House Finance Committee advances FY26 supplemental (House Bill 289) on 6–5 vote amid objections
February 16, 2026 | 2026 Legislature Alaska, Alaska
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The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 6–5 on Feb. 16 to report out the committee substitute for House Bill 289 (finance version G, dated Feb. 12, 2026) with individual recommendations and authorization for legislative staff to make technical and conforming changes.
An unidentified committee member moved to report the substitute out of committee (motion text read into the record). Representative Stapp objected and explained his objection on two grounds: that the executive branch was expected to file additional amendments to the supplemental budget later in the week and that moving the bill quickly risked recapitalizing funds now only to have the other chamber or future budget process reallocate them in FY27. “It seems a little odd that we wanna move this quickly on this bill,” Stapp said, adding concerns about protecting higher-education scholarship funds and the minority's ability to influence future use of recapitalized funds.
Other members urged moving the supplemental now. Co‑Chair Shroggy argued the supplemental addresses current FY26 costs that must be paid, provides certainty to contractors and resource-development stakeholders, and leaves some headroom for additional amendments. He said moving FY26 forward would allow a clearer slate for FY27 decisions.
After objections were maintained, the secretary called the roll. The recorded votes in sequence were: Representative Jimmy — yes; Representative Allard — no; Representative Stapp — no; Representative Galvin — yes; Representative Moore — no; Representative Hannon — yes; Representative Kamashevsky — no; Representative Bynum — no; Representative Foster — yes; Representative Schrage — yes; Representative Josephson — yes. The chair announced the motion carried 6 yea, 5 nay, and the substitute was reported out of committee.
The committee adjourned at 2:26 p.m. and members were asked to remain briefly to sign paperwork on the reported bill. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., when departmental overviews for the Department of Law and the Department of Public Safety are planned.
An unidentified committee member moved to report the substitute out of committee (motion text read into the record). Representative Stapp objected and explained his objection on two grounds: that the executive branch was expected to file additional amendments to the supplemental budget later in the week and that moving the bill quickly risked recapitalizing funds now only to have the other chamber or future budget process reallocate them in FY27. “It seems a little odd that we wanna move this quickly on this bill,” Stapp said, adding concerns about protecting higher-education scholarship funds and the minority's ability to influence future use of recapitalized funds.
Other members urged moving the supplemental now. Co‑Chair Shroggy argued the supplemental addresses current FY26 costs that must be paid, provides certainty to contractors and resource-development stakeholders, and leaves some headroom for additional amendments. He said moving FY26 forward would allow a clearer slate for FY27 decisions.
After objections were maintained, the secretary called the roll. The recorded votes in sequence were: Representative Jimmy — yes; Representative Allard — no; Representative Stapp — no; Representative Galvin — yes; Representative Moore — no; Representative Hannon — yes; Representative Kamashevsky — no; Representative Bynum — no; Representative Foster — yes; Representative Schrage — yes; Representative Josephson — yes. The chair announced the motion carried 6 yea, 5 nay, and the substitute was reported out of committee.
The committee adjourned at 2:26 p.m. and members were asked to remain briefly to sign paperwork on the reported bill. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., when departmental overviews for the Department of Law and the Department of Public Safety are planned.
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