Alaska State Legislature

Daniel J. Sullivan sued the state today over a denied Senate ballot spot

Daniel J. Sullivan, denied a U.S. Senate primary ballot spot in Alaska, filed a court appeal today as state lawmakers held a joint hearing on the dispute

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI

Alaska ethics overhaul adds deadlines, whistleblower shield, and mandatory referrals

HB 298, sponsored by Representatives Galvin and McCabe, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and now sits in Senate Rules, carrying the most substantial changes to Alaska's Legislative Ethics Act in years, including strict complaint timelines, confidentiality enforcement, and mandatory referrals to law enforcement and APOC.

by Walter AlaskaNews21h ago2 min readAI

Alaska House passes new tax structure for Alaska LNG pipeline aimed at attracting investors

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min readAI

An ethics panel found probable cause that Rep. Sarah Vance misused her office to pressure a newspaper

A legislative ethics subcommittee found probable cause that Rep. Sarah Vance misused state resources to pressure the Homer News over an article. The case heads to a full hearing.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readAI

Alaska's gas-line bill clears the Senate — and the governor immediately moves to undo it

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.

by Cale Green1w ago3 min readAI

Alaska kicked Sullivan off the ballot. In 2024, the state argued it couldn't

Alaska Division of Elections removal of Daniel J. Sullivan from U.S. Senate ballot contradicts state's 2024 court position in Eric Hafner case

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI

Boyle files to challenge Holland in high-turnout South Anchorage House Seat.

Former DNR Commissioner John Boyle has filed to challenge Rep. Ky Holland in House District 9, Alaska's highest-turnout House district covering south Anchorage hillside and Turnagain Arm communities.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago2 min readAI

Alaska's LNG tax break now hinges on a gas line to Fairbanks

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI

Alaska Senate digs in on gas tax bill, sends it to conference

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI

An oil spike filled Alaska's budget and hammered its schools — and the new budget sends some back

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Alaska's FY2027 budget, directing a temporary oil-revenue windfall to school infrastructure and rural districts' rising energy costs.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min readAI

ENSTAR says it locked in a price for Alaska LNG

ENSTAR announces $16/MCF North Slope gas contract price, comparing favorably to LNG imports but representing significant increase over current Cook Inlet costs; Southcentral utilities face 2026-2029 contract expiration deadlines requiring pipeline or import facility decisions.

by Bill AlaskaNews4w ago2 min readAI

What the Senate Changed in the Gas-Line Deal

The Alaska Senate's rewrite of HB 381 caps utility gas prices, adds oversight of AGDC, protects ratepayers from overruns, and sends early tax revenue to boroughs.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min readAI

Senate Finance presses Alaska LNG spur line: who builds, who pays, who regulates

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min readAI

Alaska's gas-line tax bill stalls in committee

A conference committee deadlocked on Alaska's LNG tax bill, rejecting both House and Senate versions, and will seek expanded power to write a compromise on HB 381.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readAI

Lesil McGuire filing adds ranked-choice Republican voice to crowded Alaska governor race

Former state Sen. Lesil McGuire filed a letter of intent to run for Alaska governor, adding a Republican voice supportive of ranked-choice voting to a crowded 2026 field ahead of Monday's filing deadline.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

The $16 Gas Promise Comes With Fine Print

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI

A pass-through tax, not the pipeline, is the real fight in Juneau

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.

by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3d ago3 min readAI

Dunleavy called a second special session over the unresolved LNG tax bill

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

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min readAI

Alaska House passes campaign contribution limits that could take effect during 2026 election

The Alaska House narrowly approved Senate changes to a campaign-finance bill restoring contribution limits to state and local candidates, with an effective date of January 2027.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

Energy consultant tells House Finance that property tax makes Alaska LNG unfinanceable

House Finance Committee hears testimony on Alaska LNG property tax reform

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago3 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 AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readAI

Senate Finance hears $18 billion revenue trade-off for Alaska LNG tax break

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.

by Bill AlaskaNews4w ago2 min readAI

House Finance advances Alaska LNG tax bill, curtailing North Slope's power to negotiate

The House Finance Committee voted 11-0 Wednesday to advance a major natural gas pipeline bill after adopting amendments that restructure municipal taxes and increase community impact aid to $80 million.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min readAI

Gas Line Developer Warns Tax Hike Would Delay Project, Jeopardize 2029 Deadline

Glenfarn Alaska LNG told House Finance that the 15-cent volumetric tax in the Resources Committee version would delay the project's final investment decision and threaten the 2029 completion timeline, calling the rate economically unworkable.

by Alaska News1mo ago4 min readAI

Alaska LNG could cost $70 billion; state's 25% stake faces dilution

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.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI

Two Alaska Democrats marked the Dobbs anniversary — over abortion rights the state already protects

On the Dobbs anniversary, Senate candidate Mary Peltola and gubernatorial candidate Thomas Begich restated abortion-rights positions Alaska's constitution already protects.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 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 AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readAI

Glenfarne's own cost estimate for Alaska LNG is now significantly higher than AGDC's — and the state's equity option sits in the middle of the new math

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min readAI

Alaska Senate panel hears gas line bill with $900M annual tax break

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readAI

Alaska Senate passes S-corp LNG tax with 2028 effective date

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min readAI

Kenai's quiet stake in the gas-line bill

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 AlaskaNewsadded 3d ago2 min readAI

Consultant warns Senate Finance that Alaska LNG faces megaproject risks

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAI

House Finance writes a $16 gas-price cap into Alaska LNG bill — even if Enstar's contract isn't signed

Alaska House Finance Committee caps natural gas prices at $16 per million BTU for Alaskans through statutory amendment to House Bill 381, mirroring Enstar contract terms to protect ratepayers from cost overruns on Alaska LNG project.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAI

Alaska House recesses 10 days as gas line conference committee begins

The Alaska House voted 12-28 to reject Senate amendments to HB 381, then passed HCR 302 by 40-0 to recess until July 1, sending the gas line tax bill to a conference committee. Minority Leader DeLena Johnson put the chamber on record that the break must produce work, not delay.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago4 min readAI

Alaska Senate minority demands clean floor vote on LNG tax bill

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI

A typo froze Sutton's wild rec area for eight years. Not anymore.

Alaska fixed a land-description error that blocked rules for the Jonesville Public Use Area near Sutton for eight years, clearing the way for safety and recreation management.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min readAI

All three major North Slope producers have signed Alaska LNG Phase 1 sale agreements — and they want their ownership to stop at the lease line

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.

by Alaska News3w ago3 min readAI

Federal SNAP changes could put Alaska food aid and state budget under new pressure

New federal rules tied to H.R. 1 would expand SNAP work requirements to Alaskans ages 18 to 64 and could cost the state up to $42.2 million in benefit cost-sharing and $10.7 million more annually in administrative costs depending on payment error rates.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI

Senate Finance demands Phase 1 pipeline math before Alaska LNG tax vote

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.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAI