Bill > HB339

This bill establishes a mandatory personal finance education program for all public high school students in Alaska, requiring them to complete instruction equivalent to a half-credit course before graduation, with an exception for students who transfer in after completing 10th grade. The program, which must be approved by the state's Department of Education, will cover a wide range of essential financial topics, including managing bank accounts, budgeting, understanding credit and debt, loans, insurance, federal income taxes, avoiding fraud, simple contracts, interest computation, savings and investments, retirement accounts, handling inheritances, and postsecondary financial aid. The Department of Education will curate and provide a list of "open educational resources" – free, publicly accessible learning materials that can be reused and adapted – to help school districts implement the program, and this list will be updated at least every five years. The bill also specifically includes instruction on the financial implications of being a member or beneficiary of an Alaska Native corporation, as defined by federal law (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), such as receiving dividends or shares. This new requirement will apply to students graduating on or after January 1, 2027, and the law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Education

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB339