Alaska State Legislature

Homeschool parents object to a task force line on correspondence programs

A legislative task force floated folding homeschool correspondence programs into "a broader brick-and-mortar framework." Homeschool parents lined up to say no.

by Walter AlaskaNews10h ago3 min read

Lyman Hoffman marks 40 years in the Legislature by citing rural Alaska's costs

Lyman Hoffman, leaving after 40 years in the Legislature, used an award speech to talk about $12 milk and $20 heating fuel in the rural Alaska he represents.

by Walter AlaskaNews23h ago3 min read

Bipartisan coalitions pick Schrage, Giessel to lead Alaska House and Senate

Bipartisan coalitions named their picks to run the Alaska House and Senate next year. Voters are still finishing the part where they decide who's in them.

by Alaska News1w ago3 min read

Legislative Council approves up to $66,000 for new Alaska House SUV

The House's 15-year-old ride is wearing out, so legislative leaders OK'd up to $66,000 for a new SUV. Staff's pick is a Jeep Wagoneer, the cheapest quote.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Housing agency has no set plans for proposed state land transfers, CEO tells senators

AHFC has no firm plans yet for over 400 acres of free state land DNR proposes giving it for housing. Legislature's lawyers say such giveaways are likely unconstitutional.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

DNR commissioner says governor's office worked 'very closely' on land transfers to AIDEA

DNR's commissioner says the governor's office worked "very closely" on land transfers, including 20,000 free acres for AIDEA, after sending redacted records.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

State budget sends $24.3 million to fix up Mt. Edgecumbe's aging Sitka campus

Mt. Edgecumbe is getting $24.3 million in state money to fix up a Sitka campus whose dorms include World War II barracks, plus new mattresses and washers.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Acting attorney general asks Legislature to clarify suppressor law after federal ruling

Alaska sued to end federal suppressor registration and won. Its own law still leans on that registration, so the acting AG wants lawmakers to sort it out.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago3 min read

Giessel says free AIDEA land transfer takes over the Legislature's appropriation power

Giessel says giving 20,000 acres near Houston to AIDEA free takes the Legislature's power of the purse. Her math: a lease could bring in $14 million a year.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago2 min read

Senate committee votes to subpoena DNR commissioner over AIDEA land transfers

One invitation declined, another still pending. Senate Resources voted to subpoena DNR Commissioner John Crowther for Oct. 26 over free land transfers to AIDEA.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago4 min read

Follows: Giessel says governor kept DNR commissioner from legislative hearing on AIDEA land transfers

Kratom coalition hires Frank Bickford to lobby Alaska lawmakers and agencies

A kratom group is paying Frank Bickford $30,000 a year to lobby Alaska. It backs banning concentrated 7-OH, not the leaf. So does a draft Anchorage ordinance.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

House District 36 candidates back trawling limits at Tanana Chiefs forum

Rep. Rebecca Schwanke and challenger Crystal Jones both called for limits on trawling at a Tanana Chiefs Conference forum, and laid out ways to cut rural costs.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska House members ask FCC to preserve E-Rate school internet discounts

Twenty-one Alaska House members asked the FCC to preserve E-Rate, which discounts school internet. Alaska's own school broadband grant depends on it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Oct 7

Follows: The FCC review that could end E-Rate is filed under children and screens

Legislature seeks bids for Mat-Su office space as Wasilla lease runs out of renewals

The Legislature is taking bids for a Mat-Su office for nine local lawmakers. The Wasilla lease runs out of renewals in 2027, and there's no set budget.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readFrom Oct 2

Federal judge strikes down DOJ voter-list program that took Alaska's full voter rolls

A federal judge struck down the Justice Department program that took every registered Alaska voter's personal data last December, ruling it broke federal law.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Giessel says governor kept DNR commissioner from legislative hearing on AIDEA land transfers

Governor blocked the DNR commissioner from testifying at a legislative hearing on state land transfers to AIDEA, leaving lawmakers without answers on nearly 20,000 acres north of Houston.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Legislative attorneys say Houston land transfer to AIDEA may fail public-purpose test

Legislative attorneys say giving AIDEA 20,000 free acres near Houston may not pass the public-purpose test. AIDEA's director says state law already settles it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Legislative committee has no oil and gas consultants under contract, chair says

Alaska lawmakers have no oil and gas consultants under contract, with a gas pipeline project and a new administration coming. Senators want that fixed.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Legislative committee hires Guidehouse for $650,000 corrections cost study

Lawmakers hired Guidehouse for up to $650,000 to find out what drives Alaska's corrections spending and where the state could save some money.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Alaska DOT letter shows $563 million in contracts, projects record year, warns of match shortfall

Alaska DOT awarded $563 million in construction contracts through June and expects $1 billion for fiscal 2025, but a state match shortfall is forcing projects to delay.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Alaska Permanent Fund hits $91.9 billion with a 12.4% return

The Alaska Permanent Fund turns 50 worth $91.9 billion after a 12.4% return. Its trustees want the annual draw locked into the state constitution.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

North Slope crude runs $15 above Alaska's spring forecast, budget group says

Alaska North Slope crude is averaging $90 a barrel, $15 above the spring forecast, potentially adding nearly $1 billion to state revenue this year if prices hold.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Prince William Sound faces a winter without ferry service as the Aurora is overhauled

Prince William Sound faces a winter with little or no ferry service while the 1977-built Aurora is overhauled. New docks are the fix, and they're years away.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Lawmakers press state on Safer Seward Highway project's size and funding as DOT reopens comment

Lawmakers pressed DOT on the Safer Seward Highway's size and funding. DOT pointed to open houses, new data online and 30 more days of public comment.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Permanent Fund has $5.7B uncommitted after reserving next draw, inflation transfer

The Permanent Fund had $5.7B uncommitted July 31 after reserving $4.1B for the next draw and $1.7B for inflation proofing.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readFrom Sep 2

Anchorage's school funding gap has shrunk to about $6 million

Anchorage's school funding gap for next year has halved to about $6 million, after the Legislature capped how much the local contribution can grow.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Kenai Assembly asks state to ban cloud seeding, on consent agenda

A company seeded clouds over the Kenai Peninsula and the borough learned about it from a press release. Nobody has the authority to require otherwise.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Southcentral is 3 Bcf short this winter, and producers told lawmakers the gas runs out in 2029

Southcentral Alaska faces a natural gas shortage by winter 2029 unless it imports liquefied natural gas or taps North Slope supplies, Hilcorp and Chugach told lawmakers Thursday.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read

The Legislature will spend $50,000 defending the seizure of a pilot's plane

A six-pack of Budweiser cost an Alaska bush pilot his $95,000 plane. The Legislature has now voted $50,000 to defend that at the Supreme Court.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read

Southcentral's gas storage is two-thirds full with winter coming

Southcentral's gas storage is two thirds full heading into winter, and one field shuts down for maintenance starting Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read

Follows: Three Cook Inlet gas storage plans pending for winter demand

Three Alaska governor candidates agree on the problems, diverge on government's role

Three candidates for governor agreed Alaska faces serious problems but split on solutions at a Tuesday forum. The fourth, Bernadette Wilson, did not attend.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago7 min read

Five Alaska legislators and candidates amend financial disclosures in two days

Five Alaska legislators and candidates amended financial disclosures this week, adding two Anchorage houses, nonprofit board seats, and a spouse's name to their filings.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read

Alaska's youngest students are improving in math and reading. Older grades aren't.

Alaska's youngest students are gaining in math and reading, but older grades have stalled — and most students still aren't testing proficient in either.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read

The Permanent Fund earned $8.2 billion and none of it went into protected principal

The Permanent Fund earned $8.2 billion last year and moved none of it into the part of the fund Alaskans cannot spend. That is two years running.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read

Districts learned about $115 million after school had already started

Alaska school districts learned they were getting $115 million the day after school started, because the money depended on oil revenue counted Aug. 31.

by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read

Dunleavy vetoed a faculty seat on the board that governs the University of Alaska

Dunleavy vetoed a faculty seat on the University of Alaska's governing board, citing conflicts of interest. The board already seats a student.

by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read

Wright and Dunleavy insist the Alaska LNG project is alive

At an Anchorage conference, the U.S. energy secretary and Gov. Dunleavy insisted the stalled Alaska LNG project is alive, pointing at different obstacles.

by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read

Former Rep. Carl Morgan, mayor of Aniak and Kuskokwim Native leader, has died

Former state Rep. Carl Morgan of Aniak, who served in the House from 1999 to 2004 and led communities along the Kuskokwim River, has died. Gov. Dunleavy will order flags lowered statewide.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read

Alaska Legislative Council approves $851,400 for KTOO's Gavel Alaska coverage

Alaska lawmakers voted 8-0 to pay KTOO up to $851,400 to keep streaming their own floor sessions after federal public broadcasting funds were cut.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read

Alaska lawmakers weigh whether to keep boards licensing dentists and barbers

Alaska lawmakers are weighing whether to keep the boards licensing dentists, chiropractors and barbers, and released the audits that will guide that call.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read