Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued a proclamation calling the Alaska Legislature into special session beginning May 20th to complete work on the Fiscal Year 2022 budget and to act on his constitutional amendment that aims to protect the Permanent Fund, Permanent Fund Dividend, and power cost equalization. The 121-day regular legislative session is scheduled to end on May 19th.
In issuing the proclamation, Gov. Dunleavy said, “It is clear from my conversations with legislative leaders that more time is needed to complete this year’s budget and to address a long-term, permanent solution to protecting the Permanent Fund and PFD. Consequently, today I’m calling a 30-day special sessions to give lawmakers additional time to complete those tasks. Nothing is more important than giving Alaskans a long-term solution to our fiscal challenges, and this session is an important first step.”
The first special session begins at 10:00 a.m. on May 20th. Work will be done on FY22 Operating Budget and Mental Health Budget, FY22 Permanent Fund Dividend and the Constitutional Amendment which aims to protect the Permanent Fund, PFD and the power cost equalization.
Dunleavy also scheduled a second special session to address other elements of the comprehensive state fiscal plan including a constitutional spending limit, consideration of new revenue measures, a prohibition on new taxes without voter approval, and appropriations of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The second special session is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. on August 2nd. It aims to work specifically on a Constitutional Amendment to establish an appropriation limit, Constitutional Amendment to prohibit new state taxes without voter approval, appropriations of federal relief funds, and potential measures to increase state revenues.
Read the governor’s special session proclamations here.
Additional information can be found here.
