HB246 • 2026

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY FUNDING

An Act relating to allocations for the special education service agency; and providing for an effective date.

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES JOSEPHSON, Allard, Bynum, Story, Himschoot, Galvin SENATORS Kawasaki, Cronk, Tobin, Yundt, Stevens, Dunbar
Last action: 2026-07-03
Official status: CHAPTER 45 SLA 26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill is retroactive to July 1, 2026, but the exact effective date for implementation details beyond that date depends on legislative appropriation actions not detailed in this text.

Special Education Service Agency Funding

This law sets a minimum funding rate of $26.89 per student for Alaska's special education service agency, effective July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Sets the state department to allocate at least $26.89 times the number of students in average daily membership from the previous year.
Allows the legislature to approve money each year to pay for this funding.
Reduces payments proportionally if there is not enough money available in a given year.

Who It Names or Affects

The special education service agency that receives state funds.
State agencies responsible for calculating student numbers and distributing money.

Terms To Know

Average Daily Membership: The count of students in the state from the previous year used to calculate funding amounts under AS 14.17.600.
Pro Rata Reduction: Reducing payments by a proportional amount if there is not enough money available for the full allocation.

Limits and Unknowns

The law sets a minimum funding rate but does not guarantee that sufficient funds will be appropriated every year.
Actual payment amounts depend on how much money the legislature chooses to approve annually.

Bill History

2026-07-03 3161
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER
2026-07-03 3161
(H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/30 CH 45 SLA 26
2026-06-17 3095
(H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
2026-05-20 2849
(S) VERSION: HB 246
2026-05-20 2849
(S) RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT
2026-05-20 2849
(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-05-20 2848
(S) PASSED Y20 N-
2026-05-20 2848
(S) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 246
2026-05-19 Text
(S) Moved HB 246 Out of Committee
2026-05-19 Text
(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-19 2804
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): DUNBAR
2026-05-19 2804
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAWASAKI, CRONK, TOBIN, YUNDT, STEVENS
2026-05-19 2800
(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CAL
2026-05-19 2800
(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-05-19 2800
(S) RULES TO FIRST SUP CALENDAR 5/19/2026
2026-05-19 2777
(S) FN1: (EED)
2026-05-19 2777
(S) NR: KAUFMAN
2026-05-19 2777
(S) DP: OLSON, STEDMAN, HOFFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK, KIEHL
2026-05-19 2777
(S) FIN RPT 6DP 1NR
2026-05-13 Text
(S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
2026-05-13 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-07 2502
(S) FIN
2026-05-07 2502
(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-05-06 2429
(H) VERSION: HB 246
2026-05-06 2429
(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
2026-05-06 2426
(H) COSPONSOR(S): BYNUM, STORY, HIMSCHOOT, GALVIN
2026-05-06 2421
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-05-06 2421
(H) PASSED Y40
2026-05-06 2421
(H) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 246
2026-05-06 2420
(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
2026-05-06 2420
(H) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-05-06 2420
(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/6/2026
2026-04-16 2202
(H) COSPONSOR(S): ALLARD
2026-04-16 2191
(H) FN1: (EED)
2026-04-16 2191
(H) NR: TOMASZEWSKI, BYNUM, STAPP
2026-04-16 2191
(H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, HANNAN, ALLARD, FOSTER, JOSEPHSON, SCHRAGE
2026-04-16 2191
(H) FIN RPT 7DP 3NR
2026-04-15 Text
(H) Moved HB 246 Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-04-15 Text
(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
2026-04-08 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-04-08 Text
(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
2026-03-02 Text
(H) Moved HB 246 Out of Committee
2026-03-02 Text
(H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
2026-03-02 1760
(H) FN1: (EED)
2026-03-02 1760
(H) NR: ELAM, SCHWANKE, UNDERWOOD
2026-03-02 1760
(H) DP: EISCHEID, DIBERT, STORY, HIMSCHOOT
2026-03-02 1760
(H) EDC RPT 4DP 3NR
2026-02-23 Min
(H) Minutes (HEDC)
2026-02-23 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-02-23 Text
(H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
2026-01-20 1449
(H) EDC, FIN
2026-01-20 1449
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-01-20 1449
(H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/26

Official Summary Text

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY FUNDING
An Act relating to allocations for the special education service agency; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Enrolled HB 246
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
HB 246 _______

AN ACT

Relating to allocations for the special education service agency; and providing for an effective
date.

_______________

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled HB 246

AN ACT

Relating to allocations for the special education service agency; and providing for an effective 1
date. 2
_______________ 3
* Section 1. AS 14.30.650 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 14.30.650. Funding. Each fiscal year, the department shall allocate to the 5
agency not less than $26.89 [$23.13] times the number of students in the state in average 6
daily membership in the preceding fiscal year as determined under AS 14.17.600. 7
Money to carry out the provisions of this section may be appropriated annually by the 8
legislature. If amounts are insufficient to meet the allocation authorized under this 9
section for a fiscal year, the allocation shall be reduced pro rata. 10
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 11
read: 12
RETROACTIVITY. This Act is retroactive to July 1, 2026. 13
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 14