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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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
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 approves $515 million budget for family services agency
The Senate Budget Subcommittee approved a $515.3 million fiscal year 2027 budget for the Department of Family and Community Services, including $1.5 million added for child advocacy centers.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
House Resources Committee Rejects Wildlife Refuge Amendments
The Alaska House Resources Committee voted 5-3 to advance House Bill 321 after rejecting amendments that would have limited state authority over private land in refuges and scaled back habitat protections.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 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 ago5 min read
House Judiciary adopts committee substitute for infant safety device bill
The House Judiciary Committee adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 9, which would create a legal framework for infant safety devices at hospitals and fire stations while adding civil immunity protections for parents who use Alaska's Safe Surrender Law.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House Resources advances Vogler nomination to Regulatory Commission
The House Resources Committee forwarded Julie Vogler's nomination to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the full House and Senate without objection after a confirmation hearing.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances property tax cap bill despite state warnings
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee moved forward with a bill allowing municipalities to cap annual property tax assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent, despite state officials warning of revenue losses and administrative complexity.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readSenate committee holds Senate Bill 259 on property tax caps
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee discussed but did not advance Senate Bill 259, which would allow municipalities to cap annual property assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances Lambertson to Police Standards Council despite questions
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.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House panel advances seafood industry data-sharing bill
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 181, which allows the University of Alaska to access employment data for seafood industry research.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House Military Committee Advances Joint Armed Services Overhaul
The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs voted 6-0 to advance House Bill 382, which modernizes statutes governing the Joint Armed Services Committee, after adopting three amendments and rejecting six others.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Lawmakers Propose Legislative Oversight of $80B Permanent Fund Board
House committee considers requiring legislative confirmation of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation trustees for the first time since 1982, though constitutional concerns may require a constitutional amendment.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readAlaska House Panel Advances Bill to Speed Up State Contract Payments
The House Finance Committee narrowly approved legislation requiring faster payment of state contracts despite concerns about $1 million+ costs and potential consequences for small nonprofits.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska considers ban on driverless commercial trucks amid safety debate
The Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on HB 217, which would require human drivers in all commercial autonomous vehicles, effectively banning driverless operations statewide.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska School Funding System Favors Wealthy Districts, Senators Say
Senate Finance Committee members raised concerns that Alaska's school construction funding process allows affluent districts to pre-fund projects and jump ahead of poorer communities that have waited years for repairs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min readAlaska Tribes Removed 1.5M Pounds Marine Debris Despite Funding Barriers
Rural Alaska communities successfully cleaned massive amounts of marine debris from shores but face significant barriers accessing federal funding and resources needed to continue protecting subsistence areas.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readSenate panel advances retirement bill despite $400M cost shift concern
The Senate Finance Committee moved forward with HB 78, a retirement reform bill that would shift nearly $400 million in unfunded liability costs from municipalities to the state over 13 years.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska House debates school transportation funding amid rural-urban divide
The Alaska House of Representatives debated Amendment 31 targeting pupil transportation funding, revealing geographic divisions over education funding equity between rural and road-system districts.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Panel Weighs Tougher Hit-and-Run Penalties
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on legislation that would establish a 4-7 year presumptive sentencing range for fatal hit-and-run crashes involving criminal negligence.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Shelves Homemade Food Safety Bill After Complex Debate
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee set aside a bill restricting sales of home-canned foods in reduced oxygen packaging after lawmakers struggled with complex food safety definitions and enforcement questions.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska House Rejects 30% Cut to Regional Jail Funding Despite Low Use
The Alaska House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would have reduced funding increases for underutilized regional jails, with supporters citing 22% statewide utilization rates.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska House Approves $2M for Talkeetna Trooper Post Using ANWR Funds
The Alaska House of Representatives voted to allocate $2 million from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease revenues to reestablish a state trooper post in Talkeetna, addressing public safety concerns along the Parks Highway corridor.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska OT Law Limits Patient Recovery, Licensing Board Says
Alaska's occupational therapy statute restricts therapists to helping patients cope with disabilities rather than actively working to improve function, prompting legislative action to align with national standards.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Finance passes Mount Edgecombe funding bill, advances mail theft measure
The House Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 146 to allow REAA funds for Mount Edgecombe High School and held its first hearing on House Bill 77 to make mail theft a state felony.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse committee advances special education funding resolution, CTE mobility bill
The House Education Committee approved a resolution urging Congress to fully fund special education and moved forward a bill creating a career and technical education grant program.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse panel backs Alaska Native 8A program support resolution
The House Resources Committee approved a resolution supporting Alaska Native corporations' continued participation in federal 8A business development programs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska Senate panel weighs restrictions on vacuum-sealed homemade food sales
The Senate Resources Committee discussed legislation that would restrict packaging methods for commercially sold homemade foods, targeting vacuum-sealed and heat-processed containers.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readSenate panel considers tougher penalties for fatal hit-and-run crashes
The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on legislation that would increase prison sentences for drivers who kill pedestrians and flee the scene.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska House panel advances free school meals for reduced-price students
The House Education Committee moved forward a bill to eliminate meal costs for 3,326 students who qualify for reduced-price meals but struggle to afford full payment.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska Senate panel considers banning synthetic food dyes from school meals
The Alaska Senate Health and Social Services Committee heard testimony on legislation that would prohibit six synthetic food dyes linked to health problems from public school breakfast and lunch programs.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska parole board grants 85% of recent applications, reversing trend
The Alaska parole board has dramatically increased its approval rate for discretionary parole applications to 85% in recent days, up from lower rates in previous years due to SB 91 repeal and COVID-19 impacts.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readHouse Finance committee debates pharmacist prescribing bill amid abortion concerns
House Bill 195 would expand pharmacist prescribing authority but faces intense scrutiny over whether collaborative practice agreements could enable abortion medication access.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska Senate considers tougher penalties for hit-and-run deaths
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation that would create enhanced penalties for drivers who flee fatal accidents without rendering aid.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee reviews $759K in agency requests to fix payment delays
State agencies requested hundreds of thousands in penalty funds and new positions rather than fixing systemic payment delays affecting nonprofits and contractors.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska Native Groups Push for Fishing Permit Reform After $7.5B Exodus
Alaska Federation of Natives presented research showing $7.5 billion in salmon earnings have left the state through non-resident permit holders since 1975, devastating rural fishing communities.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse committee advances bill recognizing dispatchers as first responders
HB 234 would classify emergency dispatchers as first responders, opening access to federal grants and addressing staffing challenges in rural Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee advances bill to expand early intervention eligibility
Committee heard testimony on legislation to lower developmental delay thresholds from 50% to 25% for early childhood services, potentially serving more children and saving millions in future special education costs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee advances plan for state immigrant welcoming office
The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation to create a comprehensive state office to coordinate services for immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Panel Hears Bill to Waive ID Fees for Homeless Young Adults
House Bill 334 would eliminate state fees for identification documents and birth certificates for homeless adults aged 18-25, while expanding address verification options.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Panel Considers Bills to Ease Alaska's Liquor Liability Insurance Crisis
The House Labor & Commerce Committee heard testimony on legislation aimed at addressing Alaska's severe shortage of affordable liquor liability insurance for restaurants and bars.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read