Winter Legislative Conference

Thank you to all who participated to make the 2026 Winter Conference a success!

The Alaska Municipal League organizes its Winter Legislative Conference every year in Juneau during the legislative session to focus on the legislative agenda.

Hear from State agency officials
Learn more about current legislation and activities
Visit with legislators and legislative staff
Address priority issues
Contribute to AML’s legislative strategy

The goals of the meeting are to:

Advance AML’s legislative priorities
Learn more about specific topics relevant to municipal government
Connect AML members with legislators and administration officials

Agenda and Presentations

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

7:30 AM	Registration & Breakfast
8:00 AM	Welcome and Introductions
	Glenda Ledford, President, Alaska Municipal League Max Mertz, Alaska Committee
8:15 AM	Priorities and Potential – Progress, Politics, and Pain
	Nils Andreassen, Executive Director WC_26 Legislative Update
9:30 AM	*Break*
10:00 AM	FY27 State Budget
	Lacey Sanders, Office of Management and Budget OMB Lacey Sanders
10:45 AM	Alaska DOT&PF
	Commissioner Ryan Anderson Dept of Transportation WC_26
11:15 AM	FY27 State Budget
	Nils Andreassen, Heather Brakes, and Jordan Marshall
11:45 AM	Lunch – State of the Nation
	Senator Dan Sullivan Sullivan_WorkingFamiliesTaxCutAct-presentation
1:00 PM	Break
1:20 PM	Agency Updates
	Alaska Dept. of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg Department of Health Presentation Alaska DEC Commissioner Randy Bates Dept of Environmental Conservation
2:45 PM	Break
3:00 PM	Agency Updates
	Alaska DEED Commissioner Deena Bishop Dept of Education WC_26 Alaska DPS Commissioner James “Jim” Cockrell Alaska DNR Deputy Commissioner Goodrum Dept of Natural Resources WC_26
4:00 PM	Adjourn
	Dinner on your own

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

8:00 AM	Joint Senate & House Education Committee* Davis Committee Room
	An opportunity for members and conference attendees to testify in the Joint Senate and House Education Committee
8:30 AM	Breakfast
9:00 AM	Legislative Leadership
	Mayor Glenda Ledford, AML President & Mayor Peter Micciche, ACoM President Senate Minority Leader Mike Cronk Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon House Minority Leader DeLena Johnson
10:30 AM	Break
11:00 AM	Pension Progress
	Bob Williams, Chair, ARM Board
Noon	Lunch – Alaska Fiscal Option Analysis – 10 years and beyond
1:30 PM	Legislative Bill Progress
	Invited legislators to discuss specific legislation Senate President Gary Stevens Representative Chuck Kopp Senator Bert Stedman
2:30 PM	Forever Chemicals: PFAS Class Action
	Attorney David Grossman
3:00 PM	Property Tax Working Group – Report
3:30 PM	Break
3:45 PM	More Budget Blues
	Sen. Bert Stedman Rep. Calvin Schrage Rep. Andy Josephson
4:45 PM	Adjourn
5:00 – 7:00 PM	AML Legislative Reception

Thursday, February 19, 2026

8:00 AM	Breakfast GCI – Broadly Speaking on Broadband
	Jen Nelson, Senior Director of Rural Affairs
8:15 AM	ACoM Priorities
	Nils Andreassen, AML Executive Director Peter Micciche, ACoM President
9:00 AM	A Frank Budget Conversation
	Alexei Painter, Legislative Finance A Frank Budget Conversation_Painter Neil Steininger, Alaska Political Report
10:00 AM	Capital Improvement – State-Supported Funding
	Community Assistance Capital Budget General Obligation Bond School Construction and Major Maintenance
11:00 AM	Closing Comments – Round Robin
11:30 AM	Adjourn