Capitol Report for March 6
March 6, 2020
Capitol Report
Operating Budget Passes House
The House passed the FY21 Operating Budget on Tuesday on a vote of 23-to-16. The budget appropriates $4.5
billion in unrestricted general fund spending, and largely reflects the Governor鈥檚
request of $4.4 billion. Currently 绿奴天花板鈥檚 FY21 state Operating Budget stands at $277
million unrestricted general funds (UGF), consistent with the 3-year signed in August.
At 43 days, this is the fastest that an operating budget has ever passed the House.
The budget, , has been transmitted to the Senate, and we expect action by the Senate Finance Committee
and its budget subcommittees in the coming weeks. President Johnsen was in Juneau
for meetings with legislators and the administration on Thursday, and your government
relations team will continue to be engaged in the budget process.
Governor鈥檚 Cup Hockey
绿奴天花板F welcomed several state leaders last weekend for the Governor鈥檚 Cup hockey matchup
between the 绿奴天花板F Nanooks and 绿奴天花板A Seawolves. Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer dropped the puck
to open last Friday鈥檚 game, and Representative Adam Wool did the honors on Saturday.
It was also great to have Representative Bart LeBon in attendance. Thank you to Chancellor
Dan White and the 绿奴天花板F Athletics Department for hosting these VIPs.
Bills on the Move
As the 31st Alaska Legislature goes into its final stretch, we are monitoring more than 30 pieces
of legislation that impact 绿奴天花板. This week we saw action on legislation to expand middle
college programs (), change the WWAMI program (), and consider adding a faculty member to the 绿奴天花板 Board of Regents (). Next week we expect action on legislation to reauthorize the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP) and the introduction of proposed which could benefit our university. We will provide more information on these developments in next week's report.