Email from Alaska Senate Majority Juneau Special Session Success Mentioned in my previous August Newsletter, on August 2nd, I returned to Juneau with my fellow colleagues for a Special Session called by the Governor. I am pleased to share that we successfully restored over $50 million in state funding for public education and overrode SB 183. While this Special Session was a crucial step to moving forward for our public education system, our work is far from over. We still face ongoing challenges for our schools to ensure that every student has access to the tools and opportunities they deserve. I remain committed to standing alongside Alaska’s students, educators, and families, and I will continue to fight for policies that strengthen our public education system. Legislative Budget & Audit Committee I serve as Chair of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee. The Committee is composed of five members from the Senate and five from the House, with one alternate from each body. As noted, the veto of SB183 was overridden on August 2nd. The bill was introduced and passed with the intent of clarifying the State Auditor's authority and to prompt the Department of Revenue to provide audit information related to oil and gas settlements. With the successful override, we now look forward to that information being made available. Bipartisan Task Force on Education Funding The Alaska State Legislature has formed a joint bipartisan Task Force on Education Funding, which held its first meeting on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office and will continue its work to January 2027. The Committee's mission is to put forward actionable recommendations. At the opening meeting, members discussed their goals and priorities. Highlights are below: Stabilizing Alaska’s fiscal climate Strengthening school and teacher funding Improving accountability Reviewing outdated statutes Empowering local governments and school districts Task force members discussed sending surveys as one possible way to hear from Alaskans with a goal of gathering perspectives from: The public Educators, administrators, and school staff School board members Students They also expressed interest in visiting schools across the state to learn firsthand about local challenges and successes. The task force also mentioned reviewing district maintenance plans, along with state vs. local attendance policies. The meeting concluded with an in-depth presentation by the Legislative Finance Division, providing an insightful K-12 funding overview and history in Alaska. The next meeting of the Joint Task Force on Education Funding is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in Juneau, the meeting will also be broadcasted live on akleg.gov. A long list of testifiers has already been scheduled to be heard from. You can send in questions and comments to [email protected] The Work Continues Pictured here with my two colleagues, Rep. Ted Eischeid (far left) and Senator Bill Wielechowski (far right), along with May Ramirez-Xiong (center right), Executive Director of H.E.A.R.T., Inc. On Saturday, August 23rd, I was privileged to attend the Hmong Harvest Festival & ribbon cutting ceremony. It was an honor to stand with my colleagues and the community to celebrate the remarkable contributions of Hmong Americans here in the great state of Alaska. The Hmong community has woven strength, resilience, and culture into the very fabric of our state. Despite facing displacement, adversity, and new beginnings, Hmong Alaskans have built businesses, raised families, preserved traditions, and strengthened our communities with their hard work and deep-rooted values.  Honoring cultures through policy and legislation, such as Alaska’s SB6, which I introduced in the current Alaska Legislature, aims to integrate Asian American and Pacific Islander history into public school curricula. This education is essential for building a more inclusive and accurate understanding of our shared history. By ensuring that AAPI stories, struggles, and contributions are part of what students learn, we validate the experiences of these communities and promote a deeper sense of belonging. Policies like SB6 are not just symbolic, they help break down ignorance, combat stereotypes, and foster respect among future generations through education. We not only recognize the past, but we celebrate a future that is brighter because of the Hmong community’s enduring presence and contributions to our state’s communities. Alaska is better because they are here. On Wednesday, August 13th, I had the pleasure of attending the Alaska Center for the Blind and speaking about something that is not only deeply important for our state, but also incredibly close to my heart. Senate Bill 127 is currently in the Alaska legislature that seeks to improve services and support for visually impaired students in our public school system. When the 2nd session of the 34th Legislature begins on January 20th, I am excited and proud to help advance this critical piece of legislation. Every child in Alaska deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in their learning environment, regardless of the challenges they may face. For students who are blind or visually impaired, the playing field is not always level. SB 127 is about changing that. It's about ensuring that these students receive specialized instruction, accessible materials, and the support they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. On Monday, August 11th, I had the honor of helping host the Homelessness Roundtable alongside my colleagues, Representatives Alyse Galvin and Andy Josephson, whose efforts were instrumental in making this event a success. A heartfelt thank-you also goes to Lisa Keller (Staff to Rep. Alyse Galvin) for skillfully moderating the discussion. We had an excellent turnout and an engaging panel whose insights sparked meaningful conversations about addressing homelessness in our community. Homelessness can affect anyone, whether due to job loss, health challenges, or unforeseen life events. In Anchorage, it’s critical that we offer practical support and services that help individuals regain stability and reintegrate them as active members of our community. By focusing on solutions that encourage personal responsibility and support long-term recovery, we can uplift individuals while strengthening our city. From August 4th to 6th, my staff and I attended the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Summit in Boston, MA. This year marked the Summit’s 50th anniversary, drawing over 9,000 state legislators and staff from all 50+ states and territories. NCSL serves every state, commonwealth, territory, and the District of Columbia, providing bipartisan policy research, training resources, and technical assistance. It also offers invaluable opportunities to connect and collaborate with colleagues from across the nation. It was a privilege to collaborate with peers from across the country, exchange ideas, and explore solutions to the important issues we face every day in our communities. Events Around Town Come out and soak up the last of summer and support local business! Spenard Food Truck Festival Presented By: Taste of Spenard, Chilkoot Charlies & more Dates: April 17, 2025 - September 25, 2025 Price: Free Time: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Location: 2435 Spenard Rd Anchorage, AK 99503 Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Thursday Spenard Farmers Market Dates: May 17, 2025 - September 13, 2025 Price: Free Time: 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM Location: 2600 Spenard Rd. Anchorage, AK 99503-1621 Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Saturday Interim is Still Here! During the interim, our work continues. My staff is in the Anchorage office Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. I am typically in the office from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless I have an earlier meeting scheduled with constituents. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to assist and always welcome the opportunity to connect.  The interim is a valuable time to develop new legislation, refine bills previously introduced, and meet with stakeholders to educate, gather input, and build support for policies that benefit both my constituents and the broader community. It’s also an opportunity to attend community events, visit local facilities, and prepare for the upcoming legislative session—which always comes faster than expected. Please don’t hesitate to reach out or stop by—we’re here to serve you.  As always, it is my honor to work for you! Staff contact: Clark Bickford Chief of Staff 907-269-0174 Jamie Bagley Legislative Aide 907-269-0174 Jeff Stepp Legislative Budget & Audit Aide 907-465-3721 Send us an Email Follow Me on Facebook Follow Me on Twitter I’m Senator Elvi, always..... "Listening and Representing Your Interests!” Alaska Senate Democrats | Capitol Building 4th Avenue & Main Street | Juneau, AK 99801 US Unsubscribe | Constant Contact Data Notice