AlaskaAlaska fire station projects could receive grants if funds are appropriated
If enacted and money is appropriated, people in charge of eligible Alaska fire station projects could seek matching grants, covering at least half of project costs.
What it does
People in charge of eligible fire station projects could apply for matching grants if the fund has money. They would need to cover at least half the cost, and an applicant’s award could not exceed $10 million in a fiscal year.
A panel would rank fire station applications using public safety and applicants’ plans to run, maintain, and insure their stations. The department could suggest changes, but the applicant would have to agree to them.
The grant fund would rely on legislative appropriations. Any money placed in it would carry over, and the department would use at least half of the previous June 30 balance for grants each year.
Argument forIf money is appropriated, matching grants could help communities build or renovate fire stations while limiting each applicant’s award.
Argument againstProject sponsors may struggle to provide at least half the cost and show they can maintain and insure a station without future state aid.
More detail
The department would award matching grants for fire station construction or renovation if the grant fund has money. A person in charge of an eligible fire station project may apply under department regulations. Applicants must provide at least half of the project cost as matching funds. State money generally cannot count toward the match, with exceptions for money from specified community assistance, shared fisheries tax, and passenger vessel tax programs. An eligible applicant’s total award may not exceed $10 million in a fiscal year. The fund depends on money appropriated by the legislature. The act would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
The department would rank applications and award grants in that order. A panel would evaluate and prioritize fire station grant applications. It would include department staff, a registered architect or engineer, and two fire chiefs who have no application under review in that grant cycle. The department would set priorities by regulation and consider public safety and emergency needs, along with whether applicants can operate and maintain the station without state aid and have a maintenance and insurance plan. The department could suggest project changes for savings or public benefit, but it could award a grant for a modified project only if the applicant agrees. The department would make awards in the order of priorities it sets by regulation.
The bill text provides for a fire station grant fund to hold appropriated money for matching grants. The fund would be held in the department for fire station construction and renovation matching grants. The fund would consist of money appropriated to it; the text does not itself appropriate money. Money in the fund would carry over between fiscal years, and the department would use at least half of the prior June 30 balance for grants each year. The annual spending rule would apply each fiscal year, based on the fund balance on June 30 of the preceding fiscal year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 16(H) REFERRED TO RULESLatest
- May 16(H) FN3: ZERO(CED)
- May 16(H) NR: STAPP, GALVIN, JOSEPHSON
- May 16(H) DNP: JIMMIE
- May 16(H) DP: MOORE, ALLARD, HANNAN, TOMASZEWSKI, BYNUM, FOSTER, SCHRAGE
- May 16(H) FIN RPT HCS(FIN) 7DP 1DNP 3NR
- May 15(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 15(H) Moved HCS CSSB 140(FIN) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 2:15 pm --
- May 15(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 15(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 15(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to a 9:00 A.M. --
- May 15(H) FINANCE at 08:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 12(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 12(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 12(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 6(H) Heard & Held
- May 6(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 6(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 6(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 6(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): ALLARD
- Mar 20(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): BYNUM
- Mar 5(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): TOMASZEWSKI
- Mar 5(H) FIN
- Mar 5(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Mar 4(S) VERSION: CSSB 140(FIN)
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y18 N- E1 A1 #1832. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Passed House
- Mar 4(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Mar 4(S) PASSED Y18 N- E1 A1Passed Senate
- Mar 4(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 140(FIN)Minor
- Mar 2(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/4 CALMinor
- Mar 2(S) FIN CS ADOPTED UC
- Mar 2(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- Mar 2(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/2/2026
- Feb 18(S) FN2: ZERO(CED)
- Feb 18(S) NR: KAUFMAN, KIEHL
- Feb 18(S) DP: OLSON, STEDMAN, HOFFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK
- Feb 18(S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 2NR SAME TITLE
- Feb 17(S) Moved CSSB 140(FIN) Out of Committee
- Feb 17(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Feb 11(S) Minutes (SFIN)
- Feb 11(S) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- Feb 11(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
- 2025
- May 14(S) FN1: (CED)
- May 14(S) NR: DUNBAR
- May 14(S) DP: MERRICK, YUNDT, GRAY-JACKSON, OLSON
- May 14(S) CRA RPT 4DP 1NR
- May 13(S) Minutes (SCRA)
- May 13(S) Moved SB 140 Out of Committee
- May 13(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- May 6(S) Minutes (SCRA)
- May 6(S) Heard & Held
- May 6(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Apr 22(S) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Apr 22(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Mar 24(S) CRA, FIN
- Mar 24(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
Public SafetyTaxes & Budget