strengthening financial security and protecting older Alaskans
AARP Alaska key advocacy focus in the Alaska Legislature is retirement readiness. That includes expanding access to retirement savings through Alaska Work and Save (SB21) for the private sector and Pensions for Public Service (HB78) for the public sector.
As Alaska's 2026 legislative session gets underway, AARP Alaska is advancing a focused set of priorities designed to help Alaskans age with dignity, security, and independence. Representing more than 76,000 members statewide, AARP's agenda underscores two fundamental needs for older adults: financial resilience and strong consumer protections.
AARP's flagship initiative for 2026 is Retirement Readiness. That includes expanding access to retirement savings through Alaska Work and Save (SB21) for the private sector and Pensions for Public Service (HB78) for the public sector.
Alaska Work and Save is a portable retirement savings program designed for private sector workers who lack access to employer-sponsored plans. Today, nearly half of Alaska's private sector workforce has no workplace retirement plan, and the smaller the business, the less likely they are to be able to offer a plan. Without a payroll deduction option, savings rates plummet-just 5% of workers open a retirement account on their own. By implementing Alaska Work and Save, the state can help thousands build longterm financial stability while reducing reliance on public assistance later in life.
Alaska faces an escalating public sector workforce crisis, and one major cause is our lack of a defined-benefit pension. Alaska is now one of only two states without a pension option for public employees-and the only state that offers neither Social Security nor a pension to all public workers. This makes recruitment and retention extraordinarily difficult.
AARP Alaska also supports restoring a modest, stable, defined-benefit pension, because older households without a pension are nine times more likely to live in poverty, increasing pressure on state safety-net programs. Public workers earn 14% less than private sector workers on average; a pension helps close this wage gap and keeps essential workers in Alaska. Workforce shortages are harming seniors and communities-from months-long SNAP and Adult Public Assistance backlogs, to unplowed roads, to the Office of Public Advocacy being unable to meet demand for public guardians.
AARP is also urging lawmakers to take action on cryptocurrency ATM fraud, an increasingly prevalent scam payment scheme targeting older residents. Crypto ATMs-now found in convenience stores, gas stations, and supermarkets statewide-enable legitimate digital currency transactions but operate with far fewer consumer protections than banks or traditional money service businesses. Their rapid growth ("dozens" now operate in Alaska) has been matched by a surge in fraud, with criminals exploiting the machines to steal hundreds of millions nationally. Older adults are disproportionately impacted.
AARP supports legislation that would require state licensing of crypto ATM operators; strengthen fraud prevention standards; and improve transparency and consumer safeguards. These reforms would help curb a fast-evolving threat while educating consumers on how to avoid scams.
Alaska's guardianship laws are based on a framework dating back to the 1980s-long before modern best practices for autonomy, human dignity, and rights protections were established. Outdated statutes lead to inconsistent protections, inefficient processes, and unnecessary reliance on full guardianship.
AARP Alaska is advocating to update these laws by adopting provisions based on the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act (UGCOPAA), which provides a more modern, evidence-based, person-centered approach.
In the new proposal, SB190, courts must first consider alternatives such as supported decision-making, powers of attorney, or limited guardianship before imposing full guardianship. This ensures individuals retain as much independence as possible.
Guardianship orders must reflect the individual's preferences, values, and goals rather than defaulting to broad, one-size-fits-all authority.
The statute change would also clarify the guardian's duty to support participation in decision-making, honor the individual's likely preferences, and respect their autonomy unless doing so would cause harm. And outdated terms like "ward" would be replaced with "individual under guardianship," aligning Alaska's statutes with national best practices and promoting dignity.
Alaska's aging population continues to grow, and with it, the urgency to ensure systems and protections are in place that allow seniors to remain independent, financially secure, and safe from exploitation. The 2026 priorities reflect the concerns AARP hears directly from older Alaskans-especially around rising costs, unstable retirement pathways, and new forms of fraud.
By pushing for sensible retirement programs for public and private sectors and modernized consumer protections, AARP Alaska aims to build a stronger, more secure future for all who call the state home.
