Strong Families
Strong Alaska
Governor Dunleavy’s vision is to make Alaska the best and most affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
“When people look for the best educational system for their family, they’ll say Alaska. When people look for affordable housing, they’ll say Alaska. When people look for economic opportunity, they’ll say Alaska. When people look for the best quality of life, they’ll say Alaska.”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, January 23, 2023
Strong Families
Strong Alaska
Governor Dunleavy’s vision is to make Alaska the best and most affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
“When people look for the best educational system for their family, they’ll say Alaska. When people look for affordable housing, they’ll say Alaska. When people look for economic opportunity, they’ll say Alaska. When people look for the best quality of life, they’ll say Alaska.”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, January 23, 2023
“Affordable energy and housing are magnets for economic growth . . .”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, January 29, 2024
HOUSING
The foundation for strong families begins with a home. Affordability is key, especially for young families, in securing housing; in Alaska we recognize the high cost of housing as a potential barrier and have taken action to increase access and affordability.
ACTIONS
- The Governor’s FY25 budget includes $25 million for a new downpayment assistance program run by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) to help 1,100 to 1,300 families purchase their first home.
- $62.5 million in the FY25 budget supports other AHFC annual housing programs, including the Last Frontier Housing Initiative, which provides grants targeted toward communities in need of hard-to-fill, critical positions like teachers and law enforcement. The program has constructed more than 500 housing units in 80 rural communities since 2004.
- Governor Dunleavy introduced HB273/SB191 to expand AHFC’s ability to provide financial assistance to new homeowners.
“Healthy families and a healthy economy go hand in hand, and improving access to child care is essential for both.”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, April 6, 2023
CHILDCARE
Ensuring working families have access to quality child care is extremely important. Expanding availability and affordability of child care is essential for growing our economy.
ACTIONS
- Governor Dunleavy established a Task Force on Child Care in April of 2023.
- An initial report from the Child Care Task Force was submitted to the Governor in December 2023 with recommendations on increasing the accessibility and affordability of child care in Alaska for the short and long term.
- During the 2024 legislative session, Governor Dunleavy will introduce the Alaska Affordability Act focused on reducing the largest expenses in a family’s budget, including child care.
- An actuarial study on the cost of child care in Alaska will be completed in spring 2024, with the final report due from the task force by the end of July 2024.
“With the right environment, our kids across the state can attain incredible performance.”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, December 14, 2023
Education
The recent news that Alaska’s charter school students are leading the nation is proof that our children are capable of great achievements. Education is a core function of government at every level, and we will continue to make targeted investments focused on outputs and student success.
ACTIONS
- The Governor’s FY25 budget includes funding for school districts according to the Foundation Program, Pupil Transportation, and School Debt Reimbursement formulas in statute.
- In 2023, Governor Dunleavy proposed HB106 which features targeted investment in the recruitment and retention of our teachers.
- The Alaska READS Act focuses on reading proficiency in the early grades, the proposed FY25 budget supports continued implementation as well as $5 million for the Alyeska Reading Academy and Institute which provides professional development teachers and reading coach support for students.
Governor Dunleavy speaks at the Science of Reading Symposium in April 2023.
“With vigilance and a relentless pursuit of justice, we’ll build an Alaska where we can all feel safe everywhere … and criminals can’t escape justice anywhere.”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, July 29, 2024
PUBLIC SAFETY
Governor Dunleavy has made historic investments in the Department of Public Safety. While great progress has been made, the Governor continues to work to make our state a safe place for all Alaskans.
ACTIONS
- After eliminating the sexual assault kit testing backlog, in July 2023 the Department of Public Safety’s sexual assault kit tracking system went live, enabling survivors to track the status of their kit securely online. At the beginning of this legislative session, Governor Dunleavy proposed legislation HB275/SB193 establishing required timeframes for the submitting and testing of the kits.
- Governor Dunleavy’s FY25 budget includes a significant investment in Village Public Safety Officer positions and salaries, in addition to fully funding four Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons investigators.
- In 2023, Governor Dunleavy introduced HB66/SB64 attacking the fentanyl problem at distribution, making it second degree murder when a person distributes or manufactures a controlled substance and a person dies as a direct result of ingesting that substance.
- Also in 2023, HB68/SB66 was introduced by the Governor, strengthening the penalties for sex trafficking offenses, especially those involving underage victims.
- The bills to address sex trafficking, fight overdose related deaths, as well as funds for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons investigators are components of the People First Initiative launched by Governor Dunleavy in December 2021.
“Alaska is blessed with abundant and clean lands and waters … and we can develop these resources to become food independent once again.”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, January 29, 2024
Food Security
Alaska’s land and water resources are tremendous, lending to incredible opportunity in the agricultural sector. Opportunities to secure agricultural land in our state is greater than any other state. Growing our agricultural industry will build, stronger, more sustainable, and healthier food systems in our state, enhancing the availability and affordability of quality food for Alaskans.
ACTIONS
- Governor Dunleavy established the Alaska Food Security and Independence Task Force in February 2022.
- In March 2023 the Alaska Food Security and Independence Task Force delivered the final report to the Governor.
- Governor Dunleavy proposed a food security omnibus bill HB296/SB211, focused on removing barriers for our local farmers and encouraging the purchase of Alaskan products by State of Alaska agencies. Additional legislation HB272/SB190 was proposed to expand hunting opportunities for individuals experiencing disabilities.
- The Department of Environmental Conservation is working on a food freedom regulation package, increasing our local producers’ ability to sell homemade food goods to informed customers and encourage the expansion of the cottage food industry.
Governor Dunleavy visits the large vegetable exhibit at the Alaska State Fair in 2022.
“Alaska has the resources, creativity, and ability to achieve energy independence that will fuel a growing economy.”
GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY, April 2023
Houston Solar Farm and Fireweed (Photo by CleanCapital)
REDUCING THE COST OF ENERGY
Alaska’s vast energy resources – natural gas, oil, wind, solar, tidal, and more – position the state for an energy rich future for residents. Alaska is an all-in state when it comes to affordable energy for its residents.
ACTIONS
- Governor Dunleavy proposed changes to increase Railbelt energy security by modernizing the royalty structure in the Cook Inlet in HB276/SB194.
- Governor Dunleavy introduced legislation HB74/SB69 to expand development opportunities for Alaska’s vast geothermal resources.
- Microreactor regulations put Alaskan communities at forefront of energy innovation. The State of Alaska adopted regulations to streamline the regulatory process for communities wanting to provide clean energy by nuclear microreactor power generation.
- Governor Dunleavy introduced legislation HB154/SB125 that would create a “green bank” to finance sustainable energy projects under the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. AHFC has a proven track record of sound investments, and will work with the Alaska Energy Authority to develop sustainable energy projects and lower costs for Alaskans across the state.
- Governor Dunleavy established the Energy Security Task Force in the spring of 2023 – the final report was delivered to the Governor on December 1, 2023. Recommendations include a unified electrical transmission authority for the Railbelt.
- In 2023, the Governor introduced Carbon Offset and Carbon Storage legislation. SB48 Carbon Offset Program legislation passed in May of 2023, HB50 / SB49 the Carbon Storage legislation is poised to pass the legislature in the upcoming session
- The Alaska Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Project (the Alaska LNG Project) is Alaska’s priority energy infrastructure project to maximize the benefit of Alaska’s North Slope natural gas resources.
Governor Dunleavy speaks at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference – this annual event draws energy developers and investors to Alaska each year.
Alaska Family Survey
For more information on factors impacting family planning decisons in Alaska, check out the links below:
Family Survey – Topline Results
Alaska Family Survey
