The conference committee left several budget items tied to establishing a Talkeetna Troopers post open on May 16, 2025, after Representative Johnson asked for clarification on which appropriations were connected to the proposal and Legislative Finance staff identified five related items.

Representative Johnson asked the committee to revisit specific items she associated with the Talkeetna troopers post and said she wanted a review of items “associated with the, Tuckina Trooper post” (as spoken). Alexi Painter, director of the Legislative Finance Division, clarified for the record that the related items are items 3, 4, 8, 13 and 14 and explained item 8 was an add‑back on the House floor. The committee chair noted the package “is in excess of $2,000,000 annually ongoing” and agreed to leave those items open rather than adopt them.

Why it matters: Establishing a troopers post involves recurring personnel and operational costs that the committee identified as exceeding $2 million a year. Leaving the items open preserves negotiators’ ability to adjust scope or funding before finalizing the appropriations bills.

Details and next steps: The committee adopted other Department of Public Safety items and left the troopers post items (3, 4, 8, 13, 14) open for further negotiation. Legislative Finance will remain the point of contact to clarify which specific lines and positions are included in that package.