The Alaska State Legislature is the bicameral legislative body that makes state law and sets the budget for Alaska. Its Senate and House of Representatives meet in Juneau to decide the state budget, oil and gas policy, school funding and the Permanent Fund Dividend.
Photo by Bernt Rostad, via Flickr · Photo source · CC BY 2.0
akleg.gov ↗120 4th St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
Inside Alaska State Legislature
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Monday, May 11
Alaska Legislature Forms Conference Committee on $14B Operating Budget
Alaska lawmakers formed a conference committee Monday to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of the $14 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget and mental health funding bill.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance considers $1M teacher loan repayment pilot program
Senate Finance is weighing a $1 million pilot program to pay off student loans for teachers in high-need fields.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
House Finance advances pharmacist prescribing bill with drug restrictions
Alaska House Finance advanced a bill expanding pharmacist prescribing authority Monday, but blocked them from prescribing opioids and other high-risk drugs requiring federal safety oversight.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Alaska Senate Passes Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
Alaska Senate passed a right-to-repair bill requiring manufacturers to provide parts and repair information for consumer electronics, advancing to the House with support from repair shops and Google.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House committee hears bill to update Alaska commercial law for cryptocurrency
Alaska House committee heard testimony on a bill to update state commercial law for cryptocurrency, aligning with 34 states that have already adopted the changes.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska House rejects optional school district healthcare pooling plan
Alaska House rejected a plan that would have let school districts join the state healthcare program, turning down potential savings of $31 million to $42 million annually for major districts.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Sunday, May 10
Navy eyes return to Adak amid Arctic security concerns
The Navy is assessing whether to reestablish operations on Adak Island as China and Russia increase military activity near Alaska, with no formal decision yet made.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House rejects Senate's $1,000 PFD budget, sets up conference talks
House rejected Senate's $1,000 PFD, sending budget to conference committee before May 20 deadline to resolve $477 million gap.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel debates insurance gaps for gig delivery drivers
The House Labor and Commerce Committee is debating Senate Bill 35 to require delivery companies to provide $1 million in liability insurance for gig drivers.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House Finance begins review of Alaska LNG tax bill with competing rate proposals
House Finance is debating a new tax plan for the Alaska LNG pipeline. Lawmakers and the administration disagree on the tax rate.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate Advances Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
Alaska Senate advanced a right-to-repair bill Friday requiring electronics makers to provide repair tools and manuals to independent shops, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances bill adding faculty member to university board
Alaska Senate Finance Committee unanimously advanced a bill to add a faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, with implementation delayed to February 2027.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Finance Rejects Cemetery, School, Energy Amendments
Alaska House Finance rejected five capital budget amendments Friday, citing limited revenue. • Denied $850,000 for Eagle River cemetery and full funding for Galena school renovations. • Also rejected Arctic Winter Games support, West Susitna road authority, and $5 million hydroelectric study.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Friday, May 8
Senate panel advances Ketchikan mariculture manager to Board of Fisheries
Senate panel advanced Paul Cyr, a Ketchikan mariculture manager, to the Alaska Board of Fisheries, restoring Southeast Alaska's representation on the board that sets statewide fishing rules.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House Judiciary advances consumer data privacy bill with 'duty of loyalty'
Alaska House Judiciary advanced a consumer data privacy bill giving Alaskans control over personal data collection and a new duty of loyalty requirement borrowed from Utah law.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House panel hears bill to ease farmland leasing, lower costs for Alaska growers
House panel advanced a bill to let Alaska farmers lease state land at below-market rates instead of costly appraisals, after one Homer grower's lease fee jumped from $1,000 to $9,360 annually.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readAbout Alaska State Legislature
Photo by Bernt Rostad, via Flickr · Photo source · CC BY 2.0
akleg.gov ↗120 4th St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
The Alaska State Legislature is the bicameral body that makes state law and sets the budget for Alaska. Its Senate and House of Representatives meet in Juneau, with much of the work done in committees such as House Finance and Senate Finance and in the Legislative Council.
The Legislature decides the operating and capital budgets, school funding, the Permanent Fund Dividend and oil and gas policy. Recurring questions include taxes on oil and gas, the terms of the proposed Alaska LNG gas line, how much the state pays toward school construction debt, and election and voting law. It also meets in special sessions called outside the regular calendar.
The Legislature works with and against the governor, who proposes bills and can veto spending, and with state agencies that ask lawmakers to change the laws they enforce. Its legislative audit office reviews how state agencies and boards spend money and follow the law.
More from Alaska State Legislature
Alaska Senate committee advances sports betting bill with tax revenue promise
Alaska Senate committee heard a bill Friday that would legalize mobile sports betting, tax operator revenue at 20 percent, and potentially generate up to $17 million annually for the state.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Senate Judiciary advances ethics bill with complaint disclosure changes
Senate Judiciary advanced an ethics reform bill that lets people accused of misconduct decide whether their complaints stay private or go public.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Industry groups oppose Dalton Highway toll targeting oil and gas traffic
Industry groups warned that a toll on the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse could cost Alaska millions in federal funding and unfairly target oil and gas companies.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Alaska House Rewrites LNG Tax Bill, Raising Rate While Empowering Boroughs
Alaska House raised the LNG pipeline tax to 15 cents per thousand cubic feet and gave boroughs power to negotiate property taxes on gas facilities instead of a uniform state rate.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min read
Senate Finance advances early intervention services expansion
Alaska Senate Finance Committee approved legislation to expand early intervention services for children with developmental delays, giving the state more time to update its Medicaid plan.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min read
State Defends Transboundary Mining Oversight as Stakeholders Demand Stronger Protections
Alaska says water monitoring shows no mining damage from B.C. projects upstream of Southeast Alaska salmon rivers. • Fisheries groups and tribes say the state isn't doing enough to stop pollution threats or comment on new mine permits.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min read
Alaska bill would penalize state for late payments to contractors
Alaska bill would charge the state 10.5 percent interest on late payments to nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal organizations, extending a rule that has applied to private contractors since 1990.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House Finance cuts paid parental leave to 12 weeks, reduces benefits to $524
Alaska House Finance Committee cut paid parental leave from 26 weeks to 12 weeks and reduced weekly benefits from $817 to $524, citing fund solvency concerns and employer feedback.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate Passes Operating Budget With Energy Relief
Alaska Senate passed a $70 per barrel operating budget with $150 energy relief payments, avoiding a major Constitutional Budget Reserve draw that the House budget requires.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Legislature advances $347M fire station grant program
Alaska House Finance Committee advanced a bill creating a $347 million matching grant program to help communities rebuild aging fire stations that no longer meet modern safety standards.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readSenate Passes Budget Balanced at $73 Oil, Rejects House's $320M Deficit Plan
Senate passed a $73-per-barrel budget with a $47.5 million surplus, rejecting the House plan that would need a $320 million draw from reserves.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House panel advances bill to fast-track utility easements in state parks
Alaska House panel advanced a bill to let utilities replace aging power lines in state parks, but lawmakers worry the law could open parks to large new projects.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min read
Alaska House passes disability pay increase for injured public workers
Alaska House unanimously passed a bill raising disability pay for injured public workers from 40% to 75% of salary and restoring their health insurance, effective immediately if the Senate approves.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Alaska LNG Tax Bill Stalls as Lawmakers Demand Project Cost Data
Alaska lawmakers lack confidential cost data to set taxes on the proposed Alaska LNG project with only days left in the session.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min read
Alaska House bill would tighten hunting, fishing residency to 180 days
House Bill 93 would require hunters and fishers to spend 180 days in-state to claim resident status. It takes effect January 2028.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Thursday, May 7
Senate panel advances compromise on fish processor sick leave
Senate panel advanced a compromise limiting paid sick leave for seasonal fish processors to 48 hours per year, with a 30-day waiting period, modifying voter-approved requirements.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances travel insurance modernization bill
Alaska Senate panel advanced a bill to replace 13-year-old travel insurance rules with updated standards matching 42 other states, adding consumer protections and clearer regulatory authority.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes gold, silver legal tender bill unanimously
The Alaska House voted 40-0 to allow gold and silver as legal tender. The bill exempts metal value from sales tax but keeps tax obligations for fees.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate Committee Advances Healthcare Licensing Compact Bill
Alaska Senate committee advanced a bill letting doctors, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers, and paramedics licensed in other states practice in Alaska without separate licenses.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Panel Hears Push to Raise Tobacco Age to 21
A House panel is considering raising the tobacco age to 21. The change would align state law with federal standards and unlock millions in prevention funding.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Wednesday, May 6
House Committee Hears Divided Testimony on Electronic Pull-Tab Bill
HB 386 would allow electronic pull-tabs on tablets for charitable gaming. • Operators warned the bill's costs could cut charity proceeds in half, especially in rural areas. • Manufacturers and veterans groups backed the change for revenue growth and accountability.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min readHouse passes ethics reform to clarify complaints and strengthen oversight
Alaska House passed ethics reform clarifying anonymous complaints and strengthening oversight of legislators, with the Senate Judiciary Committee now considering amendments before a Friday vote.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska House panel hears bill to hold contractors liable for unpaid wages
Alaska House panel heard testimony on a bill making project owners and general contractors liable for unpaid wages when subcontractors fail to pay workers.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
House panel advances Alaska Native languages task force bill after rejecting university, state agency seats
House panel advanced a bill creating a legislative task force to review Alaska Native language programs, rejecting proposals to add university and state education officials.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read