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Alaska Senate passes wildfire evacuation color-code system
The Alaska State Senate unanimously approved legislation establishing a standardized Ready-Set-Go color-coded evacuation system for wildfires across the state.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
3-Year-Old Dies After Falling Through Ice in Goodnews Bay
A 3-year-old boy died after falling through thin ice on the Goodnews River in Goodnews Bay on April 23, prompting a community search and an ongoing Trooper investigation.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIKodiak Trooper Uses Surfboard to Rescue Teen from Island Lake Ice
Alaska State Trooper Anthony Will used a surfboard to rescue a hypothermic teenager who fell through thin ice on Kodiak's Island Lake on April 25, with Sergeant Nathan Walsh towing them to shore where fire department personnel provided medical care.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAISenate panel examines price controls, federal authority on gas pipeline
The Senate Resources Committee discussed legal concerns about proposed natural gas price caps and whether federal regulatory authority over interstate commerce conflicts with state legislative oversight of the Alaska LNG pipeline project.
by Matt4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate Finance hears bill to add faculty regent to University board
The Senate Finance Committee held its first hearing on legislation that would add a tenured faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents for a two-year term.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska Advances Mental Health Education Guidelines Without Mandates
The House Finance Committee moved Senate Bill 41 forward, directing development of mental health education guidelines for K-12 schools while leaving implementation to local districts.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAISenate Finance adopts $13.8B budget with $150 energy payments, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes $150 per person energy relief payments and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts, while maintaining a $50 million reserve by budgeting at $73 per barrel oil.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate Finance hears tax modernization bill, sets aside for further review
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift Alaska's corporate income tax apportionment from cost-based to market-based sourcing, but took no action on the measure.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade resolution with border changes
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee approved a revised resolution supporting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and calling for easier border crossings with Canada.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAIHouse panel fast-tracks insurance coverage for PANDAS treatment
The House Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 292 requiring insurance coverage for pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders after parents testified about children experiencing severe symptoms and treatment delays.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
House committee advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a seat to the Local Boundary Commission and requires at least one commissioner be from the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
House Finance Advances Mental Health Education Guidelines for Schools
The House Finance Committee moved Senate Bill 41 out of committee, which directs development of mental health education guidelines for Alaska's K-12 schools.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAILegislative Council approves $70,200 Bethel office lease renewal
The Alaska Legislative Council unanimously approved a one-year lease renewal for the Bethel Legislative Information Office at $70,200, the first of five renewal options available under the original agreement.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on House Bill 234, which would define emergency dispatchers as first responders and adjust their retirement benefits to match those of peace officers and firefighters.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on House Bill 234, which would define emergency dispatchers as first responders and adjust their retirement benefits to match those of peace officers and firefighters.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate advances software licensing bill, food dye ban to third reading
The Alaska Senate advanced two bills to third reading: one regulating software licensing contracts and another prohibiting certain food dyes in school meals during the school day.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Psychologist who lost son to fentanyl urges Alaska lawmakers to support prevention
Sandy Snodgrass, founder of the Alaska Fentanyl Response Project, presented to state legislators about the fentanyl crisis and her work educating Alaska students after losing her son Bruce to fentanyl poisoning in 2021.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Toksook Bay documentary on suicide prevention screened for Alaska lawmakers
Alaska lawmakers viewed a 19-minute documentary about suicide prevention efforts in Toksook Bay, a Yup'ik village on Nelson Island, highlighting community healing practices and the need for professional mental health services in rural Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska right-to-repair bill draws fire over broad scope and safety concerns
Alaska lawmakers debated House Bill 162, a digital product repair measure that would be the nation's most sweeping, with critics warning its broad definition could create unintended safety issues for heavy equipment and aircraft despite exemptions for motor vehicles.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
House panel advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard Senate Bill 63, which would add a sixth seat to the Local Boundary Commission specifically for someone from Alaska's unorganized borough, and set the bill aside with an amendment deadline.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate panel examines LNG project economics, megaproject risks
Consultants presented economic modeling of the proposed alternative volumetric tax for the Alaska LNG project and warned of cost and schedule risks common to large infrastructure developments.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago6 min readAI
Alaska Sustainable Energy Corporation reports progress on green financing
The Alaska Sustainable Energy Corporation updated the House Energy Committee on its development as a financing intermediary for sustainable energy projects, including a $4.7 million federal loan program for residential energy efficiency.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
House Finance sets amendment deadline for police, firefighter disability bill
The House Finance Committee set an amendment deadline for legislation increasing disability benefits for injured peace officers and firefighters, while also advancing a mail theft bill and revising a paid parental leave measure.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago6 min readAI
Senate panel hears data center safeguards, tribal education bill
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony Thursday on Senate Bill 250, which would require data centers to cover their own infrastructure costs and protect existing ratepayers from fuel supply risks and rate increases.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska lawmakers hear testimony on four ballot initiatives
The Alaska Legislature held a joint hearing on four ballot initiatives covering citizenship voting requirements, campaign finance limits, and ranked choice voting.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
Brain science experts brief legislators on early childhood development
Representatives from the All Alaska Pediatric Partnership presented research on brain development and early childhood programs to state legislators at an April 16 lunch-and-learn session.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
House Resources Committee debates LNG equity stakes, rejects wildlife refuge amendments
The House Resources Committee heard testimony on state equity participation in the Alaska LNG project and voted down nine amendments to a wildlife refuge consolidation bill, with most votes splitting 5-4 along party lines.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago7 min readAI
Wild ice skating grows from isolated hobby to organized Alaska community
A legislative lunch-and-learn session highlighted the rapid growth of wild ice skating in Alaska, from isolated individual experiences to an organized community activity attracting international media attention and supporting local manufacturing.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
House Education Committee advances CPR training bill with rural flexibility
The House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 20, which requires CPR instruction in Alaska public schools, after adopting three amendments to provide flexibility for rural and under-resourced districts.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances fishing co-op bill with electronic monitoring
The Senate Resources Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 117, which legalizes set gillnet fishing cooperatives and adds electronic monitoring authority for trawl vessels, after adopting two amendments including a five-permit cap.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances fishing cooperative bill with electronic monitoring
The Senate Resources Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 117, which legalizes set gillnet fishing cooperatives and adds electronic monitoring authority for trawl vessels, after adopting two amendments including a five-permit cap.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Governor's appointee questioned on Holocaust views, residency qualifications
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Veronica Lambertson's appointment to the Alaska Police Standards Council to a joint session despite concerns about her residency qualifications and social media posts questioning the Holocaust.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska Senate panel hears bill requiring human operators in commercial autonomous vehicles
The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 148, which would require human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles operating in Alaska, citing the state's extreme weather conditions as a safety concern.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate Finance adopts operating budget with $150 energy payment, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes a $150 per person energy relief payment and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate Finance hears corporate tax shift targeting online sales to Alaskans
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift Alaska's corporate income tax to market-based sourcing, a change expected to generate $15 million annually by taxing out-of-state companies based on where Alaska customers receive services.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIAlaska lawmakers urge federal reclassification of 911 dispatchers
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on a resolution urging Congress to reclassify emergency dispatchers from clerical workers to protective service personnel, granting them access to federal training and mental health resources.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAISenate panel hears autonomous vehicle bill requiring human operators
The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 148, which would require human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles operating in Alaska.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
House Finance hears divided testimony on pharmacist prescribing bill
The House Finance Committee heard more than three hours of public testimony on HB 195, which would expand pharmacists' prescriptive authority, with supporters citing improved healthcare access and opponents raising abortion medication concerns.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
House committee hears bill to eliminate tax discounts
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard Senate Bill 164, which would eliminate several tax discounts and deductions to raise nearly $500,000 annually for the state.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate Education Committee advances teacher loan repayment pilot program
The Senate Education Committee voted to advance House Bill 28, which establishes a three-year student loan repayment pilot program for Alaska teachers in high-need subject areas.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI