The Empty Office Podcast - Season 4, Episode 19

The Second Session of the 34th Alaska State Legislature was adjourned Sine Die on Wednesday, May 20. That’s the official term for adjourning without a future date designated for resumption.

While the Second Session officially ended on May 20, the First Special Session began on May 21. Governor Mike Dunleavy called a 30-day special session for lawmakers to consider legislation authorizing tax breaks and concessions for a natural gas pipeline and other infrastructure related to the Alaska LNG project.

During this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, we look back on the 2026 session and highlight some of the impactful legislation that was and will be sent to the Governor for his signature.

Let’s begin with House Bill 78, which would reinstate a defined-benefit pension plan for public employees in Alaska. On day 99 of the 2nd legislative session, Senator Tobin spoke in favor of the bill by noting its potential positive impact on Alaska’s public education system.

On April 28, the Alaska State Senate passed House Bill 78 by a vote of 12-8. The House concurred with the changes made in the Senate by a vote of 21-19. Governor Dunleavy vetoed the bill on May 18, and the next day, the effort to override the Governor’s veto failed by a vote of 33-27.

Another bill to highlight was a top priority of Senator Tobin and many Democrats in the Alaska State Legislature. Senate Bill 64 was an election reform bill that included several provisions to modernize Alaska’s elections. The bill sought to clean up the voter rolls and protect voters’ confidential information. The bill would have required the timely release of election results and the creation of an online ballot-tracking system. SB 64 included many other common-sense election provisions. After a tremendous amount of hard work and good faith negotiations, SB 64 passed the Alaska Legislature and was sent to Governor Dunleavy for his consideration. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the bill. On May 4, lawmakers met to try to override the veto. Senator Tobin was among the lawmakers to speak that day.

Unfortunately, the effort to override the Governor’s veto of Senate Bill 64 failed by a vote of 38-22.

If you are listening, you likely know that Senator Tobin’s number-one priority since being elected has been to support Alaska’s public education system with additional funding and sound public policy. That’s why she worked so hard to pass House Bill 28, which our office has affectionately called the mini-school bus. Through the legislative process, HB 28 went from a bill to implement a targeted student loan repayment program for teachers to a bill that includes several important education policy changes and a potentially transformational state grant program to cover school district energy costs.

Senator Tobin helped shape and guide HB 28 through the legislative process. On May 19, Senator Tobin carried the bill on the Senate Floor. HB 28 passed the Senate by a vote of 17-3. On the final day of the session, the Alaska House of Representatives approved the bill by a vote of 34-6. The bill will be sent to Governor Dunleavy for his consideration.

The Division of Legislative Finance estimates that the grant program could cover upwards of $89 million in school district energy costs starting in Fiscal Year 2028, which begins on July 1, 2027.

“The recent rise in energy prices has strained schools, forcing them to divert classroom funds for electricity and heating. HB 28 introduces a crucial grant program to assist schools with these costs, providing much-needed relief. I want to thank outgoing Senator Lyman Hoffman for his support in developing this initiative. I will miss his mentorship and commend him for his dedicated service to Alaska.” – Senator Löki Gale Tobin

Staying on the topic of education, Senator Tobin worked closely with her colleagues on the Senate and House Finance Committees to ensure that schools across the state would receive full foundation formula funding at $1.27 billion, and additional funding starting on July 1. The approved FY 2027 operating budget that will be sent to Governor Dunleavy includes:

* $144 million in one-time funding for public schools.

* $29.1 million in energy relief payments to school districts.

* $53,400 in travel funding for the DEED Commissioner to visit rural schools.

* $376,600 in funding for the DEED Student Information System and Predictive Data Dashboard.

* $355.8 in additional funding for the Parents as Teachers Program.

* $3.75 million to increase Head Start Grants to the full amount needed to meet the required non-federal match.

* $450,000 in additional funding for Mt. Edgecumbe High School to pay for student travel, utility costs, student activities, and mental health services.

* $217,500 increase in funding for the Statewide Library Electronic Doorway (SLED).

* $490,000 for the Alaska Council of School Administrators contract for the Alaska Educator Retention and Recruitment Center.

* $400,000 for LB&A to pay for a public school funding adequacy study.

That final item was a priority of the Task Force on Education Funding, which Senator Tobin co-chairs. The requested research will serve as a critical tool for evaluating the adequacy of established funding factors and the sufficiency of base and total student funding. A comprehensive adequacy study would be a good first step towards updating the Foundation Formula.

In addition to co-chairing the Task Force on Education Funding, Senator Tobin is one of the 4 co-chairs of the Alaska Children’s Caucus. The caucus's top priority was Senate Bill 178, which would expand access to Alaska’s Infant Learning program and provide healthcare and therapy services to more young children with developmental delays. On May 13, Senator Tobin carried SB 178 on the Senate Floor.

On May 13, the Senate passed SB 178 by a unanimous vote. The bill moved quickly through the House and was passed by a vote of 39-1 on May 17. Senate Bill 178 will be sent to Governor Dunleavy for his consideration.

“Early intervention is crucial for the long-term health and wellness of our most vulnerable youth, and it is far less costly than waiting. A child served through the Infant Learning Program costs one-tenth as much as it takes to provide equivalent services after age three. This will ensure children who need services can get them before delays compound and costs grow,” Senator Löki Tobin (D-Anchorage), Co-Chair of the Alaska Children’s Caucus

In addition to the legislation to expand access to the Infant Learning Program, Senator Tobin worked with her colleagues on the House and Senate Finance Committee to ensure that additional funding was included in the approved operating budget for the program. $2.7 million was added to account for inflation, and $3 million was added to fund the program’s expansion. Hopefully, SB 178 and the associated funding in the budget will be signed into law so that more children can receive the life-changing services they deserve.

This is the final scheduled episode of The Empty Office Podcast for season 4. Season 5 will begin in January 2025.