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Alaska House panel advances ban on heavy fuel oil for cruise ships
The House Transportation Committee narrowly adopted a committee substitute restricting heavy petroleum fuel oil use to large commercial passenger vessels, passing 4-3 after debate over environmental protection versus economic impact.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
Fairbanks father's testimony drives push for faster body cam release
The House State Affairs Committee heard emotional testimony from a Fairbanks father whose sons were shot by state troopers, fueling support for a bill requiring police to release body camera footage within 30 days of use-of-force incidents that result in death or serious injury.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
House panel advances income tax on large pass-through businesses
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted 4-2 to advance HB 350, which would impose a 9.4% income tax on S-corporations, LLCs, and partnerships earning over $25 million annually, with first payments due in 2028.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
Federal Subsistence Board adopts 52 wildlife proposals for Alaska
The Federal Subsistence Board approved 52 wildlife proposals that will reshape hunting and trapping rules on federal public lands across Alaska for 2026 through 2028.
by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska House panel advances dental insurance transparency bill
The House Health and Social Services Committee heard House Bill 273, which would require dental insurers to publicly report how much premium money goes to patient care versus administrative costs and profits, and held the bill for future consideration.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate panel holds Alaska state seal redesign resolution
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on a resolution to create a commission that would evaluate redesigning Alaska's 1913 state seal, which critics say lacks Alaska Native representation and emphasizes outdated industrial imagery.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances 10 health board nominees to full Legislature
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee recommended 10 gubernatorial appointees to various health professional boards for full legislative confirmation, including positions on nursing, pharmacy, optometry, and social work boards.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska House panel hears bill to overhaul school funding timelines
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 261, which would allow districts to use three-year average student counts instead of single-year October counts to set budgets months earlier and offer teacher contracts in spring rather than summer.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate Passes Alaska Work and Save Retirement Program 15-4
The Alaska Senate approved a first-in-Alaska automatic retirement savings program for workers at small businesses, despite concerns from the Alaska Chamber about mandates on employers.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate unveils gas pipeline bill with $600M property tax, consumer protections
The Senate Resources Committee introduced sweeping changes to the governor's gas pipeline proposal, including a $600 million property tax at full production, prohibitions on shifting cost overruns to consumers, and $1 million per mile impact payments to communities during construction.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
House passes bill requiring transparency at psychiatric hospitals for minors
The Alaska House unanimously passed legislation requiring psychiatric hospitals to allow minors confidential communication with parents, conduct unannounced inspections, and notify families when seclusion or restraint is used.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Residential Schools Seek Doubled Funding Tied to Base Allocation
Alaska's residential boarding schools are pushing for legislation to double their per-student stipends and link future funding to the base student allocation, arguing current funding has not meaningfully increased since 2015 despite rising costs.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska releases FY25 Single Audit after closed-door review
The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee unanimously approved the release of Alaska's FY25 Single Audit on April 22, 2026, following an executive session to discuss the annual federal financial review.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago1 min readAI
Denali Borough mayor opposes state control of pipeline tax payments
Denali Borough's mayor testified against a provision in SB 280 that would route pipeline tax revenue through the state legislature, seeking direct payments and upfront impact fees instead.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Mat-Su Emergency Services Certifies 25 Responders in Trench Rescue
Twenty-five emergency responders from across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are completing week-long trench rescue technician certification training to address the common hazard of trench collapses in the region.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
House panel advances tribal victim advocate confidentiality bill
The House Tribal Affairs Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 384, which extends confidentiality protections to tribal domestic violence and sexual assault advocates by adding two words to Alaska statute.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Energy consultant: Alaska LNG tax bill could cut delivered cost by 20 cents
Energy consultant tells House Resources Committee that proposed alternative volumetric tax in HB 381 would reduce delivered cost to Asia by roughly 20 cents per MMBtu compared to current property tax, potentially making the $46+ billion project more competitive globally while still generating stable municipal revenue.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
House panel hears bill to let small Alaska fishermen process, sell catch directly
The House Special Committee on Fisheries heard House Bill 356, which would create a 'microfisheries' pathway allowing small-scale commercial fishermen to process up to 5,000 pounds of fish onboard and sell directly to consumers with streamlined permitting.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Oil industry opposes tax provisions in Alaska gas pipeline bill
Alaska Oil and Gas Association testified against multiple tax provisions in SB 280, warning that sections decoupling oil and gas lease expenditures and imposing new S-corp taxes could harm current operations and chill investment.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
House advances bills on autonomous vehicles, nurse training, interior design
The Alaska House of Representatives advanced three bills through second reading on Tuesday, including legislation regulating autonomous commercial vehicles, certified nurse aide training requirements, and expanding the state's professional licensing board to include interior designers.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska House Revives Defined Benefit Pensions in Narrow 21-19 Vote
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 21-19 to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 78, restoring defined benefit pension options for state and municipal employees after a 20-year hiatus, despite concerns about fiscal risk and implementation challenges.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
House Finance advances mail theft bill despite competing governor's version
The Alaska House Finance Committee unanimously advanced a bill making mail theft a class C felony, even as a competing administration bill with lighter penalties moves through the Senate, creating potential legislative conflict.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Board considers trawl gear restrictions in Aleutian Islands state waters
The Alaska Board of Fisheries heard testimony on a proposal to close state waters west of 170° W. longitude to trawl vessels over 100 feet, with golden king crab fishermen reporting dramatic catch declines since 2014 while community development groups and processors opposed the closure.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAIFish and Game Opens Two-Week King Salmon Fishery at Gunnuk Creek
Alaska Department of Fish and Game opens a two-week king salmon fishery at Gunnuk Creek near Petersburg and Wrangell from June 1-14, allowing residents two fish and nonresidents one fish while most surrounding waters remain closed.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAIAlaska Universities Report 73% Jump in Teacher Pipeline Enrollment
University of Alaska reports significant growth in teacher education programs, with Ed Rising student participation up 73% year-over-year and over $1 million in scholarships awarded to 109 teacher candidates.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Board of Fish Defers Trawl Gear Restrictions, Opts for Federal Coordination
The Alaska Board of Fisheries voted 7-0 to take no action on four trawl-related proposals, instead choosing to work with federal fishery managers through a Joint Protocol Committee to address habitat and bycatch concerns.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska Board Rejects 25% Hatchery Production Cut After Heated Debate
The Alaska Board of Fisheries voted 6-1 to reject a proposal to reduce pink and chum salmon hatchery production by 25%, despite concerns about impacts on wild stocks, after extensive debate about scientific uncertainty and economic consequences.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Kodiak Borough Lands Committee develops framework to streamline land disposal
The Kodiak Island Borough Lands Committee is creating standardized principles and screening criteria to make land disposal decisions more transparent and efficient, addressing workforce housing needs while protecting public interests.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Tlingit & Haida building two education campuses on Prince of Wales
The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is constructing two early education campuses in Craig and Klawock to expand Head Start and childcare capacity while integrating Indigenous language instruction.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Juneau committee weighs limiting short-term rentals to one per owner
The Assembly Lands, Housing and Economic Development Committee reviewed a draft ordinance that would cap short-term rental ownership at one property per person, with members divided on whether the restriction addresses housing availability concerns.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Planning Commission accepts DOT concept for Tudor Road interchange redesign
The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission accepted a concept report for the Alaska Department of Transportation's plan to rebuild the Seward Highway and Tudor Road interchange with improved pedestrian safety features and a tight diamond design.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Fish and Game sets cleanup rules for herring pound structures
Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued rules for removing herring pound structures in Prince William Sound after spawn-on-kelp harvest to prevent disease and ensure orderly fishery closure.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska LNG Consultant Flags Potential 50% Return for Developers vs. $1B State Revenue
Legislative consultant Nick Fulford presented hastily-prepared analysis showing Alaska LNG midstream developers could earn roughly 50% annual returns by 2040-2050 while the state receives approximately $1 billion in combined taxes, raising questions about the proposed tax structure's fairness.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
Alaska lawmakers explore data center development as economic opportunity
National experts briefed Alaska House State Affairs Committee on data center economics, highlighting the state's potential advantages in cool climate and natural gas while noting growing national concerns about energy demands and tax incentives.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Borough proposes $580K budget with new staff, building upgrades
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviewed the FY 2027 budget proposal, which includes adding a construction management position, transitioning to electric heating, and planning ADA accessibility improvements to the borough building entrance.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
How to challenge your property assessment in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Property owners in Fairbanks North Star Borough have 30 days from the January assessment notice to appeal their property valuation, but must provide specific evidence and pay taxes on time even while the appeal is pending.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Zoning Board Approves Two Variances, Denies Girdwood Deck Request
The Anchorage Zoning Board approved variances for two Eagle River properties with setback violations but denied a Girdwood homeowner's request to legalize an elevated deck encroaching 5 feet into the front setback.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
School Board Reverses Course on Calendar After Community Backlash
The Anchorage School Board voted 7-0 to restore the original August 19 start date for the 2026-27 school year after community outcry over an earlier proposal that moved the first day of school to mid-August, conflicting with subsistence activities and family traditions.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Commission Approves Explosives Storage Site for Avalanche Control
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing the Alaska Department of Transportation to build an explosives storage facility and heliport near Girdwood for avalanche mitigation operations along the Seward Highway.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Assembly postpones developer's land deadline amid mobile home park dispute
The Anchorage Assembly voted 7-3 to postpone a decision on extending a developer's land deadline until May 12 after emotional testimony from South Park Estates residents facing displacement.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI