SCR 19 extends the governor’s October 9, 2025 disaster emergency declaration for the 2025 West Coast Storm and makes that extension retroactive to April 7, 2026, continuing it through May 7, 2026. The resolution also approves an amended financing plan submitted by the governor on April 20, 2026, for disaster response and recovery costs associated with DR 4893.
The amended financing plan totals $62.83 million, including $25.13 million in federal authority and $37.7 million in state general funds. The bill notes that the revised plan increases federal authority by $6.38 million and increases state disaster relief fund spending by $17.2 million from the previously authorized plan, and it states that the disaster relief fund balance is sufficient to cover the increase.
Impact
SCR 19 does not create a new statutory program, but it exercises authority under Alaska’s disaster emergency law, AS 26.23.020(c) and AS 26.23.020(k)(1), to extend an emergency declaration beyond 30 days and to approve state spending above $1 million for disaster response while the legislature is in session. Its practical effect is to keep emergency powers in place for agencies responding to storm damage and to authorize updated federal and state funding levels for recovery efforts tied to the 2025 West Coast Storm.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment appears strongly supportive and noncontroversial. The Senate passed the resolution unanimously, and the Senate later concurred in the House amendment unanimously as well, indicating broad bipartisan agreement on the need to continue the emergency declaration and approve the revised financing plan. The House vote on final passage also showed substantial support, though not unanimity, suggesting some limited disagreement on the amendment process rather than on the underlying disaster response.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to have been procedural rather than substantive, centered on the House amendment and the revised financing plan rather than on whether the storm warranted continued emergency status. The resolution’s retroactive extension and increased funding authority could raise questions about oversight of disaster spending and the timing of legislative approval, but the recorded votes show little visible opposition to the measure itself. No committee testimony is provided, and the available vote history suggests the bill was broadly accepted as necessary to maintain response and recovery operations.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force to study disaster mitigation, risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, and planning for natural disasters that impact the Commonwealth.