Following governor’s veto of HB 69, meeting between lawmakers and Alaska’s largest school districts rescheduled
Legislation would’ve added $1k to current BSA; different bill, with $700 BSA increase attached, is being considered
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - One day after the Legislature failed to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 69 — which would’ve boosted the annual per-student funding amount by $1,000 — a meeting during which representatives from the state’s largest school districts were meant to testify to state lawmakers was canceled, expected to be rescheduled for next week.
The anticipated presentations from school district representatives to the Senate Education Committee follow the veto of HB 69, which included the proposed increase to the annual, per-student funding mechanism known as the Base Student Allocation and would’ve set that at $6,960.
The veto was sustained after the House and Senate declined to override the governor’s veto of HB 69 on Tuesday in a 37-23 vote. A veto override for a bill such as this session’s HB 69 requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to stand.
A new bill, House Bill 202, was put forth last week by Dunleavy and contains a $560 BSA increase, as well as several other provisions, including additions specifically for correspondence programs and reforms for charter schools.
School districts have expressed heightened concern over the proposed funding amount, the status of potential funding, and the pressure of shrinking budgets in general. While some lawmakers are in agreement with that, many have emphasized the importance of balancing the budget overall while also seeking to implement education funding provisions.
Separately, the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday also introduced a provision within a committee substitute for House Bill 57 that would raise the BSA by $700.
Dunleavy posted on social media Thursday, saying if a few edits are made, he will sign the bill.
HB 57 is on its way to the Senate Floor.
— Governor Mike Dunleavy (@GovDunleavy) April 25, 2025
Let me be clear. If legislators make a few key edits, including restoring the reading grants, adding open enrollment, ensuring full funding for correspondence students, and including the four charter school reforms, I will sign this…
Senate Education Committee staff said Wednesday afternoon that the rescheduled hearing that was slated for April 23 could take place as early as Monday.
Author’s note: This story has been updated; it has also been corrected to show that a two-thirds vote of the Legislature is required to override policy bill vetoes, while a three-quarters vote is required for budget appropriations vetoes.
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