Governor Mike Dunleavy again appears ready to veto House Bill 57 — the bipartisan education funding package passed by the Legislature last month — unless lawmakers agree to add key policy provisions he’s demanding.
That message was delivered this week in a teleconference with school superintendents from across Alaska, according to a statement from the Alaska Superintendents Association.
The veto threat was first reported by the political news site Alaska Landmine.
Summary of the meeting this morning:
Unless he gets policy reforms, @GovDunleavy will veto HB 57 and will line item veto the BSA increase if he’s overridden.
Instructed superintendents to tell legislators he wants:
– Open enrollment
– Charter schools
– Reading improvements… https://t.co/Wp6NxKLj5w— The Alaska Landmine (@alaskalandmine) May 8, 2025
In the meeting, Dunleavy told superintendents he plans to reject the bill unless it includes a statewide open enrollment system and expanded charter school provisions. He also expressed concern that reading incentive funding in the bill is tied to Senate Bill 113 — the revenue measure aimed at taxing out-of-state online corporations doing business in Alaska.
Superintendents say that the move jeopardizes months of collaboration, compromise, and critical needs.
“A veto of HB 57 threatens to derail months of bipartisan progress and puts essential education funding at risk — funding that our schools and students cannot afford to lose,” the association said. “Alaska’s superintendents stand united in strong support of HB 57.”
The bill, passed by a combined vote of 48–11, includes a $700 increase to the Base Student Allocation — the per-student funding formula — along with new limits on student cellphone use, increased funding for career and technical education, and reading grants.
Following the meeting, Dunleavy released a public statement saying he remains focused on education outcomes, not just added dollars.
“We’re not backing down when it comes to fighting for our kids and their future,” Dunleavy said in a post on Facebook. “Parents deserve better. Students deserve better. And that means we need real reforms alongside responsible investments.”
He added, “We need a system that delivers results, not just more spending.”
The governor thanked the superintendents for what he called a productive conversation and said he’s willing to work with anyone offering solutions “that lead to stronger outcomes for Alaska’s children.”
In their statement, the Superintendents Association said they remain open to further policy discussions but warned against holding funding hostage.
“These important conversations must not come at the expense of timely, adequate, and sustainable investments in Alaska’s public schools,” they wrote. “Our students are counting on us, and we cannot afford to let them down.”
Dunleavy has until May 17 to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.
