[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6178791,"mediaKeyId","5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06","parentId",5211668,"title","Some members question $85,000 suicide‑prevention media campaign and behavioral health funding; item remains adopted","audioSeconds",110,"startMs",1776000,"endMs",1886000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06&start=1776&end=1886","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06/thumbnail_1776000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6178791/Alaska/Some-members-question-85000-suicideprevention-media-campaign-and-behavioral-health-funding-item-remains-adopted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178791-ee97fb806fdd5deae2b3840124ac7f5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770781548&Signature=XKdeQkWJIq4inbhgkWFQzuNB2~sdd6tZEO6XklzzUPU5Qllied8Tb45Wwv30SzWPa7CgE~ka9HV1aXgW8m7y2~l61m5P~jtWMH0pcU8OG6Zcb2CvzCupbZP7Q8wfI9a8Ffm1N85Mo81jtOwU4yg9g~vxkqEnwMhAHi6XZkDEW6BBfH-y9cHuc1Xj8XhZSKKp6-g-r24rX40vfHKvoCy7GAcvUM0foMwK5TElfYOCpxKTjjS-owxdkM2OHQjCV2HVj2cL7AKcJJMnC6saIWZxIwU3uQcf3i5QCHfaX~IuJkgd3bOvBB4wHl79Yed5e0fiSVm6pcYPf27zQLoTHwHsSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-05-18T13:00:00Z","article","Senator Kaufman objected for discussion to item 16 in the Department of Health portion of the motion sheet, which funds an $85,000 media campaign, saying it was questionable to fund such a campaign when the state was facing layoffs and other funding pressures.

Senator Tom Hoffman responded that the funding aligns with the statewide Suicide Prevention Council’s 2023–2027 plan, titled “Messages of Hope,” and pointed to council recommendations at pages 24–25 supporting public messaging and safe firearm storage to reduce youth access as part of suicide prevention. Hoffman noted the subcommittee and Finance Committee previously adopted the item, and that it had passed the House floor.

Kaufman also raised concerns about behavioral‑health funding and Anchorage’s homelessness and behavioral‑health challenges. Hoffman acknowledged the complexity of writing behavioral‑health grants that interact with senior disability services and Medicaid and said the item merited further attention in January.

Later in the meeting a motion to reopen item 16 failed; the committee voted not to reopen that specific item, and the Department of Health items as adopted remained in the conference report.

The transcript records the $85,000 campaign amount and identifies the “Messages of Hope” plan and the American Association of Suicidology recommendation on safe storage as the cited rationale for the campaign item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/18/2025 01:00 PM House CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB53 AND HB55","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Kaufman questioned an $85,000 media campaign and broader behavioral health funding during the Department of Health discussion; committee members defended the item as aligned with the statewide suicide prevention plan, and the committee did not reopen the item later.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6178796,"Conference committee moves vehicle‑rental and AHCC receipts to derelict‑vessel and region allocations; amendment adopted",630,4358000,4988000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06&start=4358&end=4988","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06/thumbnail_4358000.jpg","/articles/6178796/Alaska/Conference-committee-moves-vehiclerental-and-AHCC-receipts-to-derelictvessel-and-region-allocations-amendment-adopted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178796-bc97a306521f1c9b287870f2e2db7b20/orig.mp4?Expires=1770781548&Signature=THUXgvdeSPdi9hqUGALTAf3LgOVhh72Lnca2GRLQgSp8MUJq9bVeQRkO80Al6zUXNaHr5PfJ0arLxy47TH3JdfRZaoYSVrh8DnLNW8RNeZeXJ1wmUiAbQZSO2K54ofXhfUXhowgXx9TeQiMvJ1FiLUCRkEkBI49cqs49QrCNz1dxwmvu8GXNSNuCz5RXKDsvmoun2hu1WoR0GAUOWrc~Jlq4RMVw7rtLqPe~gfUr2EofVYCljI8fBAUomKPbALEdFVecOulFucrrDl4coUV9f158soCIXXPvKlfk6KyIdIUfPLNBcaCFIg9aUuWaYvFrkxKt-nY-cDZdQmfqjHIaGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The conference committee adopted an amendment that restructured fund sources in the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities budget, moving certain vehicle‑rental tax receipts and one‑time Alaska Housing Capital Corporation (AHCC) funds into regional highway and aviation allocations and adding a derelict‑vessel prevention program increment for the central region.

Senator Tom Hoffman moved the amendment, which: adds $2.1 million in vehicle rental tax receipts and a $1.3 million one‑time increment from AHCC to the Northern Region Highways and Aviation allocation while deleting $3.4 million in unrestricted general fund (UGF); and adds a $1.4 million one‑time increment from the Derelict Vessel Prevention Program for the Central Region while deleting $1.4 million in UGF. The amendment states the committee’s intent that the AHCC and derelict‑vessel one‑time increments be replaced with general funds in fiscal year 2027.

Senator Kaufman objected to repurposing vehicle rental tax receipts toward derelict‑vessel and unrelated purposes and said funds should remain directed to transportation impacts associated with vehicle rentals. After debate and a roll call, the committee adopted the amendment and closed the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities items.","The committee adopted an amendment that reallocated vehicle‑rental tax receipts and one‑time AHCC funds to northern and central regional highways and aviation allocations, using derelict‑vessel prevention funds for the central region and stating intent to replace one‑time funds with general funds in FY2027.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6178802,"Representative objects to removing Parks Highway trooper post; committee adopts Senate public safety items",183,2047000,2230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06&start=2047&end=2230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06/thumbnail_2047000.jpg","/articles/6178802/Alaska/Representative-objects-to-removing-Parks-Highway-trooper-post-committee-adopts-Senate-public-safety-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178802-1bd94f8736c2daf6a9ee4508bb6ddc58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770781548&Signature=Q8CfGbUzHE7AYh7P16sjFLQjaJBgpM74ZfiSiygdQU-LFViyZxN5GGzVIuKf2qAUmyoX-iNAzydIiFRrmJrJlmJiSB5E61WK2O1LsmOrK5fJIvAIBmDdr~asE9rlw8K0S-or098WL66MZ6lmNAVBybUR61DUIdmbzH5JbGISZf0bH7vzvQeB3nF4fr0nufHK8La-Im66ueBaE6iu8n5W1~1UVkvoGZnZlRuEbdnRIIpSNs~3L0Xm7Pseh3qEwDTK-Ovz3-WzyNmmSPOi5bPTI46CPGf7anyFkz72hfYmaOJ7gFVZb57Ug2l4li9ynyQciFZgyowmx~G2~ADTtBAUkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative H. Johnson objected to the conference committee’s adoption of the Senate version of several Department of Public Safety items because the Senate motion omitted funding for a trooper post on the Parks Highway.

Johnson said the trooper post would be “about halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks” and called it a necessary post to disrupt fentanyl distribution toward Fairbanks and communities in the Bush. He registered that objection explicitly while the committee prepared to vote on items 3, 4, 8, 13 and 14 in the Public Safety portion of the motion sheet.

Senate members noted that the items were initially a governor’s ad but that the governor had withdrawn those amendments; after brief discussion the committee called the roll and approved the Senate package despite Johnson’s objection. The adoption closed the conferenceable public safety items under the committee’s motion.","Representative H. Johnson objected when the committee adopted Senate public safety items that would not fund a trooper post on the Parks Highway; the motion to adopt the Senate version nevertheless passed.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6178807,"Conference committee approves $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend",53,5114000,5167000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06&start=5114&end=5167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06/thumbnail_5114000.jpg","/articles/6178807/Alaska/Conference-committee-approves-1000-Permanent-Fund-dividend","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178807-723cbb2a63a765ba5826cae83c96c66c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770781548&Signature=mY1oh03Qfj3YFIygKO7bMNICF-2Efgp10bCpghtqrJ35yzjrRsomihILnR8LcLGW9Z-G4RhT9R~iXTban9e6XB1Zkhr9UvPx7t~DUX0XXGgyANfQCSA4XEwbSZZIPfzPQXhm7vGipYj7rmYuNUV-iR6ZE3RIOVsO~pYuzlgrTI9t9me5igP3R5oaPQ9O0MZsPG-VwNaB4iSuzzdtbXrTAWOHIiDLjPW88fBe7O~Pq2N~4bulQxdPkp-F1mB9Ta24zezvFd9g8MIhgdkNoIlZ1C2AXlm6FDdcZvyNTJQVY50Ox42vji~HYKcpH4ySNDvWZLesceLU-TUIOQkqrm0Uvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The conference committee approved the Senate version of the Permanent Fund dividend which sets the payment at $1,000 per person if enacted into law.

Representative H. Johnson objected to the change on the record, saying the motion “brings a dividend from the House amount, which is a $75.25 $2,575 and then to the Senate amount, which is $1,000 per person,” and asked for clarification. Alexi Painter, legislative finance analyst, confirmed the conference language: “yes. The language reads that it is the amount necessary to pay a $1,000 dividend.”

Committee members then voted; Representative Johnson recorded a no vote but the motion carried and the conference committee attached the Senate dividend language to the conference committee report for the operating bill. The report will move to each chamber for final action; the conference committee noted that the exact dividend amount is provided by the adopted language and will be payable if the conference report is enacted and the governor signs the bill.","The conference committee voted to adopt the Senate recommendation setting the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend at $1,000 per person; some members objected to the reduction from the House figure.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6178812,"Conference committee approves contingency to draw on CBR, with fallback to AIDEA and higher-education fund",659,5604000,6263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06&start=5604&end=6263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5211668-1445a47b2d648fe06dcc493339b2ad06/thumbnail_5604000.jpg","/articles/6178812/Alaska/Conference-committee-approves-contingency-to-draw-on-CBR-with-fallback-to-AIDEA-and-higher-education-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178812-dfc99aa930f76b278658adc30b1c68f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770781548&Signature=ge1Ho4JNnLtJexRxePyNmoSNO66AWnMTyL7Yrheqkr4jCjaW4Ahb5cyRh~kcwRpBW7sLdRp9uDnADDy67WBv8Bq1raYPz7OiAgrirb5ti~bpvt0sDuB2LzuzUaj5SNZZxIsfJvtTwikcb5rO1oBQ9lTY45TwDQ~IvFL~tfgY5UTXXVSr0WbvKWWMyDV0ADaHOd482npzNuiEJ05wGebRnP19-r2E84GTZ1KrJkZfgeaEDHis2hBrKjmPalx8imrkyJswvD3RxgQOQnorp03FG98XwvKgaUM7JahuJrkRNSrKfxpsOnUQAz6w7Fnom6xowL~jijGLNJk9dCMDR3KmlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska Legislature conference committee adopted an amendment authorizing a draw from the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR) to cover a shortfall in fiscal year 2025 and setting a contingency waterfall to use Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) balances and then the Higher Education Investment Fund if the CBR draw is not enacted.

The action came after Senator Tom Hoffman, vice chair of the conference committee, described the amendment: “this amendment authorizes a draw from the constitutional budget reserve fund for appropriations in fiscal year 20 25 and provides contingency language that authorizes using funds from the Alaskan Industrial Development and Export Authority and the Higher Education Investment Fund if the CBR draw fails to be enacted.”

Why it matters: The committee said FY25 faces roughly a $200 million shortfall driven primarily by lower-than-expected revenue estimates and several unanticipated costs. The amendment was presented as a mechanism to meet the state’s constitutional obligation to balance the budget if other approaches are not enacted.

During debate Representative H. Johnson objected on precautionary grounds, noting the risk of drawing from AIDEA receipts and the Higher Education Investment Fund and possible credit impacts. Senator Stedman and other members argued the CBR draw requires a three‑quarter vote in each chamber and is the standard tool to balance an immediate gap. Alexi Painter, Legislative Finance Division, outlined specific drivers of the shortfall, including a large public assistance settlement (about $12–13 million), a higher Medicaid general‑fund need (about $14 million), Department of Corrections costs, and capital items including marine highway maintenance already expended.

The amendment passed on the committee vote and was incorporated into the conference committee report for House Bill 53 (operating) and House Bill 55 (mental health). The committee recorded that using AIDEA or the Higher Education Investment Fund would occur only if the CBR draw was not enacted.

The committee did not specify final timing for any CBR request; any draw from the CBR would require subsequent legislative approval by the supermajority thresholds that apply to the CBR.","The Alaska conference committee approved an amendment authorizing a draw from the Constitutional Budget Reserve to cover FY25 shortfalls and, if that fails, contingency authority to use up to $100 million from AIDEA and then the Higher Education Investment Fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Some members question $85,000 suicide‑prevention media campaign and behavioral health funding; item remains adopted

Conference committee moves vehicle‑rental and AHCC receipts to derelict‑vessel and region allocations; amendment adopted

Representative objects to removing Parks Highway trooper post; committee adopts Senate public safety items

Conference committee approves $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend

Conference committee approves contingency to draw on CBR, with fallback to AIDEA and higher-education fund