This bill amends various sections of Alaska's education funding laws, focusing on the calculation of Average Daily Membership (ADM) and the allocation of funds for school construction projects. It specifies that students in early education programs will not be counted in a district's ADM unless the program is approved by the department, changing the reference from AS 14.17.500 to AS 14.17.600. The bill also updates the allocation of funds for school construction projects based on public school enrollment figures, referencing the former AS 14.17.500 for these determinations. Additionally, it introduces new criteria for calculating a district's ADM, allowing for adjustments based on the greater of the current year's ADM, the previous year's ADM, or a three-year average ADM.

Moreover, the bill includes provisions that restrict school districts from reopening closed schools for consolidation until a minimum of seven years has passed and limits the frequency of school reconsolidation to once every seven years. It also establishes a transition period for districts to continue using previous ADM calculation methods until they are no longer eligible. The effective date for most provisions is set for July 1, 2026, with certain sections taking effect upon the repeal of specific prior laws. These amendments aim to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of funding mechanisms while ensuring that educational programs meet state standards.

Statutes affected:
HB0261A, AM HB 261, introduced 01/16/2026: 14.03.410, 14.17.600, 14.17.500, 14.11.100, 14.16.050, 14.03.030, 14.03.050, 14.03.083, 14.03.140, 14.07.020, 14.12.150, 14.14.050, 14.14.110, 14.14.140, 14.17.505, 14.17.910, 14.14.105, 14.14.107, 14.20.095, 14.20.215, 14.20.280, 14.20.350, 23.40.070, 23.40.260, 14.30.180, 14.30.350, 14.30.360, 14.30.370, 14.30.400, 14.30.410, 14.17.410, 14.17.470, 14.17.450, 14.17.460, 14.17.420, 14.17.430, 14.17.510, 29.45.110, 14.17.905, 14.09.010, 14.17.610, 14.17.990, 14.03.120, 14.03.420, 14.20.020, 14.30.760, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.30.775, 14.30.780, 14.30.800
HB0261B, AM CSHB 261(EDC), introduced 04/01/2026: 14.03.410, 14.17.600, 14.17.500, 14.11.100, 14.16.050, 14.03.030, 14.03.050, 14.03.083, 14.03.140, 14.12.150, 14.14.050, 14.14.110, 14.14.140, 14.17.505, 14.17.910, 14.14.105, 14.14.107, 14.20.095, 14.20.215, 14.20.280, 14.20.350, 23.40.070, 23.40.260, 14.30.180, 14.30.350, 14.30.360, 14.30.370, 14.30.400, 14.30.410, 14.17.410, 14.17.470, 14.17.450, 14.17.460, 14.17.420, 14.17.430, 14.17.510, 29.45.110, 14.17.905, 14.07.020, 14.09.010, 14.17.610, 14.17.990, 14.03.120, 14.03.420, 14.20.020, 14.30.760, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.30.775, 14.30.780, 14.30.800
HB0261C, AM CSHB 261(FIN), introduced 05/06/2026: 14.03.410, 14.17.600, 14.17.500, 14.11.100, 14.16.050, 14.03.030, 14.03.050, 14.03.083, 14.03.140, 14.12.150, 14.14.050, 14.14.110, 14.14.140, 14.17.505, 14.17.910, 14.14.105, 14.14.107, 14.20.095, 14.20.215, 14.20.280, 14.20.350, 23.40.070, 23.40.260, 14.30.180, 14.30.350, 14.30.360, 14.30.370, 14.30.400, 14.30.410, 14.17.410, 14.17.470, 14.17.450, 14.17.460, 14.17.420, 14.17.430, 14.17.510, 29.45.110, 14.17.905, 14.07.020, 14.09.010, 14.17.610, 14.17.990, 14.03.120, 14.03.420, 14.20.020, 14.30.760, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.30.775, 14.30.780, 14.30.800
HB0261D, AM CSHB 261(FIN) am, introduced 05/11/2026, passed House 05/12/2026: 14.03.410, 14.17.600, 14.17.500, 14.11.100, 14.16.050, 14.03.030, 14.03.050, 14.03.083, 14.03.140, 14.12.150, 14.14.050, 14.14.110, 14.14.140, 14.17.505, 14.17.910, 14.14.105, 14.14.107, 14.20.095, 14.20.215, 14.20.280, 14.20.350, 23.40.070, 23.40.260, 14.30.180, 14.30.350, 14.30.360, 14.30.370, 14.30.400, 14.30.410, 14.17.410, 14.17.470, 14.17.450, 14.17.460, 14.17.420, 14.17.430, 14.17.510, 29.45.110, 14.17.905, 14.07.020, 14.09.010, 14.17.610, 14.17.990, 14.03.120, 14.03.420, 14.20.020, 14.30.760, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.30.775, 14.30.780, 14.30.800, 01.10.070
HB0261E, AM SCS CSHB 261(EDC), introduced 05/17/2026: 14.03.410, 14.17.600, 14.17.500, 14.11.100, 14.16.050, 14.03.030, 14.03.050, 14.03.083, 14.03.140, 14.07.020, 14.12.150, 14.14.050, 14.14.110, 14.14.140, 14.17.505, 14.17.910, 14.14.105, 14.14.107, 14.20.095, 14.20.215, 14.20.280, 14.20.350, 23.40.070, 23.40.260, 14.30.180, 14.30.350, 14.30.360, 14.30.370, 14.30.400, 14.30.410, 14.17.410, 14.17.470, 14.17.450, 14.17.460, 14.17.420, 14.17.430, 14.17.510, 29.45.110, 14.17.905, 14.09.010, 14.17.610, 14.17.990, 14.03.120, 14.03.420, 14.20.020, 14.30.760, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.30.775, 14.30.780, 14.30.800