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: 2026-05-21
Official status: RTN TO (H) GOV NEXT
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about the impact on families and students with special needs, leaving this as an unknown.

Special Education Service Agency Funding

This act changes the funding requirements for the special education service agency in Alaska.

What This Bill Does

Changes how much money the state gives to the special education service agency each year, setting a minimum of $26.89 per student enrolled in special education programs based on average daily membership.
Allows the legislature to adjust funding if there isn't enough money available.

Who It Names or Affects

The special education service agency
Students with special needs and their families

Terms To Know

average daily membership (ADM): A way to count the number of students in a school system on an average day.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if funding is reduced.
The exact impact on families and students with special needs is unclear without more details.

Bill History

2026-05-21 3023
(H) AWAITING TRANSMITTAL TO GOV
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 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

HB0246a -1- HB 246
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1255\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 246

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES JOSEPHSON, Allard

Introduced: 1/20/26
Referred: Education, Finance

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to allocations for the special education service agency; and providing 1
for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 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 6
average daily membership in the preceding fiscal year as determined under 7
AS 14.17.600. Money to carry out the provisions of this section may be appropriated 8
annually by the legislature. If amounts are insufficient to meet the allocation 9
authorized under this 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