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Checked against the record · Alaska Governor 2026

Did Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins work to revitalize Alaska Native languages?

Matches stated record claim. He was the first-listed sponsor of a 2014 law making 20 Alaska Native languages official, which passed the House with no votes against and the Senate 18 to 2.

Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Alaska Native languages

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His campaign says that in the Legislature he worked across the aisle on several things, including to revitalize Alaska Native languages.

“I worked across the aisle to reduce trawl bycatch, protect public schools, invest in basic infrastructure like roads and harbors, revitalize Alaska Native languages”

What the record shows ·

He was listed first among the sponsors of House Bill 216, introduced January 21, 2014. It made 20 Alaska Native languages official languages of the state, alongside English. The House passed it with no votes against and the Senate 18 to 2, and it was signed into law on October 23, 2014. The designation is still state law; a 2024 law added more languages.

Limit: Official status does not pay for language programs, and the law says the state need not work in those languages.

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Sources6 source records

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  1. Meet Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkinshttps://www.jktforak.com/meet-jkt

    JKT for Alaska · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign biography in his own words.

    candidate statement

    For: Did Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins work to revitalize Alaska Native languages?

  2. HB 216 (2014), as introduced (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Published Jan 21, 2014 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Introduced January 21, 2014, 'by Representatives Kreiss-Tomkins, Millett, Edgmon, Nageak, and Herron', with cosponsors added later.

    official legislative record

    For: Did Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins work to revitalize Alaska Native languages?

  3. HB 216 (28th Legislature), bill historyhttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/28?Root=HB%20216

    Alaska Legislature · Published Oct 23, 2014 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Passed the House 38-0 (36-0 on reconsideration) and the Senate 18-2. Signed into law October 23, 2014, chapter 116, SLA 2014; effective January 21, 2015. The page timed out on most tries and loaded on October 1, 2026.

    official legislative record

    For: Did Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins work to revitalize Alaska Native languages?

  4. HB 216 (2014), enrolled (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The bill as passed, headed 'Laws of Alaska 2014'. Adds 20 Alaska Native languages to English as official state languages.

    official legislative record

    For: Did Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins work to revitalize Alaska Native languages?

  5. AS 44.12.310, official languageshttps://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=44.12.310&secEnd=44.12.310

    Alaska Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Current state law. Subsection (a) lists the official languages, including those HB 216 added and four more added in 2024. Subsection (b), added by HB 216, says the designation does not require the state or cities to work in languages other than English.

    official legislative record

    For: Did Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins work to revitalize Alaska Native languages?

  6. HB 26 (2024), enrolled (document)

    Alaska Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Headed 'Laws of Alaska 2024'. Section 2 rewrites the official languages list: it adds Cup'ig and Wetal, and splits Tanana into Middle and Lower Tanana.

    official legislative record

    For: Did Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins work to revitalize Alaska Native languages?