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
Alaska lawmakers hear testimony on four ballot initiatives
The Alaska Legislature held a joint hearing on four ballot initiatives covering citizenship voting requirements, campaign finance limits, and ranked choice voting.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Brain science experts brief legislators on early childhood development
Representatives from the All Alaska Pediatric Partnership presented research on brain development and early childhood programs to state legislators at an April 16 lunch-and-learn session.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House Resources Committee debates LNG equity stakes, rejects wildlife refuge amendments
The House Resources Committee heard testimony on state equity participation in the Alaska LNG project and voted down nine amendments to a wildlife refuge consolidation bill, with most votes splitting 5-4 along party lines.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago7 min read
Wild ice skating grows from isolated hobby to organized Alaska community
A legislative lunch-and-learn session highlighted the rapid growth of wild ice skating in Alaska, from isolated individual experiences to an organized community activity attracting international media attention and supporting local manufacturing.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House Education Committee advances CPR training bill with rural flexibility
The House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 20, which requires CPR instruction in Alaska public schools, after adopting three amendments to provide flexibility for rural and under-resourced districts.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances fishing co-op bill with electronic monitoring
The Senate Resources Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 117, which legalizes set gillnet fishing cooperatives and adds electronic monitoring authority for trawl vessels, after adopting two amendments including a five-permit cap.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances fishing cooperative bill with electronic monitoring
The Senate Resources Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 117, which legalizes set gillnet fishing cooperatives and adds electronic monitoring authority for trawl vessels, after adopting two amendments including a five-permit cap.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Governor's appointee questioned on Holocaust views, residency qualifications
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Veronica Lambertson's appointment to the Alaska Police Standards Council to a joint session despite concerns about her residency qualifications and social media posts questioning the Holocaust.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Alaska Senate panel hears bill requiring human operators in commercial autonomous vehicles
The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 148, which would require human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles operating in Alaska, citing the state's extreme weather conditions as a safety concern.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance adopts operating budget with $150 energy payment, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes a $150 per person energy relief payment and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance hears corporate tax shift targeting online sales to Alaskans
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift Alaska's corporate income tax to market-based sourcing, a change expected to generate $15 million annually by taxing out-of-state companies based on where Alaska customers receive services.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska lawmakers urge federal reclassification of 911 dispatchers
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on a resolution urging Congress to reclassify emergency dispatchers from clerical workers to protective service personnel, granting them access to federal training and mental health resources.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readSenate panel hears autonomous vehicle bill requiring human operators
The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 148, which would require human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles operating in Alaska.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House Finance hears divided testimony on pharmacist prescribing bill
The House Finance Committee heard more than three hours of public testimony on HB 195, which would expand pharmacists' prescriptive authority, with supporters citing improved healthcare access and opponents raising abortion medication concerns.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House committee hears bill to eliminate tax discounts
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard Senate Bill 164, which would eliminate several tax discounts and deductions to raise nearly $500,000 annually for the state.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate Education Committee advances teacher loan repayment pilot program
The Senate Education Committee voted to advance House Bill 28, which establishes a three-year student loan repayment pilot program for Alaska teachers in high-need subject areas.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate panel examines regulatory questions on gas pipeline tax plan
The Senate Resources Committee discussed federal versus state jurisdiction over a proposed natural gas pipeline and debated an alternative tax structure that would replace property taxes with a volumetric fee.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Senate panel hears setnet cooperative bill, sets aside land transfer
The Senate Resources Committee heard House Bill 117, which would allow commercial setnet fishermen to continue operating cooperatively, and Senate Bill 255, which would transfer state land to the Mat-Su Borough without surveys.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago7 min read
Senate passes capital budget focused on school maintenance
The Alaska Senate approved a $247.7 million capital budget emphasizing deferred maintenance for schools, university facilities, and courthouses.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance hears bill expanding civil rights protections to nonprofits
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 23, which would extend workplace discrimination protections to approximately 44,000 Alaskans employed by nonprofits and rename the Human Rights Commission.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate panel hears refuse utility rate reform bill
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 16, which would allow refuse utilities to use a simplified rate filing process to speed up rate case decisions.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
House Judiciary Advances Bill Restoring PFDs for Wrongfully Convicted
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved legislation allowing Alaskans whose criminal convictions were overturned to claim past Permanent Fund Dividends they were denied while incarcerated.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House committee advances bill adding unorganized borough seat to boundary panel
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a sixth seat to the Alaska Local Boundary Commission specifically for a resident of the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel approves $163.8 million judiciary budget with lease, staff additions
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Judiciary approved a $163.8 million operating budget for Alaska's court system that includes funding for lease increases and therapeutic court staff.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate panel approves $139.2 million budget for Department of Law
The Senate Finance Department of Law Subcommittee approved the fiscal year 2027 operating budget for the Department of Law totaling $139.2 million.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate cuts House domestic violence funding additions in half
The Senate Finance Subcommittee reduced House additions for domestic violence and sexual assault programs by 50 percent while approving a $357 million Department of Public Safety budget.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance subcommittee recommends $1.17 billion university budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the University of Alaska recommended a $1.17 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2027, including partial funding for student recruitment and employee compensation increases.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Senate panel advances $349 million administration budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Administration forwarded a $349.4 million operating budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, rejecting proposed decentralization of payroll and shared services.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel cuts jail funding in half, seeks out-of-state inmate housing
The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee cut House-approved community jail funding by half and requested information on housing Alaska inmates outside the state while advancing a $535 million corrections budget.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate panel advances $535 million corrections budget with jail funding cut
The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee approved a $535 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027, cutting House-added community jail funding in half and requesting a study on housing inmates outside Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel approves $441 million education budget with teacher incentives
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Education and Early Development approved a $441 million budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes new funding for teacher incentives and Head Start matching grants while reducing spending on boarding homes and residential schools.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate panel approves $485 million Department of Revenue budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Revenue forwarded a $485.1 million budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, including new auditor positions and rejecting structural changes to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate adjourns technical session after committee report
The Alaska State Senate held a brief technical session Wednesday, receiving one committee report before adjourning until Monday.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate minority outlines pension reform, gas line concerns at press conference
Alaska Senate minority members discussed pension reform amendments, gas line project challenges, and legislative priorities at a Thursday press conference.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Senate panel advances Salazar to Human Rights Commission
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Grace Salazar's nomination to the Alaska State Commission on Human Rights to a joint session for confirmation.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate Resources advances three bills on agriculture, evacuations, invasive species
The Senate Resources Committee moved three bills forward on April 17, covering agricultural land leases, evacuation color-coding standards, and creation of an invasive species council.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Wild ice skating draws global attention as Alaska outdoor recreation scene grows
A legislative lunch-and-learn session highlighted the rapid growth of wild ice skating in Alaska, from isolated individual experiences to an organized community activity attracting international media attention and supporting local manufacturing.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate panel approves $4.2 billion health budget with Medicaid rate hikes
The Senate Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Health approved a $4.2 billion fiscal year 2027 budget that includes $377 million in Medicaid provider rate increases and funding for food banks and early learning programs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Kenai Peninsula CTE students achieve 97% graduation rate
Career and technical education students in Kenai Peninsula Borough School District achieved a 97% graduation rate, with 32% of successful students economically disadvantaged, demonstrating how hands-on career training keeps Alaska students engaged and employed in-state.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read