By SUZANNE DOWNING
May 8, 2026 – The Alaska Senate has passed the state’s operating budget, advancing a spending plan that includes a $1,150 Permanent Fund dividend that includes a $150 in “energy relief payments” for Alaskans.
The vote came after a final push by three members of the Republican Senate minority to restore a full statutory dividend, which would have been more than three times larger than the amount included in the budget. Their effort fell well short of the votes needed for passage.
Senators considered eight amendments during Thursday’s floor session. Four amendments were adopted, all sponsored by Senate Finance Co-Chair Lyman Hoffman.
Because the Senate made changes to the operating budget, the measure now returns to the House for a concurrence vote on Thursday. If the House declines to concur with the Senate’s version, legislative leaders will appoint a six-member conference committee , three members selected by the House Speaker and three by the Senate President, to negotiate a final compromise budget before adjournment.
The final day of session is May 20.
2 thoughts on “Senate rejects full PFD push, approves $1,150 dividend and energy relief”
150 energy relief doesn’t cover anything.
Energy relief would be a smaller government, reduced government dependency by Alaskans for either employment, public assistance, or Medicaid, and a Full PFD.
Alaskans are not an Independent people while most of the people depend on some kind of government dependency; and the PFD is not government dependent. We are liken as Shareholders with invested stock in a corporation and the corporation is paying us what is due out of the profits made during that period just for simply being an Alaskan and eligible.