HFLR-20260508-1030

Will the House please come to order?

Will members please indicate their presence by voting? Representative Cabe, Representative Bynum, and Madam Clerk, will you please tally the board? 36 Members present. With 36 members present, we have a quorum present to conduct business. Mr.

Majority Leader.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. There are no previous excused absences today, and I move and ask unanimous consent that Representatives Allard, Schwanke, and Elam be excused from the call of the House today, and that Representative Freer be excused from the call of the House until 1 PM today. Hearing no objections, the members are excused on the dates and times indicated by the Majority Leader.

We are once again blessed with the presence of Pastor Charles Ensminger of the Kunaihidi Northern Lights Church to do the invocation today. Will members please rise. Good morning, and again, as is your disposition, either be in an attitude of prayer or reflection as we enter into this time. Creator God, Surrounded by the mountains and the majesty of creation, we pause grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the history of Alaska. We come together in this moment to ask for guidance and inspiration for one another.

May our hearts be enlivened for the work before us and the challenges we face and the witness we offer in our conduct. Provide us with a path of wisdom. Stir Stir within us a desire for sincerity, humility, cooperation, and confidence in and for the truth. For all things, we pray for peace—for our hearts, for our country, and for the world. We ask that you will hear our prayers for one another, for all who work within these walls, and for all gathered here on this day, that peace might be with us all.

Amen.

Representative Nelson, would you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Representative Story. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move and ask unanimous consent that the prayer be spread across the journal.

Will the clerk please certify the journal for the previous legislative days? I certify as to the correctness of the journal for the 108th legislative day.

Mr. Majority Leader. Mr. Speaker, I move and ask unanimous consent that the journal of the previous day be approved as certified by the chief clerk. Hearing no objection, the journal stands Approved.

Are there guests for introduction this late morning? Representative Underwood. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to introduce a constituent behind me in the Pratchett Gallery. If Blair Hickson could please stand.

Blair is one of the governor's nominees to serve on the Alaska Board of Fisheries. He is originally from Bethel along the Kuskokwim River. Mr. Hickson developed a lifelong connection to Alaska's fisheries through subsistence fishing at his family's fish camp and years of hands-on experience in the Alaska fishing communities. At the far western edge of District 36, Mr. Hickson and his family operate the Anvik River Lodge. It's located 70 miles up the Anvik River from the Yukon River, and the lodge is considered to be the most remote full-service lodge in the nation and hosts sport fishing guests from around the world.

Through this work, he has gained firsthand knowledge of Alaska's fisheries, fish behavior, and the importance of sustainable management. Mr. Hixson has participated in sport, subsistence, and personal use fisheries and brings an appreciation for the economic importance of commercial fisheries through his work across Alaska, the Peninsula, Bristol Bay regions. During the off-season, he resides in Wasilla in my district, and he remains actively engaged in fishery policies and the Board of Fisheries issues statewide. His practical experience, broad perspective, and commitment to responsible science-based stewardship makes him well qualified to serve on the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Please help welcome him to the Capitol.

[APPLAUSE] Representative Diebert. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I have the pleasure to introduce a friend of mine, a colleague of mine from Fairbanks, with indulgence of the member from District 34 who I am poaching from this morning. Thank you so much.

Behind me in the Pratovich Gallery is Kim Wallingford. If she could please stand. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, just as we wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week, this is a dear friend of mine, a longtime educator in Fairbanks. She spent 22— mostly 22 years with 6th graders, which is very impressive to me.

Thank you for your service. She's here visiting the capital in Juneau for fun, sightseeing, and just having a great time this weekend. She's a UF graduate And when she's not teaching in Fairbanks, she enjoys skiing the hills behind the university. Same with me. She is excited to be here at the Capitol and watch us do our work and bring what she has learned from us back to her students.

Please help me welcome Kim Wallingford.

Representative Carrick. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Behind me in the Pratchevich Gallery, I have two more Fairbanksans to introduce. If Shea Bradley and Layle Oldmixon would please stand. Um, Shea is the Outreach and Program Specialist for Alaska's 529, which is our Education Trust of Alaska, and it offers our 529 plans and other college savings plans for Alaska Alaska's young people.

Shay has a background in credit unions, business development, and marketing, and she is a great fit for the position she has currently. One of her greatest accomplishments is helping to win over $90 million in grant funds for credit unions across the nation to help communities in need while employed at Credit Union Strategic Planning in 2022. She has lived in Fairbanks since 2011 and loves spending family time with her husband of 10 years and their 2 sons, and she enjoys helping people, traveling, gardening, and camping. And then I'm also really pleased to introduce again Lail Oldmixon, one of my really good friends at home. And Lail is the Executive Director of Alaska's 529 program statewide.

Oldmixon originally settled in Alaska in 2006 after moving to work for the University of Alaska system. She's been with UAF and working hard for Fairbanks and for young people and students across Alaska since then. She's also got an amazing family. Her husband Mark and two kids Quinn and May are all just such incredibly accomplished people. And my favorite fun fact about Lael is that she also teaches a spin class several times a week, and it is extremely fun, and she puts her all into that as well as everything else she does.

She's He's a super active volunteer and, as I said, Mr. Speaker, a really great friend. If everyone could help me welcome Shay and Lyle Olmickson to the Capitol. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Will the House please come back to order.

Madam Clerk, are there any messages from the governor? I have no messages from the governor this morning, Mr. Speaker. Are there any messages from the other body? Messages dated May 8th stating the Senate has passed and is returning the following committee substitute for House Joint Resolution number 30 2, Health and Social Services Rural Health Transformation Program.

House Joint Resolution number 38, Public Safety Telecommunications. House Joint Resolution number 45, Support Special Education Funding. The Senate— a message dated May 8th stating the Senate concurred in the House amendments to committee substitute for Senate Bill number 89, second LNC, thus adopting House committee substitute for committee substitute for Senate Bill number 89, Health and Social Services, Physician Assistant Scope of Practice. The Senate also concurred in the House amendments to Senate Bill number 272, thus adopting House committee substitute for Senate Bill number 272, Health and Social Services, Health Information Exchange. Messages dated May 7th, stating the Senate passed committee substitute for House Bill number 263, Finance, amended with the following amendments: Senate Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 263 Finance, amended Senate Appropriations Operating Budget Funds Supplemental, with a title change SCR 23, and it is returned for consideration.

The Senate also passed Committee Substitute for House Bill 265 Finance, amended with the following amendments: Senate Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill number 265 Finance, appropriations mental health budget, and it is returned for consideration. And a message dated May 7th stating the Senate has passed and is returning the following for consideration: Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 23 by the Senate Finance Committee suspending Rules 24C, 35, 41B, and 42E, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill Number 263, making appropriations for the operating and loan program expense expenses of state government and for certain programs, capitalizing funds, and making supplemental appropriations. I have no further messages from the other body. Mr. Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move and ask unanimous consent that the members go into the limbo file to take up House Bill 263. The member from District 13 will explain the changes made by the other body. Hearing no objection, House Bill 263 is before the House. Representative Josephson. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Good morning— good afternoon. Before the body is the Senate version of House Bill 263, version E. The difference in all funds between the House and Senate version of the operating budget is $477 million. That may sound alarming, but wait for the details. The breakdown in all funds is the following: a decrease of $433 million in unrestricted general funds, a decrease of $4 million in designated general funds, an increase of $119,000 in other state funds, a decrease of almost $36 million in federal receipts.

The Senate version made a few significant changes and removed much of our work above the governor's Senator's amended budget. The major differences between our versions come down to 3 items. Whereas the House appropriated a $1,500 permanent fund dividend, the Senate appropriates a $1,000 permanent fund dividend, a decrease of $318.4 million. So that's a big part of the delta there. Whereas the House appropriated a total of $158.6 million UGF for one-time education funding, the Senate appropriates $29.1 million UGF a decrease of $129.5 million.

Lastly, the Senate appropriates $150 PFD and $111 million one-time education funding in fiscal year 2026 contingent on revenues exceeding the spring 2026 revenue forecast, which could very well happen. If revenues covered these FY26 expenditures, the total PFD would be $1,100 million. $150 This October. And total one-time funding under the Senate version would be $140.1 million in FY '27. The Senate version decreased our agency operations by $180.2 million UGF.

The majority of this decrease is from the reduction of one-time education funding, which they're taking up separately under— with 2026 dollars, as I noted. Other agency operations the Senate removed include $17.5 million UGF for the Alaska Heating Assistance Program, $15.4 million general fund, and $29 million federal receipts to implement Guidehouse recommendations. These are health-related, Department of Health largely recommendations. $7.5 Million for childcare workforce recruitment and retention, $2.8 million to fully fund community regional jails, $4.5 million for recently unionized University of Alaska employees salary adjustments. $3.7 Million general fund and $4.3 million federal receipts to maintain the Division of Public Assistance virtual contact center.

$2.2 Million for Alaska Gas Line Development Corporation operating costs. $2.6 Million to restore funding for highways and aviation support across 3 regions. $2 Million for University of Alaska of public safety and mental health support across all 3 campuses. $1.5 Million to increase funding for adult day services. $1.8 Million to meet Head Start 20% grant match.

$1 Million for food banks and pastries and pantries, excuse me. $1 Million for geographic pay differential study and $800,000 for emergency disaster grants and utility disruption. The Senate version increases our statewide items by $66.5 million UGF. Those items include an additional $50 million to Community Assistance, $20 million more than the House in FY27 for a total distribution of $50 million, $30 million to recapitalize the fund for a full distribution in FY28, an additional $10 million to recapitalize the Disaster Relief Fund for a total of $48 million in the Disaster Relief Fund, an additional $5.7 million to recapitalize the Fire Suppression Fund for a total of $60.6 million in that Fire Suppression Fund. There are other differences between our versions such as the rejection of the deconsolidation of shared services and payroll and their rejection of the reorganization of the Department of Transportation Public Facilities and decrements of vacant positions, department programs.

The Senate version leaves $120 million UGF on the table before fiscal notes. So unspent $120 million. There are enough projected revenues for both House and Senate priorities. So that super important sentence to me, Mr. Speaker. There are enough projected revenues for both House and Senate priorities.

There is enough room in the budget to fund crucial programs and appropriations for all Alaskans. I look forward to conference committee, if I'm selected, where we can resolve our differences. I recommend a no vote on concurrence. Thank you.

Mr. Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House concur in the Senate amendments to committee substitute for House Bill 263 Finance amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 263 Finance amended Senate and recommend that the members vote no. Are you ready for the question? Please.

Will the House please come back to order? We have a motion before the body with a recommendation from the Majority Leader.

If the body is ready for the question, the question is Shall the House concur in the Senate changes to committee substitute for House Bill 263 Finance as amended? Adopting Senate committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 263 Finance as amended. Senate members may proceed to vote.

Will the clerk please lock the roll? Does any member wish to change his or her vote? Will the clerk please announce the vote? 0 Yeas, 36 nays. By a vote of 0 yeas to 36 nays, nays, the House has failed to concur with the Senate changes, Senate amendments to the operating budget.

Brief it is.

Will the House please come back to order? Mr. Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House members go into the limbo file again, uh, to take up House Bill 265, be the mental health budget. And I believe the member from District 13 will explain the changes made by the other body. Representative Josephson, good afternoon. Before the body is the Senate version of House Bill 265, version L. The mental health budget. I'll keep my comments short.

The Senate decrements our operating expenditures by $4.6 million general fund mental health. The total decrement comes from a few items. The Senate actually increases our Infant Learning Program budget by $222,000 general fund mental health for a total of $5.9 million, but the Senate removes $4.3 million general fund mental health for behavioral health grants, and $500,000 to maintain operation of the crisis, the crisis call center. The only other change the Senate made to our version was an added $5.2 million in AHFC dividends to increase funding for the AHFC Homeless Assistance Program capital item. The new total for that item is $10.2 million in all funds.

While I agree with some of their changes, the funding they've removed is for important items. I ask you to vote no on concurrence so we can resolve these differences in conference committee, which I think we can do speedily. Please vote no. Mr. Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House concur in the Senate amendments to committee substitute for House Bill 265 Finance amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 265 Finance, and recommend the members vote no. Greekities.

Will the House please come back to order. Motion before the body is to concur with the changes made by the Senate to the state's mental health budget for FY27. Are you ready for the question? Question being, shall the House concur in the Senate changes to committee substitute for House Bill 265 Finance as amended adopting Senate committee substitute Bynum as a substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 265 Finance. Members may proceed to vote.

Will the clerk please lock the roll? Does any member wish to change his or her vote?

Will the clerk please— Representative Bynum. NATO/EA.

Will the clerk— will the clerk please announce the vote? 10 Yeas, 26 nays. With a vote of 10 yeas to 26 nays, the House has failed to concur with the changes to House Bill 265 from the other body.

In the event the Senate fails to recede from its amendments, at that time I will appoint the following members to the conference committee to meet with a like committee from the other body to consider both the operating budget, which we just failed to concur with, as well as the mental health trust— mental health budget. So with that, Madam Clerk.

Under Communications, I received Department of Health Alaska Commission on Aging Senior Snapshot 2025, and there are no further communications. Are there any reports to standing committees?

The Finance Committee considered House Bill 271, Kitchen Lights Unit Royalty Modification, recommends it be replaced with committee substitute for House Bill 271 Finance with a new title. Attached one previously published fiscal note. Signing the report: do pass, Representatives Moore, Stapp, and Co-Chair Schraggy. Do not pass: Jimmy, Galvin, Hannon, and Co-Chair Foster. No recommendation: Tomaszewski and Allard.

Amend: Bynum and Co-Chair Josephson. The bill has no further referral. The Resources Committee considered House Bill 381, Oil and Gas Property Tax Municipal Tax. Recommends it be replaced with Committee Substitute for House Bill 381 Resources with a new title. Attached one previously published zero fiscal note and one previously published fiscal note.

Signing the report: do pass, Representatives Fields and Co-Chair Dybert. Do not pass, Mears. No recommendation, Hall, Elam, Prox. Amend: Colon, Sadler, and Co-Chair Freer. The bill has a further referral to to the Finance Committee.

The State Affairs Committee considered committee substitute for Senate Joint Resolution number 30, State Affairs, support military and increase infrastructure, attached one previously published zero fiscal note. Signing the report, do pass Representatives Vance, McCabe, St. Clair, Hemmschuetz, Story, and Chair Carrick. Amend Holland. The bill— excuse me, the resolution has no further referral.

The State Affairs Committee considered Senate Bill number 26, eliminate daylight saving time, recommends it be replaced with House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 26, State Affairs, with the same title. Attached one new zero fiscal note. Signing the report, do pass, Representative Holland. No recommendation, McCabe, Story, and Chair Carrick. Amend, Vance, St. Clair, and Hemmschut.

The bill has a first further referral to the Finance Committee. The State Affairs Committee considered committee substitute for Senate Bill number 163, Labor and Commerce, repeal certain inactive funds accounts, attached one previously published zero fiscal note. Signing the report do pass: Representatives Vance, McCabe, St. Clair, Holland, Hemmschut Story, and Chair Carrick. The bill has no further referral, and I have no further reports of standing committees. Madam Clerk, are there any reports of special committees?

There are no reports of special committees this morning. Any citations or resolutions for introduction?

Honoring Mike Warendah by Representative Sadler and Senator Merrick. Honoring Fort Yukon Lady Eagles 2026 1A girls basketball state champions by Representative Schwanke and Senator Cronk. Honoring St. Patrick's Day by Representatives Costello, Hall, Senator Merrick. In Memoriam Richard Griffith by Representatives Sadler, Gray, and Senator Merrick. In Memoriam Ronald Alton Murray by Senator Myers and Representatives Tomaszewski and staff.

Staff, I have no further citations or resolutions for introduction.

Madam Clerk, are there any bills for introduction? I have no bills for introduction this morning, Mr. Speaker.

Brief goodie.

Will the House please come back to order. Mr. Majority Leader. Mr. Speaker, I move and ask unanimous consent that Representative Vance be excused from the call of the House today. Hearing no objection, the Member is excused.

At this time, as we move into consideration of the daily calendar, I'm going to, per request, move the House Bill 202 relating to the giant cabbage being named the state vegetable for Alaska back to the Rules Committee. Hearing no objection, Madam Clerk, please read the first item on today's calendar.

Senate Bill number 63, amended by Senators Cronk, Keel, and Rauscher, entitled an Act Relating to the Local Boundary Commission and Providing for an Effective Date. The Community and Regional Affairs Committee considered the bill attached 1 previously published 0 fiscal note. Signing the report do pass: Representatives Holland, St. Clair Hall, and co-chair Mears. No recommendation: Prox and co-chair Hemmschult. I have no House committee substitutes.

Madam Clerk, are there any amendments? I have no amendments, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move and ask unanimous I move to accept the House and Senate consent that Senate Bill 63 amended be considered engrossed, advanced to 3rd reading, and placed on final passage. Objection. There is an objection. The bill be held to the next day's calendar.

Madam Clerk, will you please read the next item on today's calendar?

House Joint Resolution No. 28. By Representatives Eichide, Underwood, and Elam calling on the United States Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act. The Education Committee considered the resolution attached 1 new zero fiscal note. Signing the report do pass: Representatives Elam, Diebert, Schwanke, Underwood, Eichide, and co-chairs Hemmschulte and Story.

The Judiciary Committee also considered the resolution No recommendation. Attached one new— a previously published zero fiscal note. Signing the report: do pass, Representatives Underwood, Eichide, Vance, and Chair Gray. No recommendation: Mena, Costello, and Kopp. I have no House committee substitutes.

Madam Clerk, are there any amendments? I have no amendments, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move and ask unanimous consent that House Joint Resolution Resolution 28 be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. Objection. There's an objection. The resolution will be held to the next day's calendar.

Madam Clerk, please read the next item on today's calendar. There are no further items on today's calendar, Mr. Speaker. This brings us to unfinished business. Mr. Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I move and ask unanimous consent that the following members be excused from the call of the House on the following dates and times. Representative Elam from Friday, May 8th at 12 noon to Sunday, May 10th at 12 midnight, and from Monday, June 8th at 7 AM to Saturday, June 13th at 12 AM. And Representative Bynum from Thursday, May 21st at 8 AM to Sunday, May 24th at 11:50 PM. Hearing no objections, Members are excused on the dates and times indicated by the Majority Leader. Representative Foster.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move and ask unanimous consent that under Rule 48D, House Bill 130, an act relating to flexible time credit, be discharged from the Finance Committee. This bill has 2 zero fiscal notes, and I have a petition from the sponsor requesting this waiver that was signed by 9 of the 11 Committee members.

Brief at ease.

Will the House please come back to order? We are under unfinished business. And Representative Foster, if you don't mind, could I ask you to restate the motion, please? Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The motion: I move and ask unanimous consent that under Rule 48D, House Bill 130, which is an act relating to flexible time credits, be discharged from the Finance Committee.

There is an objection.

Representative Johnson, do you wish to speak to your objection?

So hearing no further Seeing no objections or seeing no debate, the question before the body is, shall House Bill 130 be discharged from the Finance Committee? Members may proceed to vote. Brief at ease.

Will the House please come back to order. The motion before the body is: Shall House Bill 130 be discharged from the Finance Committee? Members may proceed to vote.

The clerk, please lock the roll. Does any member wish to change his or her vote? Will the clerk please announce the vote? 25 Yeas, 11 nays. With a vote of 25 yeas to 11 nays, Hospital 130 has been discharged from the Finance Committee.

Seeing no additional business under unfinished business, this brings us to Committee announcements.

Are there any other announcements for the body today? Representative Hannon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and if I could have permission to look at my notes. Tomorrow is the Juneau Maritime Festival, an annual event celebrating our maritime economy in Juneau. I'll give you a couple of of my favorite highlights from the schedule.

It begins at 11 AM with the One People Canoe Society arrival and the Yax'kahu dancers greeting them, because in Tlingit tradition, you must have permission of the local tribe to arrive on their land. So they will be greeted, and there'll be a canoe arrival. Throughout the course of the day, there'll be a variety of music entertainment, including the Navy Band performing at the end of the day at 4:45 to 5:55 PM. There's an afternoon tug-of-war on the SeaWalk, which is always a fun, interesting thing. There are 4 options for harbor cruises.

The first one is focused on kids. So if you've got kids around tomorrow, noon to 12:45, all the harbor cruises are 45-minute long.

The other one that's always fun and gets lots of people's attention is the Coast Guard will do a helicopter water rescue demonstration. And for people who don't know that it's going on, there's a sudden panic of, oh my gosh, there's a catastrophe and the Coast Guard is doing a rescue. It is a demonstration rescue tomorrow from 12:15 to 12:30. I don't think they're looking for victims to be the— so you don't need to volunteer for that. But you can go and be impressed at the amazing water rescues the Coast Guard performs a variety of bands through the day.

There is, uh, food vendors, uh, a beer garden, um, a variety of businesses will have booths. So 11 to 7 PM down on the seawalk and on the waterfront tomorrow. And it's supposed to be drizzly, but there's a lot of tents and coverage, and I hope to see you there celebrating the maritime economy of Southeast Alaska. You can get details at www. Jedc.org.

That stands for the Juneau Economic Development Council, so jedc.org if you want the detailed schedule. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Costello. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There will be water polo on Sunday at 4:30 to 5:30.

If you're not a great swimmer, when we scrimmage, we will make sure you're on the end where you can stand on the bottom. Thank you.

That is the perfect segue into special orders. Under special orders, Representative Mears.

Mr. Speaker, on the topic of I wasn't kidding. Representative Mears. I wasn't kidding. May birthdays and more haikus. Permission to read.

Permission granted. A teacher, a mom, And yes, I'll go on, runner and resources queen. Stylish as always, earrings I sure can't pull off. Elegant, graceful, black hair, silver streak, a raven call uncanny, a smile all day long. Town halls and moose soup, back home she's found everywhere, knocking at your door.

Downtown Fairbanks, Rep. Koyukon, Athabaskan. Yeah, it's Denali.

Representative Dybert, happy birthday, and the floor is yours. Oh gosh. Oh, I always hate this. I try to slide by quietly. Thank you to my colleague from Anchorage for your haiku and for your birthday wishes.

Thank you. It's an honor to serve with all of you doing the hard work here. I wish us the best of luck in the next 2 weeks. And I also, while I have the floor, Mr. Speaker, there are some days or some years where I share my birthday with my mom, Mother's Day, and that's always really a great celebration for me. So I just want to say Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there that will be celebrating on Sunday as well.

So thank you. Onna bossi. And I'll do a raven call, I guess. Oh, Representative McCabe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On the subject of Alaska natural gas, Representative McCabe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot tell you how disappointed I am that we didn't get to vote on probably the only Alaska natural gas bill that we will pass out of this session today with the cabbage bill. Thank you.

Representative Freer.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have on the topic of graduations. On the topic of graduations. Thank you. I have two kind of special orders today.

One, I'm going to refer to some of my notes, but I just want to note that one of my constituents, Olnik Polyshafer, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where there will be a commencement celebration on May 13th at the Chukchi campus in Kotzebue. Uvnik grew up in Norvik speaking Inupiaq as her first language. She began teaching Inupiaq in the Northwest Arctic Borough School District in 1984, and in 1998 she and her husband co-founded the Nikitxuut Ilisugviut, the state's first tribally run Inupiaq immersion school. Inupiaq values and traditions were woven into the core of the school, and their curriculum and methods are still used in language revitalization revitalization efforts around the state today, including in Utqiagvik, where I had a citation earlier this year. Ognik also serves on the Kotzebue Elders Council and the Inupiaq Language Commission, and has received honors such as the Eileen Penegume McClain Education Award from the Alaska Federation of Nations.

Although Ognik is now retired from teaching, She's still a role model within her community, serving as an elder advisor, culture bearer, and advocate for Inuvialukt language and traditions. So I want to congratulate her. And Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the body's indulgence earlier today. I did ask for a last-minute excusal.

Today my son Dante graduated. I was trying so hard not to join the crying caucus.

I was excused from the floor so that I could watch it on livestream from down in Sitka, and I just want to say congratulations to my son Dante for graduating from Onondaga High School. He's, he's an incredible welder and he's so smart. He's so smart and he's so talented and I'm so proud of him. And this is the sacrifice that we make when we come down here. You know, I'm so happy I have some of my children here, but I tried to book a last-minute ticket and there were none available.

And I just want to acknowledge his— all of his work. And his accomplishments, and I just hope you all will join me in acknowledging these graduations. Thank you.

Representative Hampschute. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the topic of words of wisdom. Representative Hampschute. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. As we wrap up this Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to recognize and thank all the counselors, aides, librarians, custodians, paraprofessionals, and school staff who support our kids across the state. And the words of wisdom I'd like to quote today come from Barbara Howard, one of the most famous kindergarten teachers from Abbott Elementary, who said, "Teaching is being asked to do the impossible every single day." So happy Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you.

Representative Aishide. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the topic of another teacher. On the topic of another teacher, Representative Eichide. So, uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Originally it was going to be on another birthday, but the previous speaker just reminded me that there's a lot of teachers among us. So about a week ago, I was able to, on April 30th, say this— that would have been my mom's 100th birthday, but I'm happy to say that today, May 8th, is the 100th birthday of someone that's still living, Sir David Attenborough. And I suspect everyone knows that name, and if you don't, you know that voice. He is the very famous naturalist that for many, many, many years has been bringing nature into the homes from people all over the world, from all over the world. And just a couple, uh, little-known facts about him.

First of all, he is a music lover. I know many folks in this body are music lovers, so that's something that we all have, that we all share. He also was one of the original commissioners of Monty Python's, um, uh, uh, what was it, Flying Circus or whatever it was. Um, yeah, and so, uh, you know some infamy there, but you know, that voice, um, he's, he's, uh, he's come into our lives so often. And as somebody who loves nature myself, uh, I appreciate him teaching the world about our place in nature.

And I just want to wish Sir David Attenborough a happy 100th birthday today on May 8th, 2026. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Representative Story. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Permission to speak on another, another teacher. Representative Story. Ah, yes. Wanted to speak about my mom, Marlis Douglas, today, who was a teacher and avid, loves to play the piano still at the age of 90.

She played tennis till she was 88. Was a teacher, had to give it up when she was pregnant with me, actually, because at that time you could not be pregnant and be in a classroom in front of children. She is very passionate about many things. She's passionate about our democracy. She's passionate about making sure everyone can stay healthy.

She's passionate about her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She likes to travel. She's very proud of her home state of Minnesota. She thinks she's very hardy. And many of you know that she was sick most recently, and she is coming back strong.

And so I just couldn't miss the opportunity to say happy mom— happy Mother's Day to my mother. Thank you. And all the mothers out there. Thank you.

Mr. Majority Leader. Mr. Speaker, I move and ask unanimous consent that the House stand at adjournment until Monday, May 11th, at 10:30 AM. There being no objection, the House will stand adjournment until Monday, May 11th, at 10:30 AM.