A joint legislative conference committee elected Representative Andy Josephson as chair Thursday to lead negotiations on the fiscal year 2026 supplemental budget.

The six-member committee, meeting in Juneau, also elected Senator Hoffman as vice chair. The panel will work to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of House Bill 289, the supplemental spending measure for the current fiscal year.

The committee includes three House members: Josephson, Representative Calvin Schrage, and Representative Will Stapp. Three senators round out the panel: Hoffman, Senator Stedman, and Senator Cronk. Hoffman nominated Josephson for the chair position. Josephson returned the favor by nominating Hoffman as vice chair. Both votes passed without objection.

Josephson outlined the committee's operating procedures after taking the gavel. The panel will not accept public testimony unless invited by the chair, he said. Both chambers already held public hearings during their budget processes.

"Only members of the conference committee may take part in discussion or sit at the table," Josephson said.

The committee will use motion sheets prepared by Legislative Finance Division that summarize differences between the two budget versions. Those sheets are posted on the division's website. They will be updated after each meeting.

The panel operates under uniform rule 42. That rule requires a majority vote from each body to adopt any motion or take action. At least two House members and two senators must agree. Copies of the rule and related legal opinions were distributed to members.

The committee adopted all budget items that are identical in both versions without discussion. Hoffman moved to adopt those items. The motion passed without objection.

The panel also requested limited powers from the House Speaker and Senate President to negotiate items where the chambers differ. Under limited powers, the conference committee can adopt any amount between zero and the higher of the House or Senate version for each disputed item.

Hoffman moved to adopt letters requesting those powers, dated March 19, 2026. The motion passed without objection. The committee recessed briefly to sign two identical letters, one for each body.

The meeting convened at 3:48 p.m. The committee did not set a date for its next meeting.