By THE ALASKA STORY
May 16, 2026 – A bill increasing state support for free civil legal aid for low-income Alaskans is headed to Gov. Mike Dunleavy after passing the Senate 17-3 and the House 27-13.
House Bill 48, sponsored by Democrat Rep. Sara Hannan of Juneau, would increase the share of Alaska Court System filing fees directed to the Civil Legal Services Fund from 10% to 25%. The change is expected to provide the Alaska Legal Services Corporation with roughly $400,000 in additional annual funding.
The nonprofit provides free civil legal help for low-income Alaskans in cases involving housing disputes, domestic violence, benefits, elder issues, veterans, and tribal self-government. Democrats say the demand for legal aid has grown while resources have not kept pace. Other worry that the agency has become a political arm of a partisan group.
HB 48 passed the House on a vote of 27-12, with most Republicans voting against it. It passed the Senate 13-6, with most Republicans voting against it. Both House and Senate had an excused absence each.
Alaska Legal Services Corporation has an annual budget of about $9.8 million from multiple sources, including grants and state support.
Gov. Dunleavy has not said whether he will sign the bill but he has until May 25 to sign, veto, or allow it to go into law without his action.
3 thoughts on “Legal aid funding bill awaits governor’s action after House and Senate passage”
This is nothing more than lawyer welfare and should be vetoed.
While Thomas Jack Jr., an Alaska Native man, rots in jail for a crime even his former accuser said years ago he didn’t do,
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While Jack suffered gross violations of his civil rights in every sense of the legal definition,
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While no one in the Alaska justice system, including the Alaska Legal Services Corporation, seems willing or able to correct the miscarriage of justice forced on Jack.
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While the Alaska Legal Services Corporation remains nowhere to be found on the subject of addressing gross violations of Jack’s -civil rights- which poisoned every part of his trial and literally railroaded his conviction.
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While legislators voted down confirmation of Stephen Cox as Alaska Attorney General whose positions on Alaskan issues indicate he might, as AG, have been receptive to reviewing Jack’s case
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While federal law provides mechanisms to address civil rights violations, ensuring accountability for those who infringe upon protected rights especially under 42 USC 1987, which supports prosecution and investigation of violations under related statutes, but state compliance seems crucially limited,
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While Alaska Legal Services Corporation’s annual budget of about $9.8 million from multiple sources like grants and state money suggests they can afford to help Jack,
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While the veto deadline is May 25,
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While a phone call from the Governor’s office to Alaska Legal Services Corporation would be expected to carry some weight,
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We respectfully request Governor Dunleavy sign HB 48, –after– obtaining agreement from Alaska Legal Services Corporation officials to investigate gross violations of Mr. Jack’s civil rights, which precluded his right to a fair trial and reasonable expectation that his record would be expunged.
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We have the receipts, Governor. We look forward to sharing them.
What ever happened to the same Democrats Pay-It-Forward. It doesn’t count by making the taxpayers pay for the Democrats to do their good action so the democrats at Civil Legal Services can feel good about themselves at taxpayers expense
That’s a not a good deed nor a self sacrifice when someone else is footing the bill