Alaska2026Passed Legislature
HB63
HB63: Changes to School Board Elections and Voting Rules
Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM
In one sentence
This bill changes how regional school board members are elected by extending their terms to four years with staggered schedules, moves regular elections to odd-numbered years in October, updates rules for voter residence, and allows people to register to vote when applying for the Permanent Fund Dividend.
What it does
- Changes regional school board member terms from three years to four years using a staggered schedule so not all seats end at once.
- Moves regular elections for regional school boards from every year to odd-numbered years only, held in October.
- Updates the rules that define where a person lives for voting purposes and clarifies when someone loses or keeps their residence status.
- Allows people to register to vote by filling out voter registration forms included with Permanent Fund Dividend applications.
- Removes requirements for runoff elections during the first election of regional school board members.
Who it affects
- Voters living in Alaska who are eligible to participate in regional educational attendance area elections.
- Members and candidates serving on or running for regional school boards.
- People applying for Permanent Fund Dividends who wish to register to vote at the same time.
Limits and unknowns
- The bill text provided does not include the specific effective date when these changes will begin.
- Details on how election pamphlets and confidential information in voter records are handled are listed in the title but not fully explained in this excerpt.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Regional Educational Attendance Area
- A specific geographic area where students attend schools managed by a regional school board instead of local city or borough boards.
- Staggered Terms
- An election schedule where some members serve shorter terms initially so that not all seats are up for election at the same time in future years.
- Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)
- A yearly payment from Alaska's Permanent Fund to eligible residents, which now includes a voter registration option.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
SCHOOL&ELECTION BDS; VOTING; ELECTIONS An Act relating to regional educational attendance area elections; relating to terms for members of regional school boards; relating to voter residence; relating to voter registration; relating to the inclusion of voter registration forms in permanent fund dividend applications; relating to election administration; relating to ballot counting; relating to absentee voting; relating to early voting; relating to voting by mail; relating to publication of election pamphlets; and relating to confidential information in voter registration records.
Official activity
Bill history
- (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
- (H) Heard & HeldText
- (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
- (H) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS55
- (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER55
- (H) FN1: (GOV)55
- (H) STA, FIN55
- (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS55