Legislative Council raises Juneau session staff lodging stipend to $50 a day

The Alaska Legislative Council voted 8-0 Wednesday to raise the daily lodging stipend for legislative staff who relocate to Juneau for session from $37.50 to $50. Sen. Gary Stevens made the motion.

The raise is part of an amended Legislative Council Moving and Travel Policy. Council chair Rep. Sara Hannan said before the vote that the policy takes effect immediately.

The agency formed a work group during the 2026 interim to review relocation benefits for staff who move to Juneau temporarily for session. Joel Rogozinski, the Legislative Affairs Agency's finance manager, told Hannan in a memo on the policy updates that the higher stipend matches funding already in the fiscal 2027 budget.

Staff eligible for relocation expenses can get the stipend from their session hire date through the last day of session funding set by the House or Senate rules chair.

Instead of shipping a personal vehicle to Juneau, staff can now join an agency-approved car-share program or a shared rental vehicle with other staff. The cost to the agency cannot be more than it would have paid to move their vehicles. The policy caps reimbursement for airline excess baggage and air cargo at $150 per move. The rules chairs can approve exceptions case by case.

In April, Hannan opposed a House amendment to cut about $2.5 million from the Legislature's fiscal 2027 budget, including $912,000 tied to expected spending. She said the Legislature had no policy limiting staff moves to Juneau and pointed to staff travel and vehicle shipping costs.

The 2027 legislative session begins Jan. 19.