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Anchorage lobbyist: Juneau battle over education bill, $13.7M boost for behavioral health, taxes remain undecided
Summary
At an Assembly Legislative Committee meeting March 6, the municipality’s state lobbyist reported a contentious floor fight in Juneau over an education bill, a $13.7 million subcommittee increase for behavioral health provider bridge funding, and continued debate over taxes as legislators weigh revenue options.
Wendy Chamberlain, the municipality’s state lobbyist, told the Assembly Legislative Committee on March 6 that the Alaska Legislature’s efforts to advance an education bill stalled after the minority staged a filibuster.
“Today in Juneau, we saw the legislature have its first struggle. They went to put education bill on the floor. It was on the floor. The minority filibustered,” Chamberlain said, adding that about 68 amendments have been filed and the measure could return to the floor Monday.
Why it matters: Education funding and the state budget affect municipal revenues and programs that rely on state support. Chamberlain said the bill’s current language had pared an increase back down to $1,000 in the Base Student Allocation and that related budget decisions could affect Anchorage requests included in the state operating plan.
Chamberlain also reported movement on behavioral health funding. “I will tell you that they are closing out the subcommittee budgets. A big thank you to Representative Josephson. He chaired the HES Committee or HES Committee budget and brought forth, dollars 13,700,000.0 increase for behavioral health providers,” she said. Committee discussion noted the increase is intended as bridge funding while the state completes a rate methodology study expected next year.
Committee members framed the behavioral health increase as important to stabilizing providers. Chamberlain said the funding is meant to bridge providers who had stopped accepting Medicaid because of reimbursement rates until the new rate methodology is in place.
On broader revenue questions, Chamberlain told the committee that lawmakers are considering a range of options. She said the state’s Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR) contains roughly $3,000,000,000 and that the majority caucus has proposed changes to oil taxes; the governor has proposed a sales tax as part of a solution but “it doesn’t seem to be getting a lot of love.” Chamberlain said the fiscal picture could lead to a special session and that Anchorage funding requests may be held until the revenue path is clearer.
Committee members asked timing questions. Chair Assemblymember Anna Brawley asked when the full operating budget might reach the House Finance Committee; Chamberlain replied she expected it in roughly a week, depending on floor activity. The meeting transcript indicates committee members followed up with staff for details but did not record any formal motions or assembly positions on the state measures during this session.
Context: Committee members referenced specific legislators and measures discussed in Juneau, including Representative Dilbert (who was reported as briefly present on the floor while recovering from hospitalization) and Senator Dunbar’s parity bill related to behavioral health. The committee received the lobbyist briefing and had no formal vote on it.
Looking ahead: Chamberlain said the education bill will likely return to the floor and that the subcommittee budget process is wrapping up; the committee expects to monitor developments affecting Anchorage budget and grant requests.
