Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Andy Josephson
Representative · Alaska State House · District 17
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 7 clips
Anchorage, Alaska 99507-1020
Affiliations
Alaska's audit watchdog gets a new leader, inheriting a fisheries probe and a new power over the governor
“She stood up for us, and she stood up for the power of the auditor under law, um, even when it was under attack.”
Alaska ballot measure to restore campaign contribution limits heads to August 18 primary
“The statement of the previous member that the courts have indicated that you can't have contribution limits is completely, completely false. It's just— it's really false. There are contribution limits in state campaigns and of course federal elections all over the country. All they said fundamentally in the Ninth Circuit decision was $500 limits are pretty small.”
Alaska lawmakers order audit of Board of Fisheries process
Alaska lawmakers voted unanimously to audit the Board of Fisheries' process after the Attorney General overturned five regulations citing ethics violations.
Alaska legislative auditor resigns after 34 years, replacement process underway
Alaska's legislative auditor Chris Curtis is resigning after 34 years, effective Aug. 30. The Legislature is hiring her replacement through a process that aims to seat a new auditor by August.
Dunleavy vetoes nearly $90 million but leaves school funding intact
“$6.4 million UGF for child care center recruitment and retention”
House Finance advances Alaska LNG tax bill, curtailing North Slope's power to negotiate
House Finance advanced Alaska LNG tax bill Wednesday: 13 cents, no side deals, double the impact fund to $80m
Same committee, same day, two close votes on Alaska LNG ratepayer protection — and they didn't go the same way
House Finance can't quite decide how much to protect Alaska ratepayers from LNG cost overruns — Tuesday's two votes split, with the same person providing the swing both times.
House Finance writes a $16 gas-price cap into Alaska LNG bill — even if Enstar's contract isn't signed
Alaska House Finance voted 6-5 Monday to write a $16-per-MMBtu price cap for natural gas into the state's Alaska LNG tax bill, protecting consumers even if Enstar's contract with the developer remains unsigned.
House Finance amendment lets pipeline-route municipalities bill Alaska LNG directly — skipping the state appropriation step
House Finance approved an amendment allowing pipeline-route municipalities to bill the Alaska LNG operator directly for their tax share instead of waiting for state appropriation.
Alaska House schedules June 10 technical session
Alaska House scheduled a technical session for June 10 at 11 a.m. to handle procedural matters after the regular legislative session ended May 20.
Alaska's filing deadline turned the 2026 election from rumor into a real race
So many candidates, so little time left
ENSTAR says it locked in a price for Alaska LNG
ENSTAR locked in $16 per thousand cubic feet for North Slope pipeline gas, undercutting LNG imports at $20 to $23 but raising costs 48% above current Cook Inlet supply before adding $4.50 to $6 in distribution and storage charges.
Open South Midtown seat draws three candidates after Josephson opts not to seek reelection.
House District 13 in South Midtown Anchorage has three candidates after Rep. Andy Josephson declined reelection: Democrat Lisa Keller, Democrat Felix Rivera, and Republican Sarah Short, in a district where the last race was decided by 477 votes.
North Slope, Kenai mayors negotiate gas line property tax as House Finance delays bill deadline
North Slope Borough Mayor Patkotak and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Micciche negotiated property tax terms for the Alaska LNG project as the House Finance Committee delayed its amendment deadline to allow talks to continue.
AGDC tells House Finance that Alaska property tax is 10 times higher than competing LNG projects
More conversations about the Governor's plan to make the AK LNG project more profitable to investors.
Energy consultant tells House Finance that property tax makes Alaska LNG unfinanceable
Energy consultant says property tax costs $600 million yearly, making Alaska LNG unfinanceable.
Alaska gas line faces economic challenge even with tax breaks
Alaska LNG needs $8.48 to $9.07 per thousand cubic feet to break even, but global prices are $8 to $9. • Governor's tax plan cuts state revenue from $29.7 billion to $22.5 billion over the project's life. • Capital cost overruns and producer gas prices pose bigger risks than tax relief can fix. • State could invest $4.4 billion for a 25 percent equity stake.
House Resources gas line bill would cost municipalities $13B under governor's plan
“I just see this reduction in cumulative revenue to municipalities of $14 billion, if I'm reading this right”
Alaska House raises unemployment benefits, expands telehealth coverage
Alaska House raised maximum weekly unemployment benefits from $370 to $470, first increase since 2009. • Expanded telehealth coverage and raised disability pay for firefighters and police from 40 percent to 75 percent. • Updated insurance laws to clarify rebates and ban misleading advertising.
Alaska Passes Age of Consent Bill After Weeks-Long Senate Delay
Alaska raised age of consent from 16 to 18 after Senate delay sparked public outcry. • Omnibus crime bill also criminalizes AI-generated child abuse images and requires sex offender registration. • New rules make sexual assault by healthcare workers a standalone crime and expand parole board. • Lawmakers worried about compressed timeline but voted yes anyway.
Alaska House passes tobacco age increase, vape tax, cigar lounge exemption
“if you vote against the bill, and that's your right, I mean, I get that, but if you vote against the bill, we lapse back to the current law, and that means cigarette fines for kiddos can be up to $500. Instead of $100 with a mandatory court appearance.”
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
Alaska Legislature fell seven votes short of overriding the governor's veto of a bill that would have restored pension options for public employees and teachers, voting 33-27 when 40 votes were needed.
Alaska Legislature approves $1,000 PFD, $200 energy relief payment
“Amendment EA-2 changes the amount of FY26 Energy Relief Permanent Fund dividend payment from $150 per person to $200 per person at an estimated total cost of $127.3 million. This amendment also increases the outside the BSA payment from $111 million to $115 million. Finally, the amendment also appropriates $15 million to the Bulk Fuel Revolving Loan Fund at the end of the FY26 waterfall.”
House panel cuts youth tobacco fines, advances Tobacco 21 bill
“I think $100 is de minimis and not meaningful, and it's up to $300. That's apparently what the other body wanted.”
Senate panel advances civil rights commission bill with new settlement tool
Alaska Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill that renames the human rights commission to civil rights commission, expands it to cover roughly 40,000 nonprofit employees, and adds a settlement tool.
Alaska Senate committee hears nurse staffing bill amid safety concerns
Alaska Senate committee heard testimony on a bill requiring hospitals to set minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, with nurses reporting unsafe conditions and citing Oregon's successful 2023 law.
House panel hears gas line tax bill with 15-cent volumetric fee
House panel heard a bill replacing property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a 15-cent volumetric tax, projected to generate $10 million for the state in 2029.
Alaska budget fight leaves $40M in senior, disability care hanging
A six-member legislative committee decides by May 20 whether to fund $40 million in senior and disability care that the House backs but the Senate opposes.
Alaska Conference Committee Advances 23 of 25 Supplemental Budget Items
“For the FY supplemental operating items addressed today, I move that the committee adopt the following FY 26 supplemental operating items.”
House panel sets amendment deadline for civics education bill
“I don't see anything in this, and I like this, this is a positive feeling, that crowds out anything else”
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
House Finance advanced a paid parental leave bill creating a new payroll tax, with benefits starting in 2029. • Small businesses with fewer than 25 workers would be exempt from providing benefits but employees would still pay in. • Committee raised concerns about long-term funding past 2040 and potential equal protection issues.
Alaska House passes education funding reform despite split votes on transparency
House passed education funding reform using three-year enrollment averaging to stabilize school budgets and reduce teacher layoffs, 31-9. • House split 20-20 on requiring public review of mental health curriculum, defeating both transparency amendments.
Alaska Legislature Forms Conference Committee on $14B Operating Budget
Alaska lawmakers formed a conference committee Monday to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of the $14 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget and mental health funding bill.
House rejects Senate's $1,000 PFD budget, sets up conference talks
“Whereas the House appropriated a $1,500 permanent fund dividend, the Senate appropriates a $1,000 permanent fund dividend, a decrease of $318.4 million.”
Alaska House panel hears bill to hold contractors liable for unpaid wages
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 to ban polystyrene food containers moves to Senate
“you can't recycle this material”
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
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.
Dunleavy says Alaska gas pipeline depends on property tax overhaul
Governor Dunleavy demands the legislature pass a property tax overhaul within three weeks to make a $44 billion to $50 billion North Slope gas pipeline financially viable.
House Finance advances education fund amendment, rejects gas pipeline revenue tie
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.
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
House Finance cut $95 million for the West Susitna Access Road from the capital budget. Lawmakers fear the project will drain federal funds from other state needs.
Senate Finance advances $2.8B operating budget to Rules Committee
Alaska Senate Finance advanced the $2.8 billion operating budget to the Rules Committee on Thursday, moving it closer to final passage after a contentious House debate marked by close votes.
House Finance hears $8.4M in governor's budget amendments
House Finance heard $8.4 million in budget amendments, including salary increases for public safety workers and a reversal of pay raises for newly unionized University of Alaska employees.
Alaska lawmakers urge federal reclassification of 911 dispatchers
Alaska lawmakers are urging Congress to reclassify 911 dispatchers as first responders to give them access to federal training, grants, and mental health resources.
House Finance advances bill extending professional licensing board
House Finance advanced a bill extending Alaska's professional licensing board and adding registered interior designers, after revising language that prompted a gubernatorial veto last year.
Alaska releases FY25 Single Audit after closed-door review
Alaska's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee unanimously released the state's FY25 Single Audit, a federal requirement that examines how Alaska spends and manages federal funds.
House passes bill requiring transparency at psychiatric hospitals for minors
The House passed a bill requiring psychiatric hospitals to conduct surprise inspections and allow minors weekly private calls with parents.
House Passes Polystyrene Ban for Restaurants Despite Business Concerns
“Polystyrene is a toxin. It's linked to a number of health concerns, and it stands out among all plastics in that respect. It leaches its chemicals into food products and those chemicals can increase the risk of cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma and they damage white blood cells like lymphocytes.”
Senate Finance hears bill expanding civil rights protections to nonprofits
A bill heard Monday would grant 44,000 nonprofit workers state discrimination protections. It closes a gap for those outside Anchorage and Juneau.
House advances bill requiring 30-day state payments after heated debate
Alaska House advanced a bill requiring the state to pay contractors and nonprofits within 30 days, adopting a one-year phase-in after removing language that risked federal Rural Health funds.
House Resources Committee Rejects Wildlife Refuge Amendments
Alaska House Resources Committee advanced a wildlife refuge reorganization bill 5-3 Friday, rejecting amendments that would have loosened habitat protections or expanded hunting and fishing access.
