SB110 • 2026

MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION GRANTS

An Act establishing the museum construction and major expansion matching grant program; and providing for an effective date.

Budget Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: SENATE STATE AFFAIRS
Last action: 2026-05-11
Official status: (S) FIN
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text states it takes effect immediately but does not specify a date for when regulations will be adopted or when applications can begin.

Museum Construction, Expansion, and Major Renovation Matching Grants

This law creates a program in the Department of Education and Early Development that gives matching grants to museums located in Alaska for building new facilities, expanding existing ones by at least 10 percent, or making major renovations.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a matching grant program within the Department of Education and Early Development.
Provides funding for constructing new museum buildings.
Funds projects that increase an existing facility's size by at least 10 percent.
Supports physical upgrades to help museums better preserve and present artifacts.
Allows improvements to spaces specifically designed to enhance educational services provided to the public.
Requires applicants to provide matching funds equal to at least half of the total project cost.

Who It Names or Affects

Museums located in Alaska
The Department of Education and Early Development

Terms To Know

Matching grant: A type of funding where the government pays up to half of a project cost only if the applicant provides at least an equal share from other sources.
Appropriation: The official act by which lawmakers set aside money, required before these grants can be awarded.

Limits and Unknowns

Grants are only available if the legislature sets aside enough money through appropriation.
Museums must provide at least 50 percent of the total project costs from other sources to qualify.
The Department of Education and Early Development has not yet written the specific rules for how people apply.

Bill History

2026-05-11 Text
(S) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-05-11 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-03-23 2024
(S) REFERRED TO FINANCE
2026-03-23 2024
(S) FN1: (EED)
2026-03-23 2024
(S) NR: YUNDT, BJORKMAN, STEVENS, KIEHL
2026-03-23 2024
(S) DP: TOBIN
2026-03-23 2024
(S) EDC RPT CS 1DP 4NR NEW TITLE
2026-03-20 Text
(S) Moved CSSB 110(EDC) Out of Committee
2026-03-20 Text
(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2026-03-02 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2026-03-02 Text
(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2025-04-02 Min
(S) Minutes (SEDC)
2025-04-02 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2025-04-02 Text
(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2025-03-07 Text
(S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
2025-03-07 Text
(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2025-02-26 363
(S) EDC, FIN
2025-02-26 363
(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION GRANTS
An Act establishing the museum construction and major expansion matching grant program; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB0110B -1- CSSB 110(EDC)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0645\G

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 110(EDC)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Offered: 3/23/26
Referred: Finance

Sponsor(s): SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act establishing the museum construction, expansion, and major renovation 1
matching grant program; and providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 14.57 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Article 4. Museum Construction, Expansion, and Major Renovation Grants. 5
Sec. 14.57.300. Museum construction, expansion, and major renovation 6
matching grant program. (a) A matching grant program for museum construction, 7
expansion, and major renovation is established in the Department of Education and 8
Early Development. A grant may be awarded to a museum 9
(1) for construction of a new facility; 10
(2) to increase the square footage of an existing facility by at least 10 11
percent; 12
(3) to physically upgrade an existing facility in a way that allows the 13
museum to better preserve and present artifacts to the public; or 14
34-LS0645\G
CSSB 110(EDC) -2- SB0110B
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(4) to improve a space in an existing facility to allow a museum to 1
improve the educational services provided to the public. 2
(b) A person in charge of construction, expansion, or renovation of an eligible 3
museum may apply to the department for a matching grant under regulations adopted 4
by the department. 5
(c) To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant must 6
(1) apply on a form provided by the department; 7
(2) be located in the state; and 8
(3) provide matching funds from other sources in an amount equal to at 9
least 50 percent of the total proposed grant project costs. 10
(d) Subject to appropriation, the department shall award not more than 50 11
percent of the total proposed grant project costs to an eligible applicant. 12
(e) The department shall establish regulations to implement this section. 13
(f) In this section, "museum" has the meaning given in AS 14.57.290. 14
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 15