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
Video Clips
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Elvi Gray-Jackson
“That is simply, simply not what SB 41 would do. The bill wouldn't create a state takeover of local classrooms.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Gary Stevens
“38 Yeas, 22 nays. And so by a vote of 38 yeas and 22 nays, the joint legislative session has failed to override Senate Bill 41.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Gary Stevens
“36 Yeas, 24 nays. Thank you. The joint legislative session has failed to override the governor's veto of House Bill 52.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Elvi Gray-Jackson
“Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the nation. In many rural communities, suicide rates are nearly 4 times that average, the national average. Teaching our students how to recognize mental health challenges, seek help, and support one another is one of the most basic and meaningful steps we can take to address this crisis.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Elvi Gray-Jackson
“our children are watching. They are watching. They are hoping that we hear their voices and understand their pleas for help. They're looking to us for leadership, compassion, and action.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Gary Stevens
“by a vote of 43 yeas and 17 nays, the joint legislative session has overridden the governor's veto of CSRA House Bill 195 Finance.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Senate panel adopts changes to health care compact bill
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 281 that removes PA scope language, adds background check requirements, and revises the rural health advisory council structure.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Alaska Energy Survey Shows Strong Support for Renewables, Mixed Views on Nuclear
Researchers presented survey results showing Alaskans favor expanding hydroelectric, solar and wind power while opinions on nuclear energy remain divided, with support for a natural gas pipeline dropping when tied to higher costs.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House panel debates $113M education funding formula shift
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on a bill that would change how Alaska calculates school funding, using a three-year enrollment average instead of a single October count.
by Alaska News5mo ago6 min read
Senate panel hears workforce plan for Alaska LNG pipeline
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee received a presentation on workforce needs for the Alaska LNG pipeline project, with consultants warning the state must act immediately to prepare workers for construction that could begin as soon as 2027.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
Municipal League urges local control in Alaska LNG tax negotiations
Alaska Municipal League Executive Director Nils Andreassen testified that local governments want the ability to negotiate individually with the Alaska LNG project developer rather than accept a one-size-fits-all tax structure.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
House panel hears bill requiring disclosure of out-of-state campaign funding
The House State Affairs Committee held an introductory hearing on HB 371, which would require independent expenditure groups funded primarily by non-Alaskans to disclose that fact in political communications and maintain Alaska addresses or registered agents.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House panel hears bill to strengthen campaign finance disclosure
The House State Affairs Committee held an introductory hearing on HB 371, which would require groups making independent expenditures to maintain Alaska addresses and disclose non-resident funding sources.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
House Labor Committee Advances Travel Insurance Bill, Hears Disaster Pet Plan
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to advance travel insurance legislation after adopting technical amendments, while hearing proposals to strengthen emergency planning for pets and clarify state authority over natural gas contracts.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Task Force Hears Federal Assessment Rules, NAEP Context, and AKSTAR Demo
The Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Funding received presentations on federal testing requirements under ESSA, how to interpret NAEP scores, and a demonstration of Alaska's AKSTAR assessment system.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago8 min read
Senate Resources hears LNG tax framework comparison, transparency concerns
The Senate Resources Committee heard a presentation on fiscal frameworks for LNG projects and how Alaska's constitutional obligations create unique challenges compared to other jurisdictions, while public testimony supported transparency legislation.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago8 min read
House Finance advances bill extending professional licensing board
The House Finance Committee voted to advance House Bill 314, which extends the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors by eight years and adds registered interior designers to the professions it regulates.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
State employee per diem frozen since 2010 despite 40% inflation
The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation to raise state employee per diem rates for in-state travel, which have remained unchanged since 2010 while Alaska's cost of living has risen 40%.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House panel hears Fairbanks road service area reform proposal
The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation that would give second-class boroughs more flexibility to adjust road service area boundaries without requiring multiple concurrent voter approvals.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance advances pension bill with municipal opt-in provision
The Senate Finance Committee voted 5-2 to advance a bill restoring defined benefit pensions for public employees after adopting an amendment allowing municipalities to opt in rather than being automatically enrolled.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House Judiciary rejects consumer data privacy bill after 3-3 vote
The House Judiciary Committee failed to adopt a committee substitute for House Bill 367, the Alaska Data Privacy Act, after a 3-3 tie vote on April 24, 2026.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate Judiciary hears testimony on crime omnibus combining five bills
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 239, an omnibus crime bill that packages provisions on domestic violence, sexual assault, hit-and-run crashes, AI-generated child abuse images, and tribal advocate protections.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House panel cuts cryptocurrency kiosk limits to protect seniors from scams
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to reduce daily and monthly transaction limits on cryptocurrency kiosks from $1,000 to $500 and $10,000 to $1,500 to protect elderly Alaskans from fraud.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate Education Committee Advances Opioid Awareness Bill, Hears Tribal School Compact Proposal
The committee unanimously moved Senate Bill 228, requiring opioid education in schools, and heard the first presentation on Senate Bill 66, which would allow tribes to operate public schools under state-tribal compacts.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House Extends West Coast Disaster Declaration After Heated Debate
The Alaska House voted 28-11 to extend the West Coast storm disaster declaration for 30 days and approve a revised $63.83 million financing plan, but only after contentious debate over whether the legislature should use a resolution or pass a bill.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Alaska Senate passes wildfire evacuation color-code system
The Alaska State Senate unanimously approved legislation establishing a standardized Ready-Set-Go color-coded evacuation system for wildfires across the state.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel examines price controls, federal authority on gas pipeline
The Senate Resources Committee discussed legal concerns about proposed natural gas price caps and whether federal regulatory authority over interstate commerce conflicts with state legislative oversight of the Alaska LNG pipeline project.
by Matt5mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance hears bill to add faculty regent to University board
The Senate Finance Committee held its first hearing on legislation that would add a tenured faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents for a two-year term.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Alaska Advances Mental Health Education Guidelines Without Mandates
The House Finance Committee moved Senate Bill 41 forward, directing development of mental health education guidelines for K-12 schools while leaving implementation to local districts.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min readSenate Finance adopts $13.8B budget with $150 energy payments, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes $150 per person energy relief payments and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts, while maintaining a $50 million reserve by budgeting at $73 per barrel oil.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance hears tax modernization bill, sets aside for further review
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift Alaska's corporate income tax apportionment from cost-based to market-based sourcing, but took no action on the measure.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade resolution with border changes
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee approved a revised resolution supporting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and calling for easier border crossings with Canada.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readHouse panel fast-tracks insurance coverage for PANDAS treatment
The House Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 292 requiring insurance coverage for pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders after parents testified about children experiencing severe symptoms and treatment delays.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House committee advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a seat to the Local Boundary Commission and requires at least one commissioner be from the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House Finance Advances Mental Health Education Guidelines for Schools
The House Finance Committee moved Senate Bill 41 out of committee, which directs development of mental health education guidelines for Alaska's K-12 schools.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readLegislative Council approves $70,200 Bethel office lease renewal
The Alaska Legislative Council unanimously approved a one-year lease renewal for the Bethel Legislative Information Office at $70,200, the first of five renewal options available under the original agreement.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on House Bill 234, which would define emergency dispatchers as first responders and adjust their retirement benefits to match those of peace officers and firefighters.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on House Bill 234, which would define emergency dispatchers as first responders and adjust their retirement benefits to match those of peace officers and firefighters.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate advances software licensing bill, food dye ban to third reading
The Alaska Senate advanced two bills to third reading: one regulating software licensing contracts and another prohibiting certain food dyes in school meals during the school day.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Psychologist who lost son to fentanyl urges Alaska lawmakers to support prevention
Sandy Snodgrass, founder of the Alaska Fentanyl Response Project, presented to state legislators about the fentanyl crisis and her work educating Alaska students after losing her son Bruce to fentanyl poisoning in 2021.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Toksook Bay documentary on suicide prevention screened for Alaska lawmakers
Alaska lawmakers viewed a 19-minute documentary about suicide prevention efforts in Toksook Bay, a Yup'ik village on Nelson Island, highlighting community healing practices and the need for professional mental health services in rural Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Alaska right-to-repair bill draws fire over broad scope and safety concerns
Alaska lawmakers debated House Bill 162, a digital product repair measure that would be the nation's most sweeping, with critics warning its broad definition could create unintended safety issues for heavy equipment and aircraft despite exemptions for motor vehicles.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
House panel advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard Senate Bill 63, which would add a sixth seat to the Local Boundary Commission specifically for someone from Alaska's unorganized borough, and set the bill aside with an amendment deadline.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel examines LNG project economics, megaproject risks
Consultants presented economic modeling of the proposed alternative volumetric tax for the Alaska LNG project and warned of cost and schedule risks common to large infrastructure developments.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
House Finance sets amendment deadline for police, firefighter disability bill
The House Finance Committee set an amendment deadline for legislation increasing disability benefits for injured peace officers and firefighters, while also advancing a mail theft bill and revising a paid parental leave measure.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Senate panel hears data center safeguards, tribal education bill
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony Thursday on Senate Bill 250, which would require data centers to cover their own infrastructure costs and protect existing ratepayers from fuel supply risks and rate increases.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read