Wins for Kids & a Path Forward: Legislative Session Wrap-Up
The First Regular Session of the 33rd Alaska State Legislature came to close last week, followed by a surprisingly short, one-day special session. This extra time was apparently just what lawmakers needed to finish this year’s unique negotiations and get the budget across the finish line.
Read below for some highlights from this session, as well as key bills we’ll be excited to continue work on next year. While there’s plenty more work ahead, this year brought some positive steps forward for Alaska’s children, youth, and families! As always, a huge THANK YOU to all who took time this session to advocate for change and investments supporting children and families - we continue to make progress because of people like you, Kaila.
First, some 2023 Wins to Celebrate!
Note: some items below still require the Governor’s signature, but we are hopeful these wins will hold!
ESTABLISHED – Governor’s Task Force on Child Care
To find a way forward in addressing Alaska’s serious lack of affordable, accessible, high-quality child care, in April Governor Dunleavy announced a new task force to dig in and develop a plan. Given how complex the child care system is, we are pleased to see this attention to the sector and look forward to the task force’s work over the next year.
PASSED - Extended Medicaid Coverage for New Moms (from 60 days to 1 year!)
This session, ACT actively and wholeheartedly supported Governor Dunleavy’s bill to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months. Senate Bill 58 passed both the House and Senate with nearly unanimous support, and now awaits the Governor’s signature.While this change will take time to go into effect, extending healthcare coverage for new mothers gives more time to address post-birth health issues such as postpartum depression, a condition that increases a family’s risk of entering the child welfare system. Learn more about the value of extended Medicaid coverage postpartum here.
PASSED (but still needs your help!)
FY24 State Budget Investments in Children, Youth, & Families
While we would have liked to see even greater funding of critical supports for children, youth, and families in this year’s budget, there’s no doubt that Alaska is still heading in a direction to celebrate. In this PDF we outline some key new investments heading to the Governor’s desk for signature.
It’s not a done deal yet though! We need YOUR help to ensure some of these exciting investments survive the Governor’s veto pen.
Click HERE to contact the Governor and let him know you support keeping these items in the budget!
2024 – Work on the Horizon!
While all the bills introduced this year are now dormant, they are by no means finished and will be re-activated at the start of the Second Regular Session in January 2024.
In addition to continuing to fight for increased investments in children and youth in the state budget, here are just a few key pro-family and youth bills we’ll be working to move forward next session:
HB100 – Paid Family Leave (Rep. Armstrong – D, Anchorage)
Bonding time for new parents and caregivers is critical. This bill would give State of Alaska workers the option for up to 18 weeks of paid family leave (unpaid leave currently granted under the Alaska Family Leave Act (AFLA). Read ACT’s support letter here.
HB145 – Payday Lending Reform (Rep. Wright – R, Anchorage)
Research shows poverty is a major driver of child abuse & neglect. Ensuring payday lenders cannot charge beyond 36% for small-dollar loans (vs. up to the 521% we see now) will help ensure low-income families aren’t trapped in cycles of lending debt. Learn more here.
SB24 – Youth Mental Health Education (Sen. Gray-Jackson – D, Anchorage)
Alaska has long had one of the highest rates of teen suicide in the nation. This bill would allow school districts the option to include mental health in their overall health curriculums, guided by standards established by the State Board of Education. Read the coalition support letter here.