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
Senate Finance advances early intervention services expansion
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee approved legislation Thursday to expand early intervention services for children, with amendments giving the Department of Health more time to implement required Medicaid changes.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
State Defends Transboundary Mining Oversight as Stakeholders Demand Stronger Protections
Alaska officials testified that water quality monitoring shows no pollution from British Columbia mines crossing the border, but fishing groups, tribes, and conservation organizations argued the state is not doing enough to protect Southeast Alaska's salmon rivers from upstream mining risks.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Alaska House bill would tighten hunting, fishing residency to 180 days
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee heard House Bill 93, which would require residents to be physically present in Alaska for at least 180 days annually to qualify for resident hunting and fishing licenses, aligning the standard with Permanent Fund Dividend eligibility.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska LNG Tax Bill Stalls as Lawmakers Demand Project Cost Data
Senate Resources Committee consultant warns legislators lack critical data on Alaska LNG project capital costs and gas pricing needed to fulfill constitutional obligation to maximize resource value, with only 12 days left in session.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Alaska House passes disability pay increase for injured public workers
The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation raising occupational disability benefits from 40% to 75% of salary for state employees injured on the job, while restoring their healthcare coverage.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House panel advances bill to fast-track utility easements in state parks
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee adopted a committee substitute for HB 220 that would require the Department of Natural Resources to grant easements for replacing aging utility infrastructure in state parks within 90 days, while also creating new authority for utilities to install infrastructure through parks.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Senate Passes Budget Balanced at $73 Oil, Rejects House's $320M Deficit Plan
The Alaska Senate approved an operating budget Wednesday that balances at $73 per barrel oil with a $47.5 million surplus, fundamentally different from the House version that carries a $320 million deficit at $75 per barrel oil.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Legislature advances $347M fire station grant program
The Alaska House Finance Committee heard testimony Wednesday on Senate Bill 140, which would create a 50-50 matching grant program to address over $347 million in fire station construction needs and $22 million in renovation needs statewide.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Passes Operating Budget With Energy Relief
The Alaska Senate approved a fiscally conservative operating budget that balances at $70/barrel oil, includes $150 energy relief payments, and avoids drawing from the Constitutional Budget Reserve—contrasting sharply with the House version.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House Finance cuts paid parental leave to 12 weeks, reduces benefits to $524
Alaska House Finance Committee amended paid parental leave legislation to reduce maximum leave from 26 to 12 weeks and cut weekly benefits from $817 to $524, while exempting businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska bill would penalize state for late payments to contractors
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 133, which would impose 10.5% interest penalties when the state fails to pay nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal organizations within 30 days.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances compromise on fish processor sick leave
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee advanced a compromise bill Thursday that limits paid sick leave for seasonal fish processors to 12 hours per month, capped at 48 hours annually, modifying voter-approved sick leave requirements.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances travel insurance modernization bill
The Senate Transportation Committee moved forward Thursday with legislation to update Alaska's travel insurance laws, aligning the state with 42 others that have adopted similar reforms.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes gold, silver legal tender bill unanimously
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 40-0 Thursday to recognize gold and silver specie as legal tender and exempt such transactions from borough and city sales taxes.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate Committee Advances Healthcare Licensing Compact Bill
The Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 110, which includes five interstate healthcare licensing compacts and scope of practice changes for respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Panel Hears Push to Raise Tobacco Age to 21
The Alaska House Finance Committee heard testimony Thursday on Senate Bill 24, which would raise the legal age to buy, sell, use and possess tobacco and e-cigarette products from 19 to 21 and establish a sales tax on vaping devices.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House Committee Hears Divided Testimony on Electronic Pull-Tab Bill
Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee heard sharply divided testimony on HB 386, which would allow electronic pull-tabs on tablets, with operators warning of reduced charity proceeds and manufacturers citing Minnesota's revenue growth.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readHouse passes ethics reform to clarify complaints and strengthen oversight
The Senate Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on House Bill 298, which strengthens Alaska's legislative ethics oversight and passed the House 37-3, with discussion focusing on potential amendments to campaign-period complaint procedures.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House panel hears bill to hold contractors liable for unpaid wages
The Alaska House Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 260, which would make general contractors jointly liable for unpaid subcontractor wages and shift enforcement from criminal to administrative penalties.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House panel advances Alaska Native languages task force bill after rejecting university, state agency seats
The House Education Committee approved House Bill 387 to create a legislative task force reviewing Alaska's 50-year-old Native language programs, but rejected amendments to add university and state education officials to the panel.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate panel hears bill requiring 7-day review for foster youth in psychiatric hospitals
The Senate Finance Committee heard legislation Wednesday that would require judicial review within seven calendar days when foster children are placed in psychiatric hospitals, down from the current 30-day standard.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
House Panel Advances $40M Community Impact Fund for Gas Pipeline
The House Resources Committee voted 7-2 to increase community impact funding for Alaska LNG pipeline municipalities to $40 million, up from the project developer's proposed $30 million, despite concerns about project economics.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House bill to ban polystyrene food containers moves to Senate
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on House Bill 25, which would prohibit polystyrene foam food containers statewide, with industry groups citing cost concerns and environmental advocates pointing to pollution and health risks.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House committee advances resolution backing military infrastructure push
The Alaska House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs advanced a resolution Tuesday supporting military infrastructure development as the state prepares to receive approximately $23 billion in federal funding for defense readiness.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Recent High School Graduate Appointed to Alaska State Medical Board
The Alaska House Health and Social Services Committee held a confirmation hearing Tuesday for Hannah Milkey, a 19-year-old who graduated high school in 2025 and was appointed to the State Medical Board one week earlier.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House panel advances daylight saving time bill with Western Alaska carve-out
The House State Affairs Committee adopted a modified version of Senate Bill 26 that would split Alaska into two time zones if the state joins Pacific Standard Time, addressing concerns from Western Alaska while attempting to end twice-yearly clock changes.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
19-year-old homeschool graduate appointed to State Medical Board
Hannah Milkey, who graduated high school in 2025 and has no medical training, was appointed to Alaska's State Medical Board one week before her confirmation hearing, prompting questions from legislators about her ability to evaluate physician disciplinary cases.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance forwards Anchorage attorney to State Assessment Review Board
The Senate Finance Committee advanced Jana Walsheen's nomination to the State Assessment Review Board to a joint legislative session for confirmation Monday.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
The Alaska House Finance Committee narrowly advanced HB 261, an education funding reform bill using three-year student count averaging, after rejecting amendments to mandate averaging for special needs students and cap administrative spending at 15 percent.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House panel holds wildfire evacuation bill over cost, scope concerns
The House Transportation Committee held HB 317, which would require DOT to prioritize maintenance of roads and airports in wildfire-prone areas for evacuation purposes, after concerns emerged about potentially $100+ million implementation costs and unclear scope affecting thousands of miles of roads and 237 airports.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House advances expanded disability benefits for all public workers
The Alaska House advanced legislation that broadens occupational disability benefits to all public employees and teachers, increases benefit rates from 40% to 75% of salary, and adds healthcare coverage.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska bill would require human operators in autonomous freight trucks
The Alaska Senate Transportation Committee heard House Bill 217, which would mandate human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles while exempting personal vehicles under 10,000 pounds.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel proposes doubling Dalton Highway surcharge in gas line bill
Senate Resources Committee introduced a new version of the gas pipeline bill with a 30-cent Dalton Highway maintenance surcharge, double the governor's proposal, while senators question whether $1 billion in property tax breaks would save average Anchorage households only $55.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Board of Fish Nominees Face Questions on Public Process Erosion
Three Board of Fisheries nominees pledged commitment to transparent public process during legislative questioning focused on recent out-of-cycle decisions that changed Cook Inlet gear types despite overwhelming public opposition.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAlaska Legislature Staff Debate AI Use for Official Records
Legislative staff discussed concerns about unauthorized AI use for meeting minutes and public data scraping, while working to incorporate AI tools into official planning without compromising accuracy standards.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature Falls Two Votes Short of Overriding Elections Bill Veto
The Alaska Legislature failed to override Governor Dunleavy's veto of Senate Bill 64, a comprehensive elections reform bill, falling two votes short of the required 40-vote supermajority in a 38-22 vote during a joint session Monday.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation to raise the maximum bulk fuel loan from $750,000 to $1.5 million as rural communities face doubled fuel prices and supply shortages.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel debates $1B tax break for Alaska LNG amid cost secrecy
Alaska Senate Resources Committee heard testimony Tuesday on a proposed 55-cent per MCF volumetric tax for the Alaska LNG project, with Glenfarne calling it potentially prohibitive while lawmakers demanded cost transparency before committing to tax breaks that could cost communities $1 billion annually.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House panel hears tax proposal for Alaska LNG project
The House Resources Committee received a Department of Revenue presentation on House Bill 381, which would replace property taxes on the Alaska LNG project with a 15-cent per thousand cubic feet volumetric tax on the pipeline, reducing the project's annual tax burden from nearly $750 million to roughly $200 million by 2033.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances behavioral health crisis surcharge bill
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill establishing a surcharge to fund behavioral health crisis services after adding exemptions for low-income phone users.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read