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- calendar_today November 7, 2026
Juneau Legislators Selected for Budget Leadership
Juneau Representative Sara Hannan and Senator Jesse Kiehl have been appointed to crucial budget leadership roles in the Alaska Legislature, positioning them at the center of the upcoming alaska budget negotiations. The appointments were announced this week by both legislative chambers.
Sara Hannan Named House Finance Co-Chair
The House Majority Coalition on Thursday appointed Rep. Sara Hannan, a Democrat, as co-chair of the House Finance Committee responsible for the operating budget. This marks a promotion for Hannan, who previously served as a regular member on the committee during the 34th Legislature. Her new role involves overseeing the operating budget, which determines ongoing expenses for running state government, including employee salaries, health care, and public education programs.
Jesse Kiehl to Co-Lead Senate Finance Committee
Senator Jesse Kiehl, also a Democrat representing Juneau, was selected Wednesday as one of two new co-chairs of the Senate Finance Committee. He will share the committee’s leadership with Rep. Bryce Edgmon, an independent from Dillingham leading in his Senate race and the outgoing House speaker. Kiehl has been a Senate Finance member since 2023.
The Senate Finance Committee is instrumental in reviewing and negotiating state spending legislation, including decisions on the annual budget, Permanent Fund dividends, and broad matters of state spending. While committee leaders exercise considerable influence over budget proposals, final appropriations still require the Legislature’s approval and remain subject to the governor’s veto power.
Impacts on Juneau: Education and State Government
For Juneau, these leadership appointments come during a period of financial strain. The Juneau School District recorded 3,673 students in September—94 fewer than projected—impacting the funding formula for public education, which is largely based on enrollment. Earlier this year, the school district confronted a projected $5.37 million shortfall while preparing the fiscal year 2027 budget, resulting in facility closures and heightened scrutiny on how lawmakers address funding for education.
Hannan, a former teacher and House member since 2019, has emphasized education as a core priority, advocating for additional support for learning needs and increased options for secondary students. The economic importance of state government in Juneau, both as a top employment provider and wage source (second only to tourism), underscores the potential local and statewide effects of upcoming budget negotiations.
Broader Legislative Leadership Changes
The appointments follow a general election that shifted legislative composition. Anchorage independent Calvin Schrage will succeed Bryce Edgmon as House speaker, while Sitka independent Rebecca Himschoot and Anchorage Republican Chuck Kopp assume roles as Rules Committee chair and majority leader, respectively. In the Senate, Anchorage Republican Cathy Giessel was chosen as the new Senate President, succeeding Gary Stevens of Kodiak. The coalition governing the Senate intends to maintain cross-party cooperation in handling state spending and economic priorities.
Kiehl’s new role changes Senate Finance leadership for Southeast Alaska, replacing Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, who had co-chaired the committee since 2019. The Senate will move from three Finance Committee co-chairs last session to two this session, with final committee assignments yet to be decided.
Outlook for Fiscal Year 2028 Budget and State Revenue
The Legislature faces the challenge of developing the fiscal year 2028 budget, covering expenditures from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028. Budget negotiations will be shaped by higher oil prices in 2026, which provided extra revenue for schools and infrastructure, but Alaska’s long-term fiscal outlook remains uncertain due to the state's reliance on volatile oil revenue.
Rep. Hannan has previously called for diversifying state revenue through measures such as a progressive income tax to pay for government services, though this proposal is not coalition policy. Among the many issues facing lawmakers are school enrollment declines, agency staffing, public services, and infrastructure needs, including response to glacial flooding.
Lawmakers will begin the session on January 19 when the 35th Alaska Legislature convenes. Committee assignments will be finalized after vote certification, with continued bipartisan cooperation expected in tackling Alaska's unsettled budget outlook and legislative priorities.
Source: juneauempire.com.
