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
Alaska House concurs on health care and telehealth bill
The Alaska House concurred Wednesday in Senate changes to a health care and telehealth bill, sending the measure toward the governor.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska House passes pay-card wage bill after fee provision removed
The Alaska House passed Senate Bill 79 allowing employers to offer pay cards for wages after removing a provision on credit card interchange fees.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate opens special session on natural gas tax overhaul
The Alaska Senate convened Thursday to begin work on Senate Bill 2001, a comprehensive natural gas taxation package that addresses pipeline property taxes, municipal tax limits, and a new volumetric tax system.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Dunleavy vetoes transit plan, calls special session on gas pipeline tax
Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed a statewide transit planning bill Thursday while calling the Alaska Legislature into special session to address natural gas pipeline taxation, with Senate Finance Committee hearings scheduled to begin Wednesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes corporate income tax bill for digital-era businesses
The Alaska House voted Wednesday to accept Senate changes to a corporate income tax bill updating how certain businesses apportion taxable income to Alaska.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Legislature proclaims May 2026 as Myositis Awareness Month
The Alaska Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday proclaiming May 2026 as Myositis Awareness Month.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate urges apprentice hiring goals for veterans on defense projects
The Alaska Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday urging Congress to set hiring goals for apprentices and veteran apprentices on U.S. Department of Defense construction projects.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Senate Republicans link Cook Inlet gas decline to rural power costs
Senate Republicans warn that declining Cook Inlet natural gas will raise rural energy costs through the Power Cost Equalization program as the Legislature begins a special session on gasline legislation.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate rejects healthcare compact bill in 11-9 vote
The Alaska Senate voted Wednesday to reject legislation that would have allowed out-of-state healthcare providers to practice in Alaska through interstate compacts, with opponents citing concerns about providers lacking understanding of Indigenous peoples and Alaska's unique healthcare needs.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate backs Kipnuk, Kwigillingok relocation after Typhoon Halong
The Alaska Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday backing the decisions of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok to relocate after devastation from Typhoon Halong.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate passes $13.9B operating budget with $200 energy relief
The Alaska Senate approved a $13.9 billion operating budget Wednesday that includes a $200 per-person energy relief payment and maintains a $44 million surplus.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate passes special education funding and Palmer judge bills
The Alaska Senate unanimously approved bills to increase special education funding and add a Superior Court judge in Palmer to address court backlogs.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate rejects health care licensing compact bill
The Alaska Senate rejected a health care licensing bill that would have allowed the state to join interstate compacts for provider licensing.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate passes bill for deaf and hard of hearing students
The Alaska Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday aimed at strengthening support for public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Legislature passes physician associate, pharmacist bill
The Alaska Legislature passed a health care bill Wednesday changing the title of physician assistants to physician associates and updating pharmacy-related laws.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate adds unemployment benefit increase to insurance bill
The Alaska Senate amended an insurance bill to raise the maximum weekly unemployment benefit to $470 after debate over employer costs and trust fund solvency.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska House passes bill repealing inactive state funds
The Alaska House unanimously passed Senate Bill 163, repealing three inactive state accounts identified through the Legislature's biannual inactive-funds review process.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska House passes bill aimed at software vendor lock-in
The Alaska House passed legislation Wednesday to limit software vendor lock-in provisions in government contracts.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min readAlaska House passes bill removing tax-remittance deductions
The Alaska House passed legislation eliminating tax-remittance deductions for motor fuel, tobacco, and tire fees in a 25-14 vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min readAlaska Senate adds telehealth parity and disability coverage to benefits bill
The Alaska Senate passed legislation Wednesday requiring insurers to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate as in-person care and extending healthcare coverage to permanently disabled public safety employees.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate passes bill letting pharmacists treat minor illnesses without a doctor's call
The Alaska Senate passed legislation Wednesday authorizing pharmacists to diagnose and treat minor conditions like strep throat and urinary tract infections, expanding healthcare access particularly in rural areas.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House raises unemployment benefits, expands telehealth coverage
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Wednesday to raise the maximum weekly unemployment benefit from $370 to $470 and expand telehealth pay parity, passing two bills with overwhelming support on the final day of the regular session.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes five healthcare licensure compacts in single bill
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Wednesday to adopt five interstate professional licensure compacts covering physicians, physician assistants, EMS personnel, psychologists, and social workers, positioning the state for federal Rural Health Transformation Program grants.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
House advances complex care homes for behavioral health patients
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Wednesday to create a new licensure category for residential facilities serving people with behavioral health conditions who currently fall through gaps in the state's care system.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
House moves to close property tax overpayment loophole
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Wednesday to eliminate interest payments on property tax overpayments caused by taxpayer error, closing what legislators described as a secure investment scheme, while also expanding tax exemptions for volunteer first responders.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate passes special education funding and Palmer judge bills
The Alaska Senate unanimously passed two House bills Wednesday aimed at special education services and court backlogs in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
House votes to eliminate tax filing discounts worth $500,000 annually
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Wednesday to eliminate four tax deductions and discounts for timely filing of motor fuel, tobacco, and tire taxes, including a cigarette stamp discount that has persisted since 2003.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska House passes campaign contribution limits that could take effect during 2026 election
The Alaska House narrowly approved Senate changes to a campaign-finance bill restoring contribution limits to state and local candidates, with an effective date of January 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes Native corporation reinstatement bill after Senate changes
The Alaska House voted to accept Senate amendments to a bill allowing involuntarily dissolved Native corporations to reinstate as the same legal entity.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska House passes education package with teacher loan repayment, energy relief
The Alaska House approved an education bill combining teacher loan repayment for hard-to-fill positions, school energy-cost relief, and a cap on local contribution growth.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska House passes bill creating Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission
The Alaska House unanimously approved Senate amendments to a bill establishing a nine-member Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission to support economic and cultural ties between Alaska and Ireland.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska Passes Age of Consent Bill After Weeks-Long Senate Delay
The Alaska House voted 39-1 to approve an omnibus crime package bundling 11 public safety bills, including raising the age of consent to 18, criminalizing AI-generated child sexual abuse material, and creating new penalties for mail theft.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska Senate Passes Education Bill With 4% Property Tax Cap
The Alaska State Senate passed a major education reform bill Tuesday night after narrowly adopting a 4% cap on required local contribution growth and establishing a state energy grant program for schools.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes tobacco age increase, vape tax, cigar lounge exemption
The Alaska House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 24 on Tuesday, raising the minimum tobacco and vape purchase age from 19 to 21 and imposing the state's first tax on electronic smoking products, while also creating a controversial exemption for premium cigar retail stores.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House passes commercial-code update for digital assets
The Alaska House unanimously passed Senate Bill 252, updating the state's Uniform Commercial Code to address digital assets and electronic transactions.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min readAlaska Senate adopts final operating, mental health and capital budgets
The Alaska Senate approved the state's fiscal year 2027 operating budget, mental health budget, and capital budget in a Wednesday night floor session.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Home Care Agencies to Fund Workers
The Alaska Legislature passed House Bill 96, which requires home care agencies to allocate a percentage of funding to Personal Care Assistants and creates an advisory board to develop senior care policy recommendations.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Energy Conference Highlights Gas Pipeline Progress Amid Legislative Tax Debate
The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference showcased progress on the Alaska LNG project while the legislature debated competing tax frameworks for the pipeline. Inside: SB 280, consumer-cost concerns, the critical-minerals permitting gap, AI data centers, and rural Alaska's $6.63 gasoline.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
Constituent complaint drives classic car import law through Legislature
Alaska's Legislature passed SB 239 to align state classic car registration with federal 25-year import standards after a constituent could not register a federally legal vehicle under the state's 1981 cutoff.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate panel hears gas line bill with $900M annual tax break
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read