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Senate panel examines regulatory questions on gas pipeline tax plan
The Senate Resources Committee discussed federal versus state jurisdiction over a proposed natural gas pipeline and debated an alternative tax structure that would replace property taxes with a volumetric fee.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate panel hears setnet cooperative bill, sets aside land transfer
The Senate Resources Committee heard House Bill 117, which would allow commercial setnet fishermen to continue operating cooperatively, and Senate Bill 255, which would transfer state land to the Mat-Su Borough without surveys.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago7 min readAI
Senate passes capital budget focused on school maintenance
The Alaska Senate approved a $247.7 million capital budget emphasizing deferred maintenance for schools, university facilities, and courthouses.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska DOT seeks snow removal equipment for statewide airports
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAISenate Finance hears bill expanding civil rights protections to nonprofits
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 23, which would extend workplace discrimination protections to approximately 44,000 Alaskans employed by nonprofits and rename the Human Rights Commission.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate panel hears refuse utility rate reform bill
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 16, which would allow refuse utilities to use a simplified rate filing process to speed up rate case decisions.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska judicial conduct commission to hold rare probable cause hearing this spring
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAIHouse Judiciary Advances Bill Restoring PFDs for Wrongfully Convicted
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved legislation allowing Alaskans whose criminal convictions were overturned to claim past Permanent Fund Dividends they were denied while incarcerated.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
House committee advances bill adding unorganized borough seat to boundary panel
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a sixth seat to the Alaska Local Boundary Commission specifically for a resident of the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel approves $163.8 million judiciary budget with lease, staff additions
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Judiciary approved a $163.8 million operating budget for Alaska's court system that includes funding for lease increases and therapeutic court staff.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAISenate panel approves $139.2 million budget for Department of Law
The Senate Finance Department of Law Subcommittee approved the fiscal year 2027 operating budget for the Department of Law totaling $139.2 million.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAISenate cuts House domestic violence funding additions in half
The Senate Finance Subcommittee reduced House additions for domestic violence and sexual assault programs by 50 percent while approving a $357 million Department of Public Safety budget.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate Finance subcommittee recommends $1.17 billion university budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the University of Alaska recommended a $1.17 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2027, including partial funding for student recruitment and employee compensation increases.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate Panel Advances Nine Board Nominees After Confirmation Hearings
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee forwarded nine gubernatorial appointees to professional licensing boards after confirmation hearings addressing rural healthcare access, scope of practice, and COVID-era business practices.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago6 min readAI
Senate panel advances $349 million administration budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Administration forwarded a $349.4 million operating budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, rejecting proposed decentralization of payroll and shared services.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate panel cuts jail funding in half, seeks out-of-state inmate housing
The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee cut House-approved community jail funding by half and requested information on housing Alaska inmates outside the state while advancing a $535 million corrections budget.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAISenate panel advances $535 million corrections budget with jail funding cut
The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee approved a $535 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027, cutting House-added community jail funding in half and requesting a study on housing inmates outside Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate panel approves $441 million education budget with teacher incentives
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Education and Early Development approved a $441 million budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes new funding for teacher incentives and Head Start matching grants while reducing spending on boarding homes and residential schools.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAISenate panel approves $485 million Department of Revenue budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Revenue forwarded a $485.1 million budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, including new auditor positions and rejecting structural changes to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska Senate adjourns technical session after committee report
The Alaska State Senate held a brief technical session Wednesday, receiving one committee report before adjourning until Monday.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate minority outlines pension reform, gas line concerns at press conference
Alaska Senate minority members discussed pension reform amendments, gas line project challenges, and legislative priorities at a Thursday press conference.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
Senate panel advances Salazar to Human Rights Commission
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Grace Salazar's nomination to the Alaska State Commission on Human Rights to a joint session for confirmation.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Senate Resources advances three bills on agriculture, evacuations, invasive species
The Senate Resources Committee moved three bills forward on April 17, covering agricultural land leases, evacuation color-coding standards, and creation of an invasive species council.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Wild ice skating draws global attention as Alaska outdoor recreation scene grows
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
Senate panel approves $4.2 billion health budget with Medicaid rate hikes
The Senate Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Health approved a $4.2 billion fiscal year 2027 budget that includes $377 million in Medicaid provider rate increases and funding for food banks and early learning programs.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Kenai Peninsula CTE students achieve 97% graduation rate
Career and technical education students in Kenai Peninsula Borough School District achieved a 97% graduation rate, with 32% of successful students economically disadvantaged, demonstrating how hands-on career training keeps Alaska students engaged and employed in-state.
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 approves $515 million budget for family services agency
The Senate Budget Subcommittee approved a $515.3 million fiscal year 2027 budget for the Department of Family and Community Services, including $1.5 million added for child advocacy centers.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
House Resources Committee Rejects Wildlife Refuge Amendments
The Alaska House Resources Committee voted 5-3 to advance House Bill 321 after rejecting amendments that would have limited state authority over private land in refuges and scaled back habitat protections.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 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 ago5 min readAI
House Judiciary adopts committee substitute for infant safety device bill
The House Judiciary Committee adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 9, which would create a legal framework for infant safety devices at hospitals and fire stations while adding civil immunity protections for parents who use Alaska's Safe Surrender Law.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min readAI
House Resources advances Vogler nomination to Regulatory Commission
The House Resources Committee forwarded Julie Vogler's nomination to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the full House and Senate without objection after a confirmation hearing.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances property tax cap bill despite state warnings
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee moved forward with a bill allowing municipalities to cap annual property tax assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent, despite state officials warning of revenue losses and administrative complexity.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAISenate committee holds Senate Bill 259 on property tax caps
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee discussed but did not advance Senate Bill 259, which would allow municipalities to cap annual property assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances Lambertson to Police Standards Council despite questions
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.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
State regulators extend review periods for Railbelt utility tariffs
Alaska regulators extended review periods for Railbelt utility tariff filings and set procedural schedules for rate cases involving Chugach Electric and Enstar Natural Gas.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIHouse panel advances seafood industry data-sharing bill
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 181, which allows the University of Alaska to access employment data for seafood industry research.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska Airlines Pilots Raise Concerns Over Hawaiian Merger Integration
Alaska Airlines pilots are raising concerns about seniority integration, route operations, and job stability as the carrier completes its merger with Hawaiian Airlines.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAIHouse Military Committee Advances Joint Armed Services Overhaul
The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs voted 6-0 to advance House Bill 382, which modernizes statutes governing the Joint Armed Services Committee, after adopting three amendments and rejecting six others.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAI
Early construction work causes two-hour delays on Palmer commute
Construction work starting at 6 a.m. on April 23 caused two-hour delays for Palmer commuters during morning rush hour.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAI