Senate subcommittee advances legislature budget, boosts session and special-session funds
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Summary
A Senate subcommittee advanced a legislative budget action sheet dated 04/13/26 that replaces lost lease revenue, raises funding for session expenses and gavel-to-gavel coverage, and restores the special-session reserve to $1 million; the package was sent to the full finance committee.
A Senate subcommittee voted to advance the Alaska Legislature's budget action sheet dated 04/13/26, approving several fund-source adjustments and increases intended to cover session costs, restore special-session reserves and replace lost lease revenue.
The package includes a $197,800 swap to replace revenue lost after Wells Fargo terminated its lease in the Legislative Information Office in Anchorage; a net-zero fund-source change of $169,200 related to restorative-justice/PFD criminal funds; a $27,700 increase for state facilities rent; $15,000 in authority for a statutorily designated program to receive security funds from the National Conference of State Legislatures; a $912,200 increase for session expenses; an $855,000 general-fund increase to sustain gavel-to-gavel broadcasting after federal funds ended; a $750,000 increase to bring the special-session reserve back to $1,000,000 (the presenter said last year the legislature set $500,000 and the governor reduced it to $250,000); and a $35,000 increase in program receipts for the legislative lounge.
"There are nine items," the legislative staff member told the subcommittee while summarizing the worksheet. The staff member described the Wells Fargo lease termination and the proposed $197,800 UGF one-time increment to replace the revenue.
Jessica Geary, executive director of Legislative Affairs, responded to a question about the Anchorage property, saying, "We have reached out to a broker there in Anchorage ... There's currently one party that is looking at the space," but noted improvements would be required before a lease could be finalized and any deal would be brought to Legislative Council.
The staff member moved to advance the legislative budget "as recommended by the legislative budget action sheet dated 04-13-26." The chair, after asking for objections, declared, "Seeing none, that motion passes," and the package will be forwarded to the full finance committee for further consideration. No roll-call vote or tally was recorded in the transcript.
The subcommittee adjourned with no additional business scheduled.
