A Fast-Moving Session With Big Impacts!
January 2026 | 34th Alaska Legislature, Second Session
Welcome to all Alaska LWV members, new and returning. For those who are new, LWV Alaska publishes a bi-monthly newsletter from January through May highlighting what’s happening in the Alaska Legislature, along with major state and federal issues that affect Alaskan voters.
Our legislative priorities, set by members at last year’s State Convention, are: Elections, Education, Campaign Finance Reform, Civics Education, Judicial Appointments and Legislation, Gun Safety, and support for open primaries and Ranked Choice Voting.
Our goal is to educate and inform. This newsletter is written by your fellow League members, and in a time when misinformation and disinformation are increasingly common, knowing who is behind the information you read matters.
HIGHLIGHTS
This is shaping up to be a fast-moving session. It is an election year, and a second session so most bills have already been introduced. Committee hearings are being scheduled quickly. Education funding remains unresolved. Elections legislation carried over from last year is still in play. And the Administration’s proposed state budget does not fully balance without drawing heavily on savings.
Education
This week, the legislature failed to override Governor Dunleavy’s veto of a bill that would generate up to $65 million in revenue from online corporate sales. There is no additional education funding in the Governor’s FY2027 budget. His position on education appears unchanged from last year. In his final legislative address, he briefly addressed education and reiterated support for bills he has already introduced to expand charter schools, create open enrollment, address teacher retention, and allow some public schools to be operated by Alaska Native tribes. Education funding discussions are likely to come up soon.
A bipartisan legislative Task Force on Education Funding was established to examine how Alaska’s public schools are financed and to consider potential long-term reforms. The task force is reviewing funding formulas, transportation and maintenance costs, performance measures, and other elements of the education system, with recommendations expected before the next legislative term begins in 2027.
New Legislators
The make-up of the minority in both Houses has shifted. Two Alaska House seats opened late last year when Reps. Cathy Tilton (R-Wasilla) and George Rauscher (R-Sutton) were appointed to the Alaska Senate after Sens. Mike Shower and Shelley Hughes resigned to pursue statewide office. Rep. Garret Nelson (R-Sutton) and Rep. Steve St. Clair (R-Wasilla) were appointed to fill the resulting House vacancies. Rep. Nelson brings private-sector experience but has not previously served in the Legislature; Rep. St. Clair is a retired Military Police First Sergeant who spent seven years as a legislative aide.
Budget
Although the state budget is not itself a League priority, funding decisions directly affect all of our priorities. Governor Dunleavy’s proposed FY27 budget relies heavily on state savings and includes a full Permanent Fund Dividend, without new revenue measures to offset the deficit. There is some indication that he will be proposing a state sales tax, no details yet.
The proposal would draw approximately $1.5 billion — with some estimates as high as $1.8 billion — from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, a move that requires a three-quarters vote of both the House and Senate. The budget also does not address how to cover the current fiscal year shortfall, estimated to exceed $300 million. Declining oil revenues, increased disaster-related costs, and rising expenses continue to put pressure on the state’s finances.
Elections
The major elections bill introduced last year — SB 64 (now CSSB 64(FIN) AM) — is scheduled for a House Finance Committee hearing on January 29 at 1:30 p.m. (no public testimony). The bill passed the Senate last year and is now in the House. It’s a large, complicated bill — so we’re taking a closer look.
THIS WEEK’S FOCUS
This is a high-level summary of the current amended version so you can better track its progress. Official legislative records and committee hearings provide the most current information, and language may change as the bill moves forward. Each section explains current law, what SB64 proposes, and how it affects voters. [Note: Ballot tracking and ballot curing have costs associated with them which may come up in future hearings.]
1) Voter registration timing & effectiveness
Voter registrations and updates submitted through the PFD, DMV, mail, and online are governed by statutes that are not fully aligned, particularly regarding when a registration or update becomes effective.
Under SB 64, registrations and updates submitted after the registration deadline do not take effect automatically and are handled as questioned ballots at the polls.
Voters who register or update their information after the registration deadline can vote, but must cast a questioned ballot.
2) Data sources & voter verification
The Division of Elections uses information from other sources as part of voter list maintenance, but statutes do not clearly describe how data comparisons are used or what process applies before a voter’s registration status is changed.
SB 64 clarifies that data comparisons may be used to verify voter registration information, but a data mismatch alone does not remove a voter from the rolls. The bill requires that notice and an opportunity to respond occur before a voter’s registration status is changed.
Voters identified during list maintenance — including close to an election — are still allowed to vote. If eligibility cannot be resolved at the time of voting, the voter must cast a questioned ballot, which is reviewed after the election.
3) Absentee voting deadlines
Absentee ballots are counted based on both a postmark and a receipt deadline. The timings are set in statute. In practice, this can be complicated when ballots are not postmarked at the voter’s home community, or other cases where receipt of ballots is delayed.
SB 64 clearly states the deadlines: absentee ballots from non-military, non-overseas voters must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 10 days after the election. Military and overseas voters retain a longer receipt deadline of up to 15 days after the election.
[Note: Absentee voters need to know that mailing times and postmark requirements are not changed in this version. SB 64 doesn’t change the rules, only makes them clearer.]
4) Ballot Tracking
There is no statutory requirement that the Division of Elections provide an online system for voters to track the status of their absentee ballots.
SB 64 establishes a new statutory requirement that the Division of Elections create and maintain an online ballot-tracking system for absentee ballots no matter the type.
Voters can track whether a ballot was issued or sent by the Division, and whether it was received back by the Division. It does not include any additional review or processing information. (see ballot curing for more information)
5) Ballot Curing
There is no statutory requirement that the Division of Elections provide a process to allow a voter to fix problems with their absentee ballots after they send them in.
SB 64 authorizes the Division of Elections to establish procedures allowing voters to correct certain deficiencies in absentee ballots before a ballot is finally rejected. The bill explicitly does not specify curing for all ballots, define which deficiencies are eligible, nor set timelines, notice methods, or response procedures. These decisions are left to the Division of Elections.
Ballot curing does not allow a voter to change their vote. It is limited to correcting certain administrative or certification issues so that an already-cast ballot can be counted.
6) Witness Signatures
Standard by-mail absentee ballots require the voter to complete and sign a voter certificate that is also signed by an adult witness.
SB64 clarifies that if you vote absentee in person before an election official (often called early voting), you don’t need a witness because your identity is checked in person.
Voters who mail in absentee ballots still need a witness to sign their ballot. Voting absentee in person does not. In all cases, you still must sign and certify your ballot.
[Note: Earlier versions of the bill would have removed the witness requirement for by-mail ballots, but that language was amended out.]
7) Election Crimes & Penalties
Election-related crimes already exist under Alaska law. They generally involve intentional acts such as interfering with an election, tampering with ballots, or knowingly making false statements under oath. They do not include ordinary voting mistakes — such as marking errors or issues with ballot envelopes. Voting mistakes are handled through ballot review and existing administrative processes and are not treated as crimes.
SB 64 does not change what conduct is criminal or expand when criminal penalties apply. It makes administrative and conforming updates so these provisions align with other election law changes.
Because there is no change to current law, criminal penalties still apply to intentional misconduct related to elections. When registering to vote — whether through the DMV, the PFD application, by mail, or online — voters are making a certification under oath that they are legally eligible to vote. That certification applies even when the process feels routine.
SB 64 also includes several other updates:
AI-generated campaign media: Requires clear labels when realistic AI-generated images, video, or audio are used in election ads.
Campaign signs: Clarifies state law by explicitly allowing temporary political campaign signs on private property, even near highways, if the sign is no larger than 32 sq.ft., the property owner is not paid to display it, the sign does not pose a safety risk, and it is located outside the highway right-of-way.
Election administration: Allows election officials to begin certain routine administrative steps for absentee ballots earlier — such as opening envelopes and reviewing required information — while keeping vote counting, tabulation, and release of results strictly on Election Day. This early processing does not include ballot curing.
Redistricting Board: Clarifies and aligns Redistricting Board disclosure and open-meeting requirements with existing state transparency laws.
Finally, SB 64 includes technical and conforming amendments to ensure consistency across Alaska election statutes.
LEGISLATION TRACKING / MEETINGS OF INTEREST
Several education-related bills are worth watching this session. HB 212 addresses local contributions by school districts, while HB 168 / SB 23 focus on civics education. HB 261, a 2026 pre-file bill introduced by Rep. Story (D-Juneau), proposes changes to education funding so earlier notice is given to school districts on funding.
Two gun safety bills are expected to be heard in committee in February. HB 89, sponsored by Rep. Josephson, would establish an Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO), often referred to as a “red flag” law. HB 134, sponsored by Rep. Carrick, would address access to firearms by children and others legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. More information will follow in the next issue.
SJR 13, addressing the appointment of state judges and sponsored at the request of the Governor, was scheduled to be heard in Senate State Affairs on January 20 but was not taken up.
SJR2, a Constitutional Amendment to move the threshold to override a Governor’s veto from 3/4 vote to 2/3 vote passed the Senate State Affairs committee on January 22nd. Alaska is the only state to require a 3/4 vote of the legislature to overturn fiscal vetos.
Upcoming Meetings
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 | 1:30 PM
SB64/CSSB 64(Fin)Am – Elections (no public testimony)
Adams 519 | Teleconferenced
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 | 8:00 AM
Presentation: State Tribal Education Compacting Pilot
Davis 106 | Teleconferenced
WRAP-UP
Legislative activity will increase quickly as committees begin meeting regularly and budget discussions move forward. LWV Alaska will continue to track key legislation and meetings related to our priorities and provide updates throughout the session.
We value your input — Questions or feedback? Contact us at
alaskalwv@alaskalwv.org.
alaskalwv@alaskalwv.org.
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