Sen. Lyman Hoffman named presiding chair of Alaska budget conference committee; committee requests limited powers

The conference committee on the FY27 operating and mental health appropriation bills convened May 11, 2026, appointed Senator Lyman Hoffman presiding chair and agreed to request limited conference powers from legislative leaders, members said.

Representative Andy Josephson called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. and moved that Senator Lyman Hoffman serve as presiding chair for the conference on House Bills 263 and 265; "Seeing no objection, Senator Hoffman will serve as the presiding chair," Josephson said. After a brief recess, Senator Hoffman moved that Representative Josephson serve as vice chair; the chair confirmed the fiscal year being discussed was 2027.

Senator Lyman Hoffman outlined the committee’s procedures and said the public testimony portion of the budget process is concluded. "The conference committee will not be accepting public testimony," Hoffman said, adding that unless invited by the chair, only committee members may participate or sit at the table. He said Legislative Finance has been directed to prepare motion sheets summarizing differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills and that those sheets "will be posted by Legislative Finance Division website and will be updated after each meeting." He also cited Uniform Rule 42 and related legal opinions included in members’ packets, noting that adopting motions requires a majority vote of each body.

On a motion by Representative Josephson, the committee adopted all appropriations and language that were identical in both the House and Senate versions of HB 263 and HB 265 by unanimous consent. Senator Hoffman then requested a motion to authorize limited powers for items with differences; he distributed two identical letters dated May 11, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President. Representative Josephson moved to adopt the letters requesting conference committee powers "as stated," and Senator Hoffman indicated no objection, which the chair recorded as adoption of the motion.

Committee members signed the letters and the chair said the committee will meet to take action on the operating budget bills once the requested powers are received; meeting notices will be posted to provide reasonable public notice under the 24-hour rule. Representative Josephson moved to adjourn and, despite an objection being called, Senator Hoffman announced, "We are adjourned." The meeting then concluded.

Members present were listed on the record as Senator Lyman Hoffman, Senator Bert Stedman, Senator Mike Cronk, Representative Calvin Schrage, Representative Will Stapp, and Representative Andy Josephson. The committee did not take votes on specific appropriations during this session; it acted on procedural motions to set up future consideration.