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Ted Stevens is officially a warship. The Navy commissioned the destroyer in a rainy Whittier ceremony Saturday before it heads home to Norfolk, Virginia.
Also in Alaska News
House Resources Committee approved a resolution backing Alaska Native corporations' continued access to a federal small business program that generated $13.5 billion in revenue for the state in 2022.
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HB 386 would allow electronic pull-tabs on tablets for charitable gaming. • Operators warned the bill's costs could cut charity proceeds in half, especially in rural areas. • Manufacturers and veterans groups backed the change for revenue growth and accountability.
Fairbanks is seeking $3.5 million in state funding to host the 2028 Arctic Winter Games, expecting 2,000 athletes and thousands of family members to boost local tourism.
Alaska Federation of Natives told legislators that non-resident permit holders took $7.5 billion in salmon earnings since 1975, leaving rural villages with fishing participation down to 12%.
Alaska House passed ethics reform clarifying anonymous complaints and strengthening oversight of legislators, with the Senate Judiciary Committee now considering amendments before a Friday vote.

Alaska House panel heard testimony on a bill making project owners and general contractors liable for unpaid wages when subcontractors fail to pay workers.

Alaska House Bill 25, which would ban polystyrene foam food containers statewide, advanced to the Senate after testimony Tuesday on cost versus pollution concerns.

Alaska House committee advanced a resolution supporting military infrastructure development, with $23 billion in federal funding expected if the state shows it's a collaborative partner.

Alaska House panel advanced a bill to stop clock changes starting March 2028, but would split Western Alaska into a separate time zone if the state moves to Pacific Standard Time.

House panel held a wildfire evacuation bill over concerns that maintaining roads and airports in fire-prone areas could cost over $100 million statewide.

Senate committee doubled the Dalton Highway maintenance surcharge to 30 cents per barrel in the gas pipeline bill, but questioned whether $1 billion in tax cuts justify the cost to Alaska.

Alaska legislative staff are debating whether to use AI for official records, balancing efficiency against accuracy risks in documents that may be used in court.

Alaska House panel is considering doubling the maximum bulk fuel loan for rural communities to $1.5 million as fuel prices surge up to 100 percent and western Alaska faces potential supply shortages.

Alaska Senate panel split on tax breaks for $46 billion LNG project, with one lawmaker refusing to vote without cost details and warning the state could lose $1 billion annually in taxes.

House panel heard a proposal to cut Alaska LNG's property tax burden from $750 million yearly by 2033 to about $200 million through a volumetric tax on gas volume.

Alaska Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would add a surcharge to phone bills to fund behavioral health crisis services, exempting discounted phones for low-income users.

Alaska House committee approved a retirement savings program for 105,000 workers without employer plans and expanded options to deposit Permanent Fund dividends into existing investment accounts.

Alaska House Finance advanced a constitutional amendment to create a dedicated education fund but rejected tying it to future gas pipeline revenues that could bring $700 million yearly.

Alaska Senate panel doubled the oil surcharge for Dalton Highway maintenance to 30 cents per barrel, generating roughly $50 million yearly, while cutting local government tax revenue by 90 percent.
Alaska Senate advanced a farm tax bill Monday that restores property tax breaks for S corporation farms, but exempts Anchorage from having to offer the deferral.
House panel advanced a bill to create a task force reviewing Alaska Native language preservation, with lawmakers calling the state's language situation a crisis.

Chignik River king salmon hit the escapement goal in 2025 for the first time since 2019, but the state is still weighing whether to ease the fishing restrictions that helped the recovery.

South Park Estates mobile home park is closing due to unfixable water damage, leaving over 30 households with few options in Anchorage's tight affordable housing market.

The Anchorage Assembly is considering a mandate for smart taxi meters and a fare cap increase to 6 dollars per tenth mile.

The Alaska Senate Resources Committee is weighing federal aid for the $47 billion Alaska LNG project. Experts warn this could set a massive precedent for future infrastructure funding.

Alaska Senate panel advanced a bill to fund voluntary firearm safe storage devices for families and create school guidelines for notifying parents of suicidal thoughts or bullying.

House Labor and Commerce Committee advanced a tax bill raising $500,000 annually and passed hemp regulation amendments protecting existing producers. • Committee set May 6 deadline for a resolution supporting visa programs that employ 183 teachers in Alaska schools. • Insurance bill for delivery drivers stalled over coverage gaps and cost concerns, while charitable gaming modernization continued without final action.

House panel tied tax breaks for Alaska's LNG project to building a spur line delivering affordable gas to Fairbanks and military bases, shifting the debate over who pays for Interior access.

House committee heard testimony on a $113 million bill to give school districts budget certainty by July 1, but members questioned whether the state can accurately model the long-term cost.

House Bill 299 would let judges override prosecutors to place veterans in misdemeanor treatment courts, but prosecutors and court officials warned of separation of powers litigation.

Alaska Senate panel advanced a bill banning social media for under-16s despite court challenges blocking similar laws nationwide.

Hundreds of Juneau residents opposed closing recreation facilities to help close a $10 million to $12 million budget gap, warning the cuts would force families to leave town.

House Finance heard divided testimony on a 95 million dollar West Susitna road project. • Opponents cited habitat risks while supporters argued for economic growth. • The committee also reviewed funding for homeless programs and the Arctic Winter Games.

House Finance heard sharp debate Wednesday on a $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with opponents calling it a mining subsidy and supporters touting economic development.

Alaska fishery managers debated how to protect struggling salmon stocks when healthy and depleted fish migrate together, with proposals ranging from gear restrictions to area closures.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries met March 17 to weigh management plans for struggling Western Alaska salmon stocks.

Alaska House committee advanced a bill requiring insurers to cover expensive treatments for PANDAS and PANS, pediatric brain disorders triggered by infections.

Alaska is the only U.S. state without licensing for respiratory therapists, and HB 362 would fix that gap by establishing a state licensing program with fees covering all costs.

A proposed constitutional amendment to create a protected education fund advanced in the House despite missing funding and scope details.

Alaska House committee advanced a right-to-repair bill requiring manufacturers to provide repair parts and documentation, pushing the effective date to 2029.

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