Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Neal Foster
Representative · Alaska State House · District 39
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 9 clips
Affiliations
Kawerak says new buildings in five Bering Strait villages are nearly complete
Kawerak says new multipurpose buildings in Teller, Elim, Shaktoolik, Gambell and Shishmaref are nearly done, paid for with $12 million in COVID relief money.
Bush Caucus endorses Kreiss-Tomkins as Wasilla group registers to oppose Menard
Bush Caucus unanimously backs Kreiss-Tomkins for governor. • Wasilla group registers to oppose Menard over unproven stolen valor claim. • Senate race sees new PAC spending for and against Sullivan and Peltola.
Bering Straits Native Corporation shareholders elect three directors, reelect two
Bering Straits Native Corporation shareholders elected three directors and reelected the board chair and vice chair. The board will fill a fourth seat.
Alaska State Archives wins $220,146 to index statehood records
“I'm reading the minutes from the Alaska Constitutional Convention And there is 200 pages of conversation of why they did— framers of the Constitution did not want to do this, right, regarding earmarks and dedicating funds and dedicating revenues for specific purposes.”
A record year for federal research-fraud enforcement — and Alaska's stake in it
Washington recovered a record $6.8B in false-claims cases last year. Alaska's universities run on federal research money, and Begich is on the oversight panel.
House Finance advances Alaska LNG tax bill, curtailing North Slope's power to negotiate
“I am persuaded by their argument that, you know, the resource comes from the region and they'd like to have more say over what they do within their region”
Same committee, same day, two close votes on Alaska LNG ratepayer protection — and they didn't go the same way
House Finance can't quite decide how much to protect Alaska ratepayers from LNG cost overruns — Tuesday's two votes split, with the same person providing the swing both times.
House Finance writes a $16 gas-price cap into Alaska LNG bill — even if Enstar's contract isn't signed
Alaska House Finance voted 6-5 Monday to write a $16-per-MMBtu price cap for natural gas into the state's Alaska LNG tax bill, protecting consumers even if Enstar's contract with the developer remains unsigned.
House Finance amendment lets pipeline-route municipalities bill Alaska LNG directly — skipping the state appropriation step
House Finance approved an amendment allowing pipeline-route municipalities to bill the Alaska LNG operator directly for their tax share instead of waiting for state appropriation.
ENSTAR says it locked in a price for Alaska LNG
ENSTAR locked in $16 per thousand cubic feet for North Slope pipeline gas, undercutting LNG imports at $20 to $23 but raising costs 48% above current Cook Inlet supply before adding $4.50 to $6 in distribution and storage charges.
North Slope, Kenai mayors negotiate gas line property tax as House Finance delays bill deadline
North Slope Borough Mayor Patkotak and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Micciche negotiated property tax terms for the Alaska LNG project as the House Finance Committee delayed its amendment deadline to allow talks to continue.
Alaska House examines $4 billion LNG equity option, Fairbanks spur-line tax break
Alaska House Finance Committee examined a plan letting the state buy 5 to 25 percent equity stakes in Alaska LNG for up to $4 billion total, while conditioning a tax break for the pipeline on building a 30-mile spur line to Fairbanks.
AGDC tells House Finance that Alaska property tax is 10 times higher than competing LNG projects
More conversations about the Governor's plan to make the AK LNG project more profitable to investors.
Neal Foster files for House District 39 re-election
“regardless of everything, if we can't get the fuel, we can't get the fuel”
Energy consultant tells House Finance that property tax makes Alaska LNG unfinanceable
Energy consultant says property tax costs $600 million yearly, making Alaska LNG unfinanceable.
Alaska gas line faces economic challenge even with tax breaks
Alaska LNG needs $8.48 to $9.07 per thousand cubic feet to break even, but global prices are $8 to $9. • Governor's tax plan cuts state revenue from $29.7 billion to $22.5 billion over the project's life. • Capital cost overruns and producer gas prices pose bigger risks than tax relief can fix. • State could invest $4.4 billion for a 25 percent equity stake.
House Resources gas line bill would cost municipalities $13B under governor's plan
Governor's plan cuts municipal revenue by $13 billion, House Resources version cuts only $2 billion • Governor replaces property tax with volumetric tax statewide, House Resources keeps property tax on facilities • Both versions reduce state revenue, project remains economically challenged at current market prices
Alaska House passes Native corporation reinstatement bill after Senate changes
Alaska House voted 36-3 to accept Senate changes to HB 126, allowing involuntarily dissolved Native corporations to reinstate as the same legal entity rather than transfer assets to a new corporation.
Alaska Passes Age of Consent Bill After Weeks-Long Senate Delay
Alaska raised age of consent from 16 to 18 after Senate delay sparked public outcry. • Omnibus crime bill also criminalizes AI-generated child abuse images and requires sex offender registration. • New rules make sexual assault by healthcare workers a standalone crime and expand parole board. • Lawmakers worried about compressed timeline but voted yes anyway.
Okitkun files for Alaska House District 39 seat
Reynold Okitkun filed Tuesday as a nonpartisan candidate for Alaska House District 39, focusing his campaign on restoring fishing and subsistence rights to rural communities.
House Finance Committee advances PFD restoration for wrongfully convicted
“SB 167, which is 34-LS0491/G, moves out of House Finance, um, as amended with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note.”
House Finance adds feral cat spay-neuter provisions to invasive species bill
“9 Yea, 2 nay. So on a vote of 9 yea, 2 nay, Amendment #1 has been adopted.”
House panel hears bill to restore PFDs for wrongfully convicted Alaskans
A House panel heard testimony on a bill allowing wrongfully convicted Alaskans to reclaim Permanent Fund dividends lost during incarceration, affecting roughly five known cases worth about $107,852.
House Finance Committee advances auto-IRA bill for Alaska workers
House Finance Committee advanced a bill creating an automatic IRA program for Alaska workers at businesses without retirement plans, with employees able to opt out.
House Finance advances civics education bill after rejecting military exemption
“I think exempting people because we think logistically you don't have time to achieve this credit in the 4 years of high school. I think 10th grade still— I think 10th grade is adequate”
Alaska House panel hears testimony on statewide spay-neuter program, no vote taken
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on a statewide spay and neuter program to address rural animal overpopulation.
House Finance approves pharmacist prescription bill after rejecting nurse compact
“3 Yea, 8 nay. So on a vote of 3 yea to 8 nay, Amendment Number 6 has not been adopted.”
House panel hears gas line tax bill with 15-cent volumetric fee
House panel heard a bill replacing property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a 15-cent volumetric tax, projected to generate $10 million for the state in 2029.
Senate Finance reviews bill to double bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5M
Senate Finance heard a bill to double the bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5 million for rural Alaska communities facing higher seasonal fuel costs.
House panel advances retirement savings program for private workers
Alaska House panel advanced a bill to create a state-run retirement savings program for private workers at small businesses, with automatic enrollment at 5 percent of pay and no cost to employers.
House Finance advances fire station grant program after rejecting rural aid amendments
“normally CAPSES is something that we refer to when we have discretionary funds that we allow every community to, you know, typically we would say, okay, everybody, we've got extra money and everybody gets $1 million and you can figure out how you want to spend it.”
House Finance reschedules gas line hearing, shifts to vehicle title bill
“we're supposed to hear the gas line bill. In all likelihood, it looks like we may not be hearing that. Depending on what happens at a 1 o'clock rules meeting today.”
House panel sets amendment deadline for civics education bill
“I will go ahead and set an amendment deadline for, um, SB 23, Civics Education, and that deadline will be for Friday, May 15th, at 5 PM.”
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
“7 Yea, 4 nay. So on a vote of 7 yea to 4 nay, House Bill 193, which is version 34-LS0612/s, moves out of committee.”
Senate panel advances Native corporation reporting exemption despite concerns
Senate panel advanced a bill exempting 37 Alaska Native village corporations from state reporting, rejecting an amendment that would have kept the requirement for the largest ones.
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.
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.
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.
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
“House Bill 261, which is version 34-LS, 1293/G moves out of committee, House Finance Committee, as amended with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note.”
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
“a letter recently came out saying that there was the possibility that 140 million gallons that go into western Alaska may or may not be there, or maybe it's going to be a partial. And what does that mean for small rural communities that rely on that for heating, but not only heating, but also the electricity to run power plants”
House Finance advances education fund amendment, rejects gas pipeline revenue tie
“2 Yea, 9 nay. On a vote of 2 yea and 9 nay, Amendment Number 3 has not been adopted.”
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
House Finance cut $95 million for the West Susitna Access Road from the capital budget. Lawmakers fear the project will drain federal funds from other state needs.
Alaska House Weighs $113M Education Funding Overhaul
“They really feel their numbers need, they need to present their analysis to DEED staff to verify that their assumptions are correct.”
Housing agency buys 600+ acres statewide to spur development
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation bought 600+ acres statewide with $12.5 million to spur single-family housing development, with developer proposals due in June and construction expected summer 2027.
Senate Finance advances $2.8B operating budget to Rules Committee
Alaska Senate Finance advanced the $2.8 billion operating budget to the Rules Committee on Thursday, moving it closer to final passage after a contentious House debate marked by close votes.
House Finance advances mail theft bill despite competing governor's version
“I don't really care whose name is on it. I just want it addressed. I have been open to merging the two. I have been open to taking the best of both bills and putting them in one.”
House Finance considers multi-year school funding averaging bill
House Bill 261 would let Alaska school districts know enrollment by July 1 instead of October, using three-year averaging to give them budget certainty and time to hire teachers earlier.
House panel questions education fund proposal with no guaranteed revenue
House Finance Committee questioned whether a proposed constitutional education fund guarantees school money, since it requires no dedicated revenue and lets future legislatures spend it down to zero.
House panel debates $113M education funding formula shift
House panel heard testimony on a bill that would shift school funding to a three-year enrollment average, costing $113 million annually but giving districts budget certainty earlier in the year.
Senate Finance hears tax modernization bill, sets aside for further review
Senate Finance heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift corporate income tax to market-based sourcing and generate roughly $15 million annually, but deferred a vote.
