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House Finance advances tobacco age increase, e-cigarette tax on 7-4 vote
The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 7-4 Sunday to advance a bill raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products to 21 and imposing new retail taxes on e-cigarettes, after rejecting amendments to exempt active-duty military members and to use a wholesale tax structure.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min readAIHouse panel hears bill to restore PFDs for wrongfully convicted Alaskans
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Sunday on legislation that would allow Alaskans whose convictions are overturned to reclaim Permanent Fund dividends they lost while incarcerated.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska deploys $272M rural health program through regional meetings
Alaska's Department of Health is implementing a $272 million federal rural health program through regional stakeholder meetings, with sessions completed in Seward, Kenai, and Fairbanks and more scheduled for Mat-Su and Anchorage.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAISenate panel reviews oil tax floor increase projecting $132M annual gain
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee heard Department of Revenue analysis showing that raising the oil production tax minimum floor from 4% to 6% would generate an average of $132 million annually in additional state revenue from fiscal years 2027 through 2036, though complex interactions with tax credits could produce a negative revenue impact in some years.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska House panel hears bill to shield ratepayers from data center costs
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony Monday on SB 250, which would prohibit data centers from passing infrastructure costs like transmission lines onto residential electricity ratepayers, a consumer protection measure inspired by Trump administration proposals as Alaska considers major data center development.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAI
Mat-Su Job Center Offers Free Digital Literacy Help Twice Weekly
The Alaska Literacy Program is providing free, no-appointment drop-in computer skills tutoring twice weekly at the Mat-Su Job Center to help job seekers gain digital literacy skills.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAIAlaska Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Itemized Student Fee Statements
The Alaska Legislature passed HB 176, requiring the University of Alaska to provide itemized student fee statements and notice of fee increases.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAIDeadhorse Airport fence project reaches 3,500 feet of installation
Contractors have installed 3,500 linear feet of insulation board for a wildlife perimeter fence at Deadhorse Airport as part of drainage and safety improvements at the North Slope facility.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAILate breakup delays Chitina dipnet season; salmon run expected late
The Chitina Personal Use dip net fishery is tentatively scheduled to open June 10, 2026, delayed by late breakup and cold temperatures that are expected to slow salmon migration timing in the Copper River drainage.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAIKing Salmon Fishing Banned Across Tanana Drainage Due to Yukon Forecast
Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed all king salmon sport fishing in the Tanana River drainage due to a below-average Yukon River run forecast.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min readAIOne Spot Left in Denali Wildfire and Wildlife Workshop for Educators
Alaska Department of Fish and Game has one remaining spot in its June 2026 Wildfire and Wildlife educator workshop in Denali National Park, part of its Wildlife Education and Outreach program's summer professional development offerings.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readAIJBER plans 7-mile barbed-wire fence along Anchorage neighborhoods
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson proposes a 7-mile barbed-wire fence along Anchorage neighborhoods, prompting resident concerns about wildlife, access, and community impact.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate
This episode covers the week's major Alaska stories: a gas pipeline tax bill that added oil tax increases, the Point Thomson condensate trade-off for pipeline gas, Mount Edgecumbe enrollment crisis, and McNeil River bear sanctuary access proposals.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska House passes fisheries tax credit expansion unanimously
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 40-0 Sunday to extend and expand a tax credit program that helps seafood processors invest in new equipment and value-added products, with supporters saying it aids both large processors and small direct-marketing fishermen during poor market conditions.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAISenate Passes Insurance Gap Fix for Gig Economy Drivers
The Alaska Senate voted 13-7 Sunday to amend a bill requiring insurance coverage for delivery app drivers like Instacart and Uber Eats workers, who currently have zero coverage during accidents.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAI
House Finance Committee advances auto-IRA bill for Alaska workers
The House Finance Committee voted Sunday to move forward legislation creating an automatic IRA program for Alaska employees whose employers do not offer retirement plans.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska Legislature approves $1,000 PFD, $200 energy relief payment
The Alaska Legislature conference committee approved a $1,000 Permanent Fund Dividend and increased energy relief payments from $150 to $200 per person, totaling $127.3 million, in a split vote Sunday.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAI
Gas pipeline bill adds oil tax increase, industry calls process rushed
The Senate Resources Committee passed a gas pipeline tax bill that includes an oil production tax floor increase from four to six percent, prompting industry criticism despite thirty-two hearings on the measure.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
House panel cuts youth tobacco fines, advances Tobacco 21 bill
Alaska's House Finance Committee reduced proposed fines for minors possessing tobacco from $300 to $100 and eliminated mandatory court appearances, advancing legislation to raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21 and tax vaping products.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate Finance advances public safety bill with parole board overhaul
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a comprehensive public safety bill Saturday that restructures the parole board, creates an address confidentiality program for crime victims, and establishes a tribal liaison in corrections.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAIGas line tax break delivers 20% savings, far less than competing states
A consultant told the Senate Resources Committee that the current gas line tax bill provides developers a 20% savings when using discounted cash flow analysis, compared to 65% if taxes were delayed 10 years — raising questions about whether Alaska is competitive with Texas and Louisiana.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska House Passes Paid Parental Leave, Exempts Seasonal Workers from Sick Leave
The Alaska House passed a paid parental leave program (8-12 weeks) funded through unemployment insurance contributions while simultaneously exempting seasonal workers and businesses under 10 employees from voter-approved paid sick leave requirements.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAISenate panel weighs municipal concerns over Alaska LNG tax structure
The Senate Resources Committee Saturday reviewed Alaska Municipal League concerns about tax abatements and revenue distribution for the Alaska LNG pipeline project, with legal counsel proposing a 10-year sunset provision to address precedent worries.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances bill requiring humans in autonomous commercial vehicles
The Alaska Senate State Affairs Committee voted Saturday to advance a bill requiring human safety operators in autonomous commercial vehicles, despite warnings from industry representatives that the measure would effectively ban driverless technology in the state.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
House Finance advances civics education bill after rejecting military exemption
The Alaska House Finance Committee moved a civics education bill forward Saturday after voting down an amendment that would have exempted active-duty military children from a new graduation requirement.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska Senate tightens hunting residency rules to match PFD standards
The Alaska Senate passed legislation Saturday requiring hunters to be physically present in Alaska for 180 days annually to qualify for resident licenses, mirroring Permanent Fund Dividend requirements.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
8-Year Boundary Error in Jonesville PUA Finally Corrected
An eight-year-old boundary error in legislation creating the Jonesville Public Use Area is being corrected after unanimous legislative approval, allowing DNR to finally complete regulations for the area.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIFairbanks council blocks mayor's cabin deal, demands open bidding
Fairbanks City Council rejected Mayor O'Neall's negotiated lease for a downtown riverfront cabin and ordered a competitive bidding process instead.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIUrban Design Commission splits on apartment buffer variance
The Anchorage Urban Design Commission approved a landscaping variance for the west boundary of a 36-unit apartment expansion but denied the same relief for the south boundary, where neighbors have spent over $20,000 fighting water damage from the property.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska Senate advances university regents reform bill with 2027 start date
The Alaska Senate moved forward legislation Thursday that would restructure the University of Alaska Board of Regents, pushing the effective date to February 2027 and drawing bipartisan support from at least 10 senators who signed on as cross-sponsors.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAIHouse committee advances LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill on 4-3 vote
The Alaska House State Affairs Committee voted 4-3 Thursday to advance HB 301, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to state civil rights law covering employment, housing, and public accommodations.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAISenate panel advances bill to stabilize Alaska school funding with enrollment averaging
The Alaska Senate Education Committee advanced House Bill 261, which would allow school districts to use multi-year enrollment averages instead of annual counts for more stable funding, addressing chronic budget uncertainty that forces teacher layoffs and school closures.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate approves mental health education bill after six-year push
The Alaska Senate voted 17-3 Friday to concur with House amendments to a bill requiring age-appropriate mental health education in schools, marking the culmination of a six-year legislative effort.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAISenate cuts community impact fees for gas pipeline by half
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee voted to reduce community impact fees for the Alaska LNG pipeline from $1 million to $500,000 per mile, cutting projected payments to municipalities from approximately $740 million to $370 million.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
Railbelt grid operator holds five subcommittee meetings in eight days
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAIDNR receives 24 placer mining applications for Interior Alaska gold districts
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAISenate panel advances full funding for pre-K students statewide
The Senate Education Committee voted Saturday to expand pre-kindergarten funding by counting pre-K students as full-time rather than half-time in the state funding formula, removing previous caps and sunset clauses.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate panel advances civil rights commission bill with new settlement tool
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved a bill Friday that adds a predetermination agreement procedure to the State Commission for Civil Rights, sending the measure to Senate Rules.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska Senate committee hears nurse staffing bill amid safety concerns
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on legislation that would establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in Alaska hospitals, with nurses describing unsafe workloads and advocates citing Oregon's successful implementation.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
House panel withdraws AI personhood amendment after legal questions arise
The Alaska House Judiciary Committee withdrew an amendment that would have declared AI systems cannot be recognized as persons under commercial law after members raised concerns about unintended legal consequences.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI