4b1aWmd3TakAInHxbY0-1SFgXj4coGxOTmxqFZHkwUstadPHeBPEbEUcap2D2h9h~UlbmHUPXgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Bert Stedman told the Senate Finance Committee that Senate Bill 11 would create an Alaska-based flood insurance program and an Alaska Flood Authority Fund intended to keep premium dollars in-state and to provide higher coverage for Alaska property owners.

The sponsor said the move responds to recent FEMA map updates and a new FEMA rate-making method, Risk Rating 2, which he said has expanded flood zones and increased premiums for many Alaskans. \"Between 02/2021, Alaskans paid over $41,000,000 in premiums and received $6,500,000 in claims paid,\" Stedman told the committee, saying that distribution of premiums and claims appeared unfavorable to Alaska policyholders.

Stedman said the bill would allow the state to set higher coverage limits than the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and avoid what he described as federal policies that discourage coastal settlement by restricting construction methods. He also described the proposal as intended to be self-funding after any necessary seed capital and said Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) might be a source of start-up capital.

Committee members and agency witnesses raised technical questions. Senator Kaufman asked about AHFC’s willingness to provide seed capital and whether that would affect AHFC programs; Stedman acknowledged the funding details would need further work. Senator Keel asked whether the bill would cover landslides and was told the current draft includes coverage for mudflow but not landslide; staff clarified the technical difference.

Rose Foley, Division of Insurance staff, said the bill would set up the Alaska Flood Authority Fund as a fund in the state Treasury outside the general fund, and the committee discussed whether the fund should be explicitly protected from sweeping to the general fund.

Fiscal notes submitted to the committee identified administrative and startup costs. The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (commissioner’s office, OMB component 1027) did not anticipate current-year costs to set up the fund. The department’s Division of Community and Regional Affairs (OMB 2879) included several hundred thousand dollars in FY26 and three permanent positions in subsequent years; the Division of Insurance (OMB 354) listed receipt-supported services and two permanent positions; Alaska Housing Finance Corporation operations (OMB 110) gave an indeterminate fiscal note because a $5 million backstop might or might not be called on.

The committee opened and closed public testimony without in-room commenters and set the bill aside for further work; Senator Stedman volunteered staff coordination with Senator Keel’s office over the interim. No final committee vote on enactment was taken at the hearing.

Key issues identified in the hearing included the distribution of premiums and claims under NFIP, the administrative design and capitalization of a state program, whether the fund should be protected from sweeps or annual appropriations, and whether the program should begin narrowly (flood only) and later expand to cover hazards such as landslide.","Senator Bert Stedman told the Senate Finance Committee that Senate Bill 11 would create an Alaska-based flood insurance program and an Alaska Flood Authority Fund intended to keep premium dollars in-state and to provide higher coverage for Alaska property owners.",{"_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},6061951,"Senate committee hears bill to add hands-only CPR to K–12 health curriculum",1388,1880000,3268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f&start=1880&end=3268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f/thumbnail_1880000.jpg","/articles/6061951/Alaska/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-add-hands-only-CPR-to-K12-health-curriculum","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061951-579cc656052d3c9201a40bf548a79f9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956139&Signature=SZtiYduyz94aJkRjiiTK7kOWCk-BwZa45mMMNpIvC5GZWkZ9IQvw~Vc2ug-Iea3zVJzw5EFUNN0cVLqdw7MsLmlO9LmkyHKEWIWlVP62UYkBCu~MP4R0xXr5GIgsgwt7R6hbklE6BUJscXwHpIOlLKyrHjcrhqB7K41qi8ZgWbYJporDvoTN~tf2gwSEJxRnpt6TdGWehTKZXA2uOojaxcO4aPBY21IBvnJrDkmn4KeVJ~cAAfxRPh~tiepjs~dKyQxUjJ72L1ip4FB875NBFNW1TCRu1IUwCpvIpHRUicb~kzyy-KU2uU0F7FiLcA4ym4yU3AxIVQcnvY4zzsXccA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator L.B. Gray Jackson, sponsor of Senate Bill 20, told the Senate Finance Committee in May that the bill would add standardized CPR training to Alaska K–12 health instruction to give students life-saving skills and to align Alaska with other states.

The bill matters because sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of out-of-hospital death and immediate bystander CPR substantially increases a victim’s chance of survival, witnesses told the committee.

Jackson, staff member Clark Bickford, and invited witnesses including Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage, Anchorage firefighter and CPR instructor Jason Dolph, and paramedic–educator Brian Webb gave technical testimony supporting the bill. \"Early CPR and AED use are the single most important factors improving the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest,\" said Doug Schrage, Anchorage Fire Chief. \"Hands-only CPR is not only addresses the impediment of, deterring people from providing CPR, but in areas where there are reasonable response times, hands only CPR is actually more effective at providing blood flow to the brain and on vital organs,\" he added.

Jason Dolph, who identified himself as a 26-year veteran of emergency services and a certified EMT and CPR instructor, told the committee that timely CPR can double or triple survival rates and that schools are a practical place to normalize the training. \"Children as young as 9 years old can acquire the knowledge and skills to perform CPR,\" Dolph said. Brian Webb, an Anchorage paramedic and educator, told senators he submitted peer-reviewed studies showing hands-only CPR is evidence-based and endorsed by major resuscitation organizations.

A public witness, identified in the transcript as Mike (Wasilla), testified in support but urged the committee to allow instruction in both hands-only CPR and full CPR (compressions plus rescue breathing) as an option. The American Heart Association, represented by Jamie Morgan, testified in support of incorporating hands-only CPR into the school health curriculum and said standardized instruction can be taught within a single class period.

Senator Kiel read the fiscal note from the Department of Education and Early Development (OMB component 2,796), which the department listed as a zero fiscal note. After invited and public testimony the committee \"set this bill aside for further review,\" the chairman said.

Discussion in the hearing focused on the evidence supporting hands-only training, practical classroom implementation, and a public comment urging inclusion of rescue breathing as an option. No committee vote on final passage was recorded at the hearing.

If advanced, the bill would require implementing guidance from the Department of Education; witnesses said implementing materials and instructors are available and that the approach is intended to be low-cost and scalable.","Senate Finance heard sponsor and emergency responders support for Senate Bill 20, which would add a standardized, hands-only CPR curriculum to Alaska schools. Witnesses said bystander CPR greatly increases survival; the measure was set aside for further review and carries a zero fiscal note from the Department of Education.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061932,"Finance committee backs expanding REAA fund to cover Mount Edgecumbe maintenance and teacher housing",327,5289000,5616000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f&start=5289&end=5616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f/thumbnail_5289000.jpg","/articles/6061932/Alaska/Finance-committee-backs-expanding-REAA-fund-to-cover-Mount-Edgecumbe-maintenance-and-teacher-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061932-0adbe85e235c1433598efb92cb127517/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956139&Signature=TXftuHQV4YjyBsc7~z1spR-qV~0r2~SGY6mpgp-HsMpk-Z~5MJCPCNk5LrpyjBV1OcSdOmAvz~JvSAMwbwBtmSBGwyXclB511V51iXnrKkIco2QZYmK5xxMo2Rq18qXfEjaQo-Avvv0sYUafJJOv-3y4yYuda87xSEho0NlcCQOBdM-G4juStAA~Uua2znL4afYANfOOvKYwTZ943glbgt89f5UumKhiVQnsbi8UOnhYOMwK4pPI3LNz1eQYIFAgwsxMJWsnHEDGPK9zJZ3F8gkVeTPzyz0au~jfmBYUhbMrF7x81XyzaNRVh2g~2blMX6UucDmzL3A-JTouRyCTHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liz Harpold, staff to Senator Olson, told the Senate Finance Committee that Senate Bill 146 would amend the Regional Education Attendance Area (REAA) Fund to include major maintenance and construction at Mount Edgecumbe High School and major maintenance for teacher housing in REAA or small municipal areas, and would remove the $70 million cap on the fund so balances would not lapse to the general fund.

Harold said the change would allow Mount Edgecumbe High School, a public boarding school, to be included on major-maintenance and deferred-maintenance lists like other public high schools. Senator Stedman and other members noted Mount Edgecumbe’s relatively small asset base and said the school had difficulty getting attention in statewide maintenance prioritization; Stedman said many of the school’s buildings predate World War II.

Senator Stedman spoke in support and said the change would allow more consistent advocacy and access to maintenance funding. Another committee member said the school is one of the state’s best-performing high schools and supported the bill for that reason. No objections were recorded and Senator Stedman moved SB146 from committee with attached fiscal note and individual recommendations; the motion carried with no recorded objection.

The bill’s changes would alter eligible uses of the REAA Fund and remove a statutory cap; the committee did not adopt further amendments at the hearing. The transcript shows the bill had been previously heard and public testimony taken earlier in the session; the committee signed its report and moved the bill along with fiscal notes.","Senate Bill 146 would amend the Regional Education Attendance Area (REAA) Fund to allow major maintenance and construction at Mount Edgecumbe High School and teacher housing in REAA or small municipal areas, and would remove a $70 million cap on the fund. The committee reported the bill out with fiscal notes and recommendations.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061937,"Senate Finance advances bill to require Asian American and Pacific Islander education in K–12",110,5119000,5229000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f&start=5119&end=5229","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280866-45f9e6b4a63db9ad09ef8c7414a1541f/thumbnail_5119000.jpg","/articles/6061937/Alaska/Senate-Finance-advances-bill-to-require-Asian-American-and-Pacific-Islander-education-in-K12","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061937-aa2273635188cc0affca4653f8418333/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956139&Signature=m9AcCreeill73-~HSfWTg5NgRf6IOlNxJRyfIZ4k2bThvJAUwcYc5rrHTaPgqH1qRZklm9MLx8s8KK~Vy4AVQKpwh5Y~uW2vrnFinKYKGrFCzx2YoEqltYTSLfyG54~hvSqyQKTmCZLwMSYy77q8dLthVZEJkU~xYd9lVesmXPq67h098y3EKynNOswnxjBhkd3Se0WJBtyKT8gIxyL8pyZWBOpV3EpBxAKLFLN1IbgEkVXg0RjgvkHgiM-56jwKnHvjJ4DUtLxtYiXw1iVtyLVky1jKNL-hqKozCDkANcrdHN56pBQrgmJSdnYsMmKutPQeuASOplZZdBN6oazdmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator L.B. Gray Jackson told the Senate Finance Committee that Senate Bill 6 would require Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) education across K–12 schools in Alaska.

Jackson said the bill nearly passed in the prior legislative session and the sponsor and supporters believe it is important to include AAPI curriculum in state education standards. \"What the bill does is it requires Asian American Pacific Islander education in schools, K through 12,\" Jackson said in committee testimony.

The committee voted to report the bill from the finance committee and refer it to the rules committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note; there was no objection recorded in the transcript. No committee amendment was adopted at the hearing.

The hearing record includes prior public testimony and fiscal reviews. No further implementation details were provided during the reintroduction; the bill will proceed to the rules committee for additional consideration.","Senate Bill 6, introduced by Senator L.B. Gray Jackson and reintroduced to the Senate Finance Committee, would require inclusion of Asian American and Pacific Islander education across K–12 schools. The committee reported the bill to the next referral with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee extends school bond debt reimbursement moratorium and debates a regulatory fix

Senators consider Alaska-run flood insurance proposal to replace federal program

Senate committee hears bill to add hands-only CPR to K–12 health curriculum

Finance committee backs expanding REAA fund to cover Mount Edgecumbe maintenance and teacher housing

Senate Finance advances bill to require Asian American and Pacific Islander education in K–12