House panel adopts fiscal note for Alaska Native languages task force bill

The Alaska House Education Committee adopted the fiscal note for House Bill 387 during a brief Wednesday morning meeting, advancing the bill in the legislative process.

The committee unanimously approved fiscal note 34-LS1664-N without objection at a 9:30 a.m. meeting in the Betty Davis Committee Room 106 at the State Capitol Building in Juneau. The meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m. after the committee completed its only agenda item. The bill would establish the Joint Legislative Alaska Native Languages Academic Task Force to review academic infrastructure supporting Alaska's 23 officially recognized indigenous languages.

House Bill 387 was introduced April 24, 2026, by the House Education Committee as a committee bill. Alaska News previously reported that the panel advanced the measure May 6 after adopting amendments requiring bipartisan representation on the six-member task force while rejecting proposals to add University of Alaska and Department of Education representatives.

The task force would assess current challenges in Alaska Native language research, teacher training, and archival capacity at institutions including the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Native Language Center. Witnesses told the committee in earlier hearings that stable funding is needed amid erosion of research capacity and staffing for indigenous language programs.

"Seeing none, the fiscal note for House Bill 387, also known as 34-LS1664, has been adopted," Co-chair Himschoot said.

Four members were present for the meeting: Representative Diebert, Representative Eischeid, Co-chair Storey, and Co-chair Himschoot. A companion bill, Senate Bill 287, is advancing through the Senate.