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

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.