House Finance Subcommittee adopts FY26 legislature operating budget closeout

The Alaska House Finance Subcommittee on March 5, 2025, adopted its budget adjustment (BA) report and moved the Legislature's FY26 operating budget out of subcommittee, approving $92,493,400 in total authority and authorizing the Legislative Finance Division to make technical and conforming changes.

The action came at a short meeting called to conclude the subcommittee's work on the Legislature's FY26 operating budget. Cochair Foster opened the meeting at 4:10 p.m. and asked for a motion to adopt the BA report. "For the record, Bridal Anderson, staff to Representative Foster," Bridal Anderson said before summarizing the report and its totals. "Mr. Chairman, that summarizes the BA report," Anderson added.

Why it matters: the subcommittee's adoption finalizes the panel's recommendations and moves the Legislature's operating budget forward in the internal budget process. The document the subcommittee adopted revises fund-source authority and records modest changes from the adjusted base that affect internal legislative operations and program receipts.

Key details: the BA report shows the house subcommittee authorizing $91,382,500 of unrestricted general funds (UGF), $655,300 of designated general funds (DGF), $455,600 of other funds and $0 in federal funds, for a combined total of $92,493,400. Compared with the adjusted base, the house subcommittee's package increases UGF by $255,500 (0.3%), DGF by $15,400 (2.4%) and other funds by $123,200 (37.1%), for a net change of $394,100 (0.4%) from adjusted base to house subcommittee.

The staff presentation said most of the UGF increase — $255,500 — is to fund the warehouse mail room screening center and that the change includes two new positions for that operation. The subcommittee also accepted the recommendations of the Legislative Budget and Audit budget and the Legislative Council budget with one modification: an increase in program receipts to reflect higher Wells Fargo lease revenue. That transaction reduced general fund authority by $15,400 and replaced it with $15,400 of designated general fund program receipt authority, producing a net zero change for that line item.

Procedure and votes: Representative Edgmon moved to adopt the BA report "for the FY 26 operating budget for the legislature as reflected in the subcommittee's BA report." Cochair Foster initially objected for the purpose of discussion, then withdrew the objection after the staff summary; no further objections were raised and the BA report was adopted. Later, Representative Benjamin moved to advance the FY26 operating budget from subcommittee "with the subcommittee narrative and legislative finance reports forthcoming, and that authorization be given to the Legislative Finance Division to make any necessary technical and or conforming changes." Hearing no objections, the motion carried and the subcommittee concluded its work.

What was not decided: the transcript records no roll-call vote or individual vote tallies. No amendments to the BA report were received from members prior to the meeting, and no additional program funding changes beyond those summarized by staff were discussed at length.

The subcommittee adjourned at approximately 4:17 p.m.