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 Conference Committee Advances 23 of 25 Supplemental Budget Items
A legislative conference committee Tuesday adopted most items in Alaska's FY26 supplemental operating budget, accepting Senate versions while leaving two items open for continued negotiation.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House panel sets amendment deadline for civics education bill
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on SB 23, which would require high school students to complete civics coursework or assessments to graduate and create a diploma seal recognizing civic excellence, then set a Friday amendment deadline.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate Panel Advances Bill Tying Hunting Rights to 180-Day Residency
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee voted 5-2 to advance legislation requiring residents to spend at least 180 days per year in Alaska to maintain hunting and fishing privileges, aligning those requirements with Permanent Fund Dividend standards.
by Alaska News4mo ago6 min read
Senate panel advances Whittier land transfer bill without objection
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee unanimously moved House Bill 216 forward Tuesday, advancing legislation that would transfer Alaska Railroad Corporation land to the City of Whittier.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House panel advances penny-rounding bill to standardize cash transactions
The Alaska House State Affairs Committee unanimously advanced legislation requiring retailers to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel, addressing inconsistent business practices as pennies disappear from circulation.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readHouse panel adopts fiscal note for Alaska Native languages task force bill
The House Education Committee unanimously adopted the fiscal note for House Bill 387, which would establish a joint legislative task force on Alaska Native language education.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 7-4 to advance a paid parental leave bill that would create a new payroll tax and provide up to 12 weeks of benefits, despite warnings the fund could be depleted by 2040 and concerns about small business exemptions creating legal vulnerabilities.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Gas tax hike could net Alaska $590M over pipeline life, analysis shows
Department of Revenue analysis shows increasing the North Slope gas production tax from 13% to 17% would generate $590 million over 30 years without affecting in-state gas prices due to existing tax ceiling protections.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances bill barring felons from school boards
The Alaska Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously advanced legislation Tuesday that would prohibit convicted felons from serving on school boards statewide and allow board members to substitute teach.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House passes education funding reform despite split votes on transparency
The Alaska House passed HB 261, a major education funding reform using multi-year enrollment averaging, but narrowly rejected amendments requiring public meetings and website posting of mental health curriculum.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate panel advances autonomous vehicle restrictions despite industry opposition
The Alaska Senate Transportation Committee advanced a bill Tuesday requiring human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles over 10,000 pounds, drawing opposition from tech companies who warned Alaska would become the only state to effectively ban the technology.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance exempts emergency management from contract payment rules
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that exempts Alaska's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management from new state contract payment requirements, giving emergency responders flexibility during disasters.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska lawmakers debate farm tax break for horses, flowers
A House committee narrowed a bill to restore farm property tax deferments, excluding horses and flowers despite testimony that the 2024 change cost operations thousands and threatens Alaska's agricultural ecosystem.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Home care worker pay mandate divides Alaska lawmakers over rural access
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation requiring agencies to spend 80 percent of Medicaid rates on direct caregiver wages by 2030, with provider groups warning the mandate could force rural agency closures while worker advocates argued built-in safeguards would prevent disruption.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance hears omnibus crime bill targeting AI child porn, raising age of consent
Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on an omnibus crime bill that would criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material and raise Alaska's age of consent from 16 to 18 across more than 24 criminal offenses.
by Alaska News4mo ago6 min read
Senate panel advances Native corporation reporting exemption despite concerns
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced a bill that would exempt most Alaska Native village corporations from state reporting requirements, rejecting an amendment to preserve oversight of larger corporations.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readHouse panel hears electronic pull-tab bill with 35% manufacturer cap
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Monday on a bill that would cap manufacturer fees for electronic pull-tabs at 35%, drawing criticism from operators who say the rate is too high compared to Minnesota's 20% cap.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House Passes Required Local Contribution Cap for Schools
The Alaska House adopted an amendment capping annual growth in required local property tax contributions to schools at 2%, shifting an estimated $29 million in education costs from municipalities to the state.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Senate panel debates gas pipeline tax structure in 26th hearing
The Senate Resources Committee held its 26th hearing on SB 280, examining the proposed volumetric tax system for the Alaska LNG project and discussing technical questions about where gas production would be taxed.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel hears push to raise tobacco age to 21, tax vapes at 25%
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on Senate Bill 24, which would raise Alaska's legal tobacco purchase age from 19 to 21 and impose a 25% retail price tax on vapor products, drawing support from public health advocates and opposition from retailers who warn the tax structure could fuel illicit markets.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAlaska Legislature Forms Conference Committee on $14B Operating Budget
Six lawmakers convened Monday to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of Alaska's fiscal year 2027 operating and mental health budgets, adopting identical items and requesting limited negotiating powers.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance considers $1M teacher loan repayment pilot program
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on a three-year pilot program that would repay up to $5,000 annually in student loans for teachers in high-need fields, part of a broader education funding package addressing the state's severe teacher shortage.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House Finance advances pharmacist prescribing bill with drug restrictions
Alaska House Finance Committee approved amendments restricting pharmacists from prescribing high-risk drugs including opioids and abortion medications, while requiring naloxone prescriptions alongside opioid prescriptions over three days.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska Senate Passes Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
The Alaska Senate voted 15-5 Monday to require manufacturers to provide repair access for consumer electronics, advancing legislation that supporters say will keep money in Alaska and reduce electronic waste.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House committee hears bill to update Alaska commercial law for cryptocurrency
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Monday on Senate Bill 252, which would update Alaska's Uniform Commercial Code to govern transactions involving cryptocurrency, NFTs, and electronic promissory notes.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House rejects optional school district healthcare pooling plan
The Alaska House narrowly defeated an amendment that would have allowed school districts to join the state's AlaskaCare healthcare system, potentially saving major districts millions annually.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Navy eyes return to Adak amid Arctic security concerns
The U.S. Navy is gathering information to potentially reestablish operations at Adak, marking a significant shift in Arctic military posture as adversary activity increases in the region.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House rejects Senate's $1,000 PFD budget, sets up conference talks
The Alaska House unanimously rejected the Senate's operating budget Friday, which cut the dividend from $1,500 to $1,000 and reduced education funding, sending both chambers toward conference committee negotiations.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel debates insurance gaps for gig delivery drivers
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on Senate Bill 35, which would require delivery network companies to provide $1 million in liability coverage when drivers are actively delivering, but leaves a coverage gap when the app is open but no delivery is accepted.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House Finance begins review of Alaska LNG tax bill with competing rate proposals
House Finance Committee held its first hearing on legislation to replace traditional property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a volumetric tax, with the House Resources version proposing 15 cents per thousand cubic feet versus the administration's 6-cent proposal.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate Advances Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
The Alaska Senate advanced legislation requiring manufacturers to provide repair tools and documentation for consumer electronics after narrowing the bill's scope and pushing back its effective date.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances bill adding faculty member to university board
The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved legislation to add a faculty representative to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, updating implementation dates to 2027 with a 2033 sunset clause.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Finance Rejects Cemetery, School, Energy Amendments
The House Finance Committee rejected multiple capital budget amendments Friday, including funding for an Eagle River cemetery, Galena school repairs, Arctic Winter Games, and the West Susitna Access Road, citing budget constraints despite acknowledging merit in the proposals.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances Ketchikan mariculture manager to Board of Fisheries
The Senate Resources Committee advanced Paul Cyr's nomination to the Alaska Board of Fisheries, which would give Southeast Alaska its first seat on the influential regulatory board in years.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House Judiciary advances consumer data privacy bill with 'duty of loyalty'
The Alaska House Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 Friday to advance HB 367, which would give Alaskans new rights over their personal data and require companies to act in consumers' best interests.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House panel hears bill to ease farmland leasing, lower costs for Alaska growers
The House Resources Committee heard testimony on HB 296, which would create a merit-based leasing program for state agricultural land at below-market rates and allow DNR to enforce agricultural covenants through civil penalties rather than land repossession.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate committee advances sports betting bill with tax revenue promise
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on legislation to legalize mobile sports betting in Alaska, with sponsors projecting $12 million to $18 million in annual tax revenue from an industry already operating illegally in the state.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate Judiciary advances ethics bill with complaint disclosure changes
The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 298 after adopting amendments that allow subjects of ethics complaints to request public disclosure.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Industry groups oppose Dalton Highway toll targeting oil and gas traffic
Industry representatives testified against a bill to establish tolls on a two-mile stretch of the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse, warning the measure could jeopardize federal funding and create unfair taxation on oil and gas operations.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House Rewrites LNG Tax Bill, Raising Rate While Empowering Boroughs
The House Resources Committee approved a restructured tax approach for the Alaska LNG project that raises the pipeline tax to 15 cents per thousand cubic feet while allowing North Slope and Kenai boroughs to negotiate property taxes on facilities.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read