Alaska's bicameral legislature — 20-member Senate and 40-member House — meeting in Juneau from January to May each year. Sets the state budget, oil and gas policy, school funding, and the annual Permanent Fund Dividend calculation.
120 4th St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
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House rejects Galena school funding swap after dramatic rescind vote
The Alaska House of Representatives narrowly rejected an amendment to redirect $5 million from a Galena school renovation to Anchorage and Mat-Su projects after a dramatic rescind vote brought the measure back for reconsideration.
by Alaska News10h ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
Oil industry opposes gas pipeline tax bill over bundled oil tax increases
The Alaska Oil and Gas Association testified Friday against Senate Bill 280, arguing that oil tax increases bundled with gas pipeline incentives could undermine investment momentum in Alaska's oil sector.
by Alaska News18h ago3 min readFairbanks5 viewsAI
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 News3d ago4 min readAlaska34 viewsAI
Donlin Gold targets 2027 investment decision on $10B Alaska mine
One of Alaska's largest-ever mining projects is nearing a final investment decision within 18 months, with construction potentially starting in 2028 for a 27-year operation producing 1 million ounces of gold annually.
by Alaska News2d ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska20 viewsAI
Wasilla Senator's Mother Scammed, Sparks Crypto Kiosk Crackdown
Senator Cathy Tilton's bill to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks passed the Alaska Senate unanimously after her mother was scammed out of thousands of dollars, part of $26 million Alaskans lost to online fraud in 2024.
by Alaska News1d ago3 min readJuneau10 viewsAI
House panel advances retirement savings program for private workers
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 21, which would create Alaska Work and Save, an automatic IRA program for employees whose employers do not offer retirement plans.
by Alaska News17h ago3 min readJuneau2 viewsAI
House Finance approves pharmacist prescription bill after rejecting nurse compact
The House Finance Committee advanced a bill expanding pharmacist prescribing authority Thursday after voting down an amendment to add Alaska to a 40-state nurse licensure compact, despite warnings the compact is required for federal healthcare funding.
by Alaska News13h ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska1 viewAI
House panel hears gas line tax bill with 15-cent volumetric fee
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Thursday on House Bill 381, which would replace traditional property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a 15-cent per thousand cubic feet volumetric tax, generating an estimated $577 million by 2033 while giving municipalities decision-making authority over gas treatment plants and LNG facilities.
by Alaska News13h ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska1 viewAI
Senate Finance reviews bill to double bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5M
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Thursday on legislation to double the maximum bulk fuel loan from $750,000 to $1.5 million and eliminate pooled loan caps, responding to rising fuel costs in rural Alaska.
by Alaska News13h ago2 min readState Capitol, Juneau, Alaska1 viewAI
House Finance reschedules gas line hearing, shifts to vehicle title bill
The House Finance Committee announced Friday that a scheduled hearing on gas line legislation may be canceled pending a Rules Committee decision, prompting the panel to reorganize its agenda around a vehicle and boat transfer-on-death title bill.
by Alaska News18h ago2 min readJuneau1 viewAI
Alaska Legislature Passes Bill Recognizing Gold, Silver as Legal Tender
The Alaska Legislature has passed HB 1, which recognizes gold and silver as legal tender and exempts precious metal transactions from local sales taxes, with the bill now awaiting Governor Dunleavy's signature.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readJuneau5 viewsAI
Alaska House doubles bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5 million
The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation raising the bulk fuel loan cap from $750,000 to $1.5 million for communities under 2,000 people, responding to soaring fuel costs driven by overseas conflict and the coldest Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta winter in 15 years.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readJuneau, Alaska5 viewsAI
House Finance Hears Sharp Divide Over $95M for West Susitna Road
The House Finance Committee heard nearly two hours of testimony on a $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with opponents calling it a subsidy for foreign mining companies and supporters arguing it would unlock economic development.
by Alaska News6d ago4 min readAlaska, USA12 viewsAI
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 7-4 to advance a paid parental leave bill that would create a new payroll tax and provide up to 12 weeks of benefits, despite warnings the fund could be depleted by 2040 and concerns about small business exemptions creating legal vulnerabilities.
by Alaska News3d ago4 min readJuneau6 viewsAI
Dunleavy says Alaska gas pipeline depends on property tax overhaul
Governor Mike Dunleavy urged the legislature to pass a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes bill within three weeks, calling it essential to financing what he described as the largest project in Alaska history, an LNG pipeline from the North Slope.
by Alaska News1w ago5 min readJuneau, Alaska30 viewsAI
Alaska budget fight leaves $40M in senior, disability care hanging
A legislative conference committee must reconcile more than $40 million in disputed funding for senior and disability services before the Alaska Legislature adjourns on May 20, with the House and Senate deeply divided on nearly every line item.
by Alaska News1d ago4 min readAnchorage, Alaska1 viewAI
Senate panel advances bill cutting sick leave for seafood workers
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would reduce paid sick leave for seasonal seafood processing workers from 56 to 48 hours annually and cap monthly usage at 12 hours.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
Senate passes cryptocurrency kiosk consumer protection bill unanimously
The Alaska Senate voted 20-0 Tuesday to pass legislation requiring licensing, transaction limits, and fraud protections for cryptocurrency kiosks after Alaskans lost over $26 million to online fraud in 2024.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readJuneau3 viewsAI
Gas tax hike could net Alaska $590M over pipeline life, analysis shows
Department of Revenue analysis shows increasing the North Slope gas production tax from 13% to 17% would generate $590 million over 30 years without affecting in-state gas prices due to existing tax ceiling protections.
by Alaska News3d ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska4 viewsAI
Alaska Legislature Falls Two Votes Short of Overriding Elections Bill Veto
The Alaska Legislature failed to override Governor Dunleavy's veto of Senate Bill 64, a comprehensive elections reform bill, falling two votes short of the required 40-vote supermajority in a 38-22 vote during a joint session Monday.
by Alaska News6d ago4 min readJuneau6 viewsAI
Alaska House passes gold, silver legal tender bill unanimously
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 40-0 Thursday to recognize gold and silver specie as legal tender and exempt such transactions from borough and city sales taxes.
by Alaska News1w ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska11 viewsAI
House panel hears electronic pull-tab bill with 35% manufacturer cap
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Monday on a bill that would cap manufacturer fees for electronic pull-tabs at 35%, drawing criticism from operators who say the rate is too high compared to Minnesota's 20% cap.
by Alaska News4d ago4 min read1120 Mendenhall Peninsula Road, Juneau, Alaska4 viewsAI
Alaska House passes education funding reform despite split votes on transparency
The Alaska House passed HB 261, a major education funding reform using multi-year enrollment averaging, but narrowly rejected amendments requiring public meetings and website posting of mental health curriculum.
by Alaska News4d ago4 min readJuneau3 viewsAI
Senate panel debates gas pipeline tax structure in 26th hearing
The Senate Resources Committee held its 26th hearing on SB 280, examining the proposed volumetric tax system for the Alaska LNG project and discussing technical questions about where gas production would be taxed.
by Alaska News4d ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska4 viewsAI
Alaska Senate panel advances autonomous vehicle restrictions despite industry opposition
The Alaska Senate Transportation Committee advanced a bill Tuesday requiring human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles over 10,000 pounds, drawing opposition from tech companies who warned Alaska would become the only state to effectively ban the technology.
by Alaska News4d ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
Senate Finance exempts emergency management from contract payment rules
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that exempts Alaska's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management from new state contract payment requirements, giving emergency responders flexibility during disasters.
by Alaska News4d ago2 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
House Finance advances pharmacist prescribing bill with drug restrictions
Alaska House Finance Committee approved amendments restricting pharmacists from prescribing high-risk drugs including opioids and abortion medications, while requiring naloxone prescriptions alongside opioid prescriptions over three days.
by Alaska News5d ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska4 viewsAI
Alaska Senate Passes Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
The Alaska Senate voted 15-5 Monday to require manufacturers to provide repair access for consumer electronics, advancing legislation that supporters say will keep money in Alaska and reduce electronic waste.
by Alaska News5d ago4 min readJuneau4 viewsAI
Alaska House panel debates insurance gaps for gig delivery drivers
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on Senate Bill 35, which would require delivery network companies to provide $1 million in liability coverage when drivers are actively delivering, but leaves a coverage gap when the app is open but no delivery is accepted.
by Alaska News6d ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska5 viewsAI
Alaska Senate passes bill to expand early intervention for delayed children
The Alaska Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday to expand access to developmental services for infants and toddlers by lowering the eligibility threshold, a change supporters say could save the state $38.9 million annually.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readJuneau, Alaska2 viewsAI
Alaska House rejects optional school district healthcare pooling plan
The Alaska House narrowly defeated an amendment that would have allowed school districts to join the state's AlaskaCare healthcare system, potentially saving major districts millions annually.
by Alaska News5d ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska4 viewsAI
Alaska lawmakers debate farm tax break for horses, flowers
A House committee narrowed a bill to restore farm property tax deferments, excluding horses and flowers despite testimony that the 2024 change cost operations thousands and threatens Alaska's agricultural ecosystem.
by Alaska News4d ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
Home care worker pay mandate divides Alaska lawmakers over rural access
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation requiring agencies to spend 80 percent of Medicaid rates on direct caregiver wages by 2030, with provider groups warning the mandate could force rural agency closures while worker advocates argued built-in safeguards would prevent disruption.
by Alaska News4d ago4 min readJuneau3 viewsAI
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
The House Finance Committee adopted a $2.5 billion capital budget that removes $94 million in federal receipt authority for the West Susitna Access Road project, sparking partisan debate over resource development priorities.
by Alaska News1w ago3 min readAlaska13 viewsAI
Alaska Senate committee advances sports betting bill with tax revenue promise
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on legislation to legalize mobile sports betting in Alaska, with sponsors projecting $12 million to $18 million in annual tax revenue from an industry already operating illegally in the state.
by Alaska News1w ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska7 viewsAI
Senate Finance hears omnibus crime bill targeting AI child porn, raising age of consent
Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on an omnibus crime bill that would criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material and raise Alaska's age of consent from 16 to 18 across more than 24 criminal offenses.
by Alaska News4d ago6 min readState Capitol, Juneau3 viewsAI
Senate panel advances Native corporation reporting exemption despite concerns
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced a bill that would exempt most Alaska Native village corporations from state reporting requirements, rejecting an amendment to preserve oversight of larger corporations.
by Alaska News4d ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
Alaska House Passes Required Local Contribution Cap for Schools
The Alaska House adopted an amendment capping annual growth in required local property tax contributions to schools at 2%, shifting an estimated $29 million in education costs from municipalities to the state.
by Alaska News4d ago5 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
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 News6d ago6 min readJuneau4 viewsAI
Navy eyes return to Adak amid Arctic security concerns
The U.S. Navy is gathering information to potentially reestablish operations at Adak, marking a significant shift in Arctic military posture as adversary activity increases in the region.
by Alaska News6d ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska4 viewsAI
