The upper chamber of the Alaska State Legislature — 20 senators representing single-member districts. Considers and votes on bills, confirms appointments, and joins the House on appropriations.
Alaska State Capitol, 120 4th St, Juneau, AK 99801
The Alaska State Senate passed the conference committee substitute for House Bill 381 on a split 11-8 vote Thursday, advancing legislation that reshapes oil and gas property taxes and governs the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, but senators who voted no said the S corporation tax provision needs to be fixed before the bill can do what it promises.
The Alaska House passed HB 381 on Friday, replacing property tax with a volume-based tax on natural gas transported through the proposed Alaska LNG pipeline. Governor Mike Dunleavy called the vote a significant step toward advancing the project.
Alaska's Senate passed LNG bill HB 381 12-8; Gov. Dunleavy called a second special session to rewrite provisions he says would sink the North Slope gas project.
A Senate Finance draft of HB 381 ties Alaska LNG's tax break to Glenfarne paying $80M, signing a labor deal, and building a gas spur line to Fairbanks.
Alaska Senate Finance Committee reviews fiscal analysis of proposed tax structure for Alaska LNG project, showing $18 billion combined revenue reduction over project life in exchange for improved global price competitiveness.
The Alaska State Senate voted 0-16 on whether to recede from its amendments to House Bill 381, failing to do so and sending the natural gas pipeline tax measure to a conference committee. The chamber also passed two procedural resolutions and introduced two new Senate bills before adjourning until July 1.
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday heard unresolved questions about who will build, own, and regulate a proposed Fairbanks natural gas spur line, how its cost should be spread across ratepayers, and whether HB 381's spur commitment is firm enough to guarantee construction.
The Alaska State Senate Finance Committee heard Wednesday that the Alaska LNG project's capital costs could reach $70 billion rather than the commonly cited $46 billion, and that the state's 25% equity stake faces potential dilution when new investors join the project's three sub-companies.
The Alaska Senate on Friday adopted a pass-through entity tax on oil and gas income with a 2028 effective date, after rejecting an immediate version 9-11, then passing HB 381 12-8 with the provision included.
Gov. Dunleavy called a second special session over the unresolved Alaska LNG tax bill — and the legislature overrode two vetoes but failed on three more
AGDC transferred three-quarters ownership of Eight Star Alaska—the entity holding FERC authorization and project assets—to private developer Glenfarn in 2025, shifting construction risk off state books while preserving a 5–25% buy-in window at final investment decision.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Alaska's FY2027 budget, directing a temporary oil-revenue windfall to school infrastructure and rural districts' rising energy costs.
Independent megaproject consultant warns Alaska Senate Finance that 92% of megaprojects exceed budget or schedule, with LNG projects averaging 70% cost overruns, directly challenging optimistic timelines for the state's proposed gas pipeline and export terminal.
A consumer watchdog warns Alaska's $16 gas-line price may climb before delivery, while utilities call the firm cap protection against costlier LNG imports.
Three major North Slope producers told the Alaska Senate Finance Committee they signed gas sale precedent agreements for Alaska LNG Phase 1 and will sell at the lease line. That structure means midstream pipeline and treatment costs won't be deductible against oil production tax.
Alaska's gas pipeline tax bill conference committee weighs a new pass-through tax on oil and gas producers and a rewritten volumetric tax splitting revenue with communities.
Anchorage's mayor said LNG would cost "tens of millions." The Halcyon report shows $23M-$173M depending on housing supply. Her housing plan targets $23M.
One version of Alaska's HB 381 gas-tax bill could raise Kenai Peninsula Borough school-funding costs up to $9.4 million a year, but a sunset provision may mean none is ever charged.
The Alaska Senate added a corporate income tax on oil and gas pass-through entities like Hilcorp to the AK LNG gas-pipeline bill (HB 381), effective 2028 regardless of the project.
The Alaska Senate unanimously passed two House bills Wednesday aimed at special education services and court backlogs in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Senator Bert Stedman pressed the Alaska Senate Finance Committee to obtain standalone Phase 1 pipeline economics before acting on Alaska LNG tax relief. The special session ends in four days.
The Alaska Senate Republican minority caucus held a press conference Wednesday urging the Senate majority to bring HB 381, a volumetric tax bill for the Alaska LNG pipeline, to a clean floor vote, warning that delay or unrelated amendments could jeopardize the project before a developer deadline.
Fairbanks North Star Borough secured developer agreement on spur line construction tied to tax breaks, with postage-stamp rate language now central to Senate Finance deliberations on SB 2001.
Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed a statewide transit planning bill Thursday while calling the Alaska Legislature into special session to address natural gas pipeline taxation, with Senate Finance Committee hearings scheduled to begin Wednesday.
A lifelong Alaskan and former tribal chief from Kalskag is running for state Senate in 2026 on a platform centered on full Permanent Fund dividends and protecting subsistence rights.
The Alaska Senate convened Thursday to begin work on Senate Bill 2001, a comprehensive natural gas taxation package that addresses pipeline property taxes, municipal tax limits, and a new volumetric tax system.
The Alaska Senate passed legislation Wednesday requiring insurers to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate as in-person care and extending healthcare coverage to permanently disabled public safety employees.
Only Prudhoe Bay and Point Thomson hold regulatory approval to supply major gas sales projects. The commission's testimony contradicts recent claims that other fields are ready to deliver.
Enstar is negotiating a 30-year gas supply agreement with Glenfarne that would cap prices at $16 per thousand cubic feet with annual inflation adjustments. The contract protects ratepayers from project cost overruns and allows a switch from LNG imports to pipeline gas if the export project is built.
Senate Finance heard Wednesday that British Columbia's LNG Canada project received federal tax deferrals and accelerated depreciation before final investment decision, creating a competitive fiscal framework Alaska must consider as it weighs property tax alternatives for Alaska LNG.
The Alaska Senate approved a $13.9 billion operating budget Wednesday that includes a $200 per-person energy relief payment and maintains a $44 million surplus.
The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation can block major decisions in the Alaska LNG joint venture despite owning only a quarter of it. The unusual arrangement protects state priorities including gas reserved for Alaska customers and rate structures that favor residential users.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche told the Alaska Senate Finance Committee Wednesday that the House version of the Alaska LNG tax bill provides a workable 70% property tax reduction, while the original 90% cut would have left local taxpayers subsidizing the project.
Alaska Senate Finance Committee demands actual commercial and financial data for proposed $46.2 billion gas pipeline before considering state investment role
The Alaska Senate passed legislation Wednesday authorizing pharmacists to diagnose and treat minor conditions like strep throat and urinary tract infections, expanding healthcare access particularly in rural areas.
Alaska Gasline Development Corporation secured the right for the state to buy up to 25% of the Alaska LNG project after private investors commit. The state gets six months to decide whether to invest up to $1.16 billion.
Legislative Finance Division modeling dated June 27 shows the Kenai Peninsula Borough could owe $9 million in Required Local Contribution in FY34 and $11 million in FY42 under the Senate Finance version of HB 381 — a school-budget consequence that hinges on which version the conference committee adopts.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readAI
