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.