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
Micciche sets break-even floor on Kenai Peninsula tax break for Alaska LNG
At a Commonwealth North forum in Anchorage on June 5, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche said the borough will accept a 75 percent property tax reduction for the Alaska LNG facility, giving up $132 million to $175 million, but will not go below break-even.
by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago3 min read
The gas tax special session has stalled, with the bill already dead
Alaska's fourth special session, called on natural gas taxation, has stalled after the House killed the gas tax bill, HB 381. Both chambers are holding technical sessions.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Ballot Measure 3 turns on a single word
Alaska's Ballot Measure 3 would say only U.S. citizens may vote. Sponsors say it closes a legal gap; opponents say it changes nothing. Voters decide Nov. 3.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
The sleeper on Alaska's August primary ballot: money, turnout and Measure 1
Alaska Ballot Measure 1: first primary ballot measure since 2014 would restore campaign contribution limits Aug. 18, leaving independent expenditures untouched.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate opens fourth special session with technical session, adjourns to Friday
The Alaska State Senate opened the fourth special session Monday in Juneau as a technical session, taking no action on natural gas taxation and adjourning until Friday, July 31. Members heard the governor's proclamation and word that the House had killed HB 381.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate passes LNG bill as Republicans warn it kills financing
The Alaska State Senate passed LNG legislation 11-8 on July 16, drawing immediate opposition from Senate Republicans who say three provisions Glenfarne warned against four weeks ago will make the project impossible to finance. A fourth special session is scheduled for July 27, with supply agreements Republicans say will begin expiring in roughly two months.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
The AI money came first. The data center moratorium came Thursday.
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins called for a halt on Alaska data center construction Thursday morning, days after campaign filings showed six Anthropic employees gave his campaign close to $400,000.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska asks 3,500 voters to confirm citizenship weeks before the primary
The Alaska Division of Elections moved about 3,500 voters to inactive status and asked them to confirm citizenship after a DMV cross-check, weeks before the August 18 primary.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Petersburg pushed back when the state pulled Sullivan off the ballot
Letters released by the Alaska Legislature show Petersburg residents objected to the Division of Elections removing Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the U.S. Senate primary ballot.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Alaska elections hearing reveals FBI contact, no precedent for 'good faith' test
Records released Wednesday show the Alaska Division of Elections had no records of applying a 'good faith' candidacy standard to any other candidate, and the agency has not explained why the FBI contacted it during its review of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.'s Senate candidacy.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska House ties 19-19 on gas line bill, killing it for now
The Alaska State House failed to adopt the conference committee report on HB 381 on a 19-19 tie, ending the gas line bill's path forward for this session. Gov. Mike Dunleavy's public exchange with a Democratic senator over the project's collapse added a sharp edge to the standoff.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate passes HB 381 oil and gas tax bill 11-8, with dissenters signaling more work ahead
The Alaska State Senate passed the conference committee substitute for House Bill 381 on a split 11-8 vote Thursday, advancing legislation that reshapes oil and gas property taxes and governs the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, but senators who voted no said the S corporation tax provision needs to be fixed before the bill can do what it promises.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska lawmakers order audit of Board of Fisheries process
The Alaska Legislative Budget and Audit Committee voted unanimously Thursday to commission a special audit of the Board of Fisheries, examining whether the board followed its own statutes, regulations, and public-notice requirements from October 2023 through July 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska legislative auditor resigns after 34 years, replacement process underway
Chris Curtis submitted her resignation as Alaska's legislative auditor effective August 30, ending more than 34 years with the division. A three-person subcommittee will review applicants and recommend a nominee to the full committee in August, followed by separate House and Senate confirmation votes.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska LNG tax bill advances to floor on split conference committee votes
The Alaska Legislature's conference committee voted 2-1 in both chambers Thursday to send a revised Alaska LNG tax bill to the floor, with supporters calling it a necessary step and the lone dissenter in each chamber citing an undefined income tax exemption and a property tax revenue structure he said sets a dangerous precedent.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Conference draft keeps oil-and-gas pass-through tax, delays it to 2029
A House-Senate conference committee draft of HB 381 retains a proposed income tax on certain oil-and-gas pass-through entities but pushes the start of collections back to 2029, while also raising the developer's upfront payment to the state and clarifying project labor agreement requirements tied to the Alaska LNG project.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago4 min read
Permanent daylight time would push Anchorage's winter sunrise past 11 a.m.
The U.S. House passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, a change that would push winter sunrise times an hour later across Alaska and intersects with competing state legislation over which time standard Alaska should keep year-round.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Frier vs. Chase: a rematch for Alaska's northernmost House seat
Kotzebue Mayor Saima Chase is challenging Rep. Robyn Niayuq Frier in a rematch for Alaska House District 40, the state's northernmost seat, ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Alaska LNG's cheap-gas promise hinges on exports — and on costs staying in line
New Alaska Department of Revenue analysis shows LNG exports are key to cheap in-state gas — about $5/mcf versus $12.65 without them — but a cost overrun could push the export price above market.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Dunleavy vetoes six bills, including invasive species and polystyrene measures
Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed six bills on June 24, including measures on invasive species management and polystyrene food containers that passed with bipartisan support. The Alaska State Senate received the gubernatorial messages in a technical session Wednesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Who pays when the state underfunds school construction debt?
The Alaska Municipal League is urging the Governor and Legislature to fully fund school bond debt reimbursement in the FY2027 budget, as shortfalls shift costs onto cities, boroughs, and local taxpayers.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
HB 381 exempts Alaska LNG project property from municipal taxes, replaces with volumetric splits
HB 381 exempts covered Alaska LNG project property from municipal property taxes and replaces that structure with a phased volumetric tax whose revenue splits shift significantly once LNG exports begin, with the Kenai Peninsula Borough receiving 48.4 percent of base Phase 2 revenue. The tax changes take effect only if specified conditions are met.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Alaska gas pipeline tax bill sets $40M milestone test for boroughs, schools, and rural heating fund
A 52-page conference committee substitute for HB 381 restructures how Alaska taxes the proposed North Slope-to-Southcentral gas pipeline, creating a conditional framework where borough revenue, school funding, and a rural heating fund only activate if the developer meets specific milestones by January 1, 2028.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Alaska LNG tax bill advances as working draft, disputes unresolved
The Alaska Legislature's conference committee on HB 381 adopted a new working draft Thursday, with members raising disputes over how the alternative volumetric tax applies to required local contributions, among other provisions. Chair Schrage said the committee would take a few days off for the holiday weekend before reconvening to refine the bill further.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago3 min read
Where Alaska's gas-line tax deal stands, and what's still stuck
Alaska lawmakers are negotiating the HB 381 gas-line tax bill, weighing ratepayer caps, a Fairbanks spur line, and unresolved legal and cost disputes in conference committee.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska raises unemployment benefits, updates travel insurance law
Governor Dunleavy allowed HB 302 to become law without his signature, raising Alaska's maximum weekly unemployment benefit from $370 to $470 and replacing travel insurance statutes unchanged since 2013.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read
Kenai's $9.4M school-cost risk may never actually come due
One version of Alaska's HB 381 gas-tax bill could raise Kenai Peninsula Borough school-funding costs up to $9.4 million a year, but a sunset provision may mean none is ever charged.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
After a lawmaker's mom lost $8,000, Alaska cracks down on crypto scam kiosks
A new Alaska law requires licensing, fraud warnings, and refunds for cryptocurrency kiosks, the machines scammers use to steal millions from Alaskans, especially seniors.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Gas-line developer warns Alaska's Senate terms could drive it off
Glenfarne warned an Alaska conference committee that Senate amendments to the HB 381 gas-line tax bill, including a 9.4% investor tax, could deter investment and threaten the project.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska's gas-pipeline bill now carries a tax on Hilcorp and others
The Alaska Senate added a corporate income tax on oil and gas pass-through entities like Hilcorp to the AK LNG gas-pipeline bill (HB 381), effective 2028 regardless of the project.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
State economist: even with tax breaks, the gas line barely works
State economist Dan Stickel told a legislative conference committee Friday that the Senate version of HB 381 reduces the Alaska LNG export break-even price from $9.05 to $8.62 per thousand cubic feet — still above current futures market prices near $8 — prompting Rep. Justin Ruffridge to say the project simply "doesn't work."
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska's gas-line tax bill stalls in committee
A conference committee deadlocked on Alaska's LNG tax bill, rejecting both House and Senate versions, and will seek expanded power to write a compromise on HB 381.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A pass-through tax, not the pipeline, is the real fight in Juneau
Alaska's gas pipeline tax bill conference committee weighs a new pass-through tax on oil and gas producers and a rewritten volumetric tax splitting revenue with communities.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago3 min read
Kenai's quiet stake in the gas-line bill
Legislative Finance Division modeling dated June 27 shows the Kenai Peninsula Borough could owe $9 million in Required Local Contribution in FY34 and $11 million in FY42 under the Senate Finance version of HB 381 — a school-budget consequence that hinges on which version the conference committee adopts.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
An ethics panel found probable cause that Rep. Sarah Vance misused her office to pressure a newspaper
A legislative ethics subcommittee found probable cause that Rep. Sarah Vance misused state resources to pressure the Homer News over an article. The case heads to a full hearing.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
The number that quietly sets the state budget: a barrel of oil
Alaska North Slope crude is running above the state's Spring 2026 forecast, hinting at surplus revenue — but the forecast itself assumes a late-year jump to $91 a barrel.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A typo froze Sutton's wild rec area for eight years. Not anymore.
Alaska fixed a land-description error that blocked rules for the Jonesville Public Use Area near Sutton for eight years, clearing the way for safety and recreation management.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
An oil spike filled Alaska's budget and hammered its schools — and the new budget sends some back
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Alaska's FY2027 budget, directing a temporary oil-revenue windfall to school infrastructure and rural districts' rising energy costs.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Dunleavy signs bill aligning Alaska classic car import rules with federal standard
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed SB 239 on Wednesday, closing a gap between Alaska's classic vehicle titling rules and the federal 25-year import standard, while two amendments add a graduated financial-responsibility system for suspended-license holders and allow CDL applicants to retake only failed exam sections.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska Democrats mark Dobbs anniversary, but abortion rights here remain protected
On the Dobbs anniversary, Senate candidate Mary Peltola and gubernatorial candidate Thomas Begich restated abortion-rights positions Alaska's constitution already protects.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read