Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Cathy Giessel
Senator · Alaska State Senate · District E
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 22 clips
Affiliations
State runs new disability law mostly by hand, with a $790,000 estimate to fix its system
A new law nearly doubled PERS disability pay for workers hurt on the job. The state runs it mostly by hand, and the computer fix could cost up to $790,000.
Housing agency has no set plans for proposed state land transfers, CEO tells senators
“The Department of Natural Resources has waived reversionary interest on this land, which means that they aren't going to require the land come back.”
Conservation district applies for 885 Point MacKenzie acres DNR plans to give AIDEA
“This is, uh, land that had agricultural covenants on it.”
DNR commissioner says governor's office worked 'very closely' on land transfers to AIDEA
“Please either supply the requested information or a date certain for the information arrival.”
Giessel says free AIDEA land transfer takes over the Legislature's appropriation power
“If you take the math and take the $587,000 that you at the University of Alaska will be getting annually for 829 acres and transfer that to what DNR is conveying to ADA, that would be $14 million annually that would come to the state general fund.”
Senate committee votes to subpoena DNR commissioner over AIDEA land transfers
One invitation declined, another still pending. Senate Resources voted to subpoena DNR Commissioner John Crowther for Oct. 26 over free land transfers to AIDEA.
Giessel says governor kept DNR commissioner from legislative hearing on AIDEA land transfers
“his presence today had been denied by the governor”
Legislative attorneys say Houston land transfer to AIDEA may fail public-purpose test
“These are state assets.”
Labor-backed committee pays $150,000 for Kreiss-Tomkins ticket ads
A labor-backed committee paid $150,000 for digital ads backing the Kreiss-Tomkins and Johnson gubernatorial ticket, with spending set to run through Election Day on Nov. 3.
Legislative committee has no oil and gas consultants under contract, chair says
Alaska lawmakers have no oil and gas consultants under contract, with a gas pipeline project and a new administration coming. Senators want that fixed.
Labor committee reports $125,000 in ads for four Alaska candidates
Putting Alaskans First reported $125,000 in Meta ads supporting four legislative candidates. Two other committees reported smaller buys.
Enstar tells legislators it's 18 days short of gas for winter
Enstar told legislators it's 18 days, about 3 Bcf, short of gas for a normal winter after two supplies fell through, with deals underway still leaving a gap.
Anchorage will ship contaminated concrete to Oregon after the state tightened disposal rules, adding $850,000
Anchorage's school board approved $850,000 to ship contaminated school concrete to Oregon after the state tightened its rules on disposing of banned PCBs.
The Anchorage School Board pledges no more closures next year, but one member says the last three were never explained
The Anchorage School Board pledged no closures next year as an olive branch to a grieving community, though one member says the last three went unexplained.
Anchorage School District adopts a single English curriculum for grades 6 through 10
Anchorage adopted one English curriculum for grades 6-10 on a 6-1 vote. The selection committee itself split 6-5, and one board member questioned the process.
Alaska Senate Majority sets Anchorage press availability on stalled gas session
“We feel strongly that all the communities, all the Alaskans in our state should benefit from this pipeline.”
UAF will lead a project to mine critical minerals out of old mine waste
“This is a big win for Alaska and the University.”
Can a bacterium pull rare earths out of coal waste? Alaska researchers just got $4.7M to find out
Can a microbe mine coal waste for rare earths? Alaska researchers got $4.7M to find out — chasing a domestic source for minerals the U.S. mostly imports.
Alaska Senate passes LNG bill as Republicans warn it kills financing
Alaska's Senate passed its LNG bill 11-8, and Senate Republicans immediately said the added taxes and labor rules make the pipeline unfinanceable.
What the Senate Changed in the Gas-Line Deal
The Senate's gas-line rewrite caps your gas price, leashes the state's pipeline agency, and lets the boroughs pocket most of the tax money for decades before the state takes its cut.
Alaska Senate digs in on gas tax bill, sends it to conference
“that the Senate recede from its amendments to House Bill 381 and recommend that the Senate vote no”
Alaska Senate passes S-corp LNG tax with 2028 effective date
“One of the things that is said about this bill is it has not been modeled. Mr. President, then how the heck do you think we know that they will be making about $5 billion, Glenfarm, when this is at full production and we will be losing out on more than $400 million? Because it has been modeled by our own Department of Revenue, Mr. President.”
Enstar faces 2033 supply gap as Hilcorp contract expires, no Cook Inlet producer can match drilling scale
Enstar Natural Gas loses its main Cook Inlet gas supplier in 2033 when Hilcorp's contract expires, and no other producer can match Hilcorp's drilling scale, leaving Southcentral facing a supply gap unless a North Slope pipeline delivers gas by then.
Alaska LNG seeks 90% property tax cut; Kenai Peninsula pushes back
Alaska LNG is seeking a 90 percent property tax cut to proceed, but Kenai Peninsula Borough says the cut would cost local governments about $30 million annually needed to cover project impacts.
Alaska Senate opens special session on natural gas tax overhaul
Alaska Senate opened special session to overhaul natural gas taxes through Senate Bill 2001. • New volumetric tax on gas throughput and revised municipal property tax calculations for schools. • Governor Dunleavy called session under May 19 proclamation limited to natural gas tax bills. • Senate coordinating with House and three state departments to avoid costly errors.
Dunleavy vetoes transit plan, calls special session on gas pipeline tax
Governor Dunleavy vetoed a statewide transit bill and called a special legislative session to address natural gas pipeline taxation, with Senate Finance Committee hearings beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Alaska Senate passes bill letting pharmacists treat minor illnesses without a doctor's call
Alaska Senate passed bill letting pharmacists treat strep throat, bladder infections, and manage diabetes without doctor approval first. • Pharmacists cannot prescribe opioids or high-risk drugs but can give naloxone. • Rural areas and emergencies benefit most, with pharmacist visits costing $277 less than clinic visits.
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
“To remind our esteemed colleagues, a yes vote is a vote in favor of overriding the veto of House Bill 78. A no vote will maintain the governor's veto.”
Alaska Senate advances sweeping public safety bill with AI child abuse provisions
Alaska Senate unanimously approved an 80-page public safety bill that criminalizes AI child abuse material and raises age of consent to 18. • The bill expands the parole board from five to seven members and creates new crimes including mail theft and airbag fraud. • It costs $413,400 in startup and ongoing funding and now returns to the House for final approval.
Alaska House Passes Baby Box Bill 35-5
Alaska House passed SB 9 on May 19 with a 35-to-5 vote, authorizing baby boxes at hospitals and fire stations where parents can anonymously surrender infants 21 days or younger without legal penalty.
Alaska lowers bar for toddlers to get early intervention services
Alaska lowered the eligibility threshold for toddler early intervention services from 50 percent to 25 percent developmental delay, allowing thousands more children to access help earlier.
Alaska Senate Passes Statewide Styrofoam Ban for Restaurants
Alaska Senate passed a statewide ban on polystyrene food containers at restaurants, effective January 1, 2027, citing health and environmental concerns.
Senate panel advances gas pipeline tax bill after 36 hearings
Alaska Senate panel advanced a gas pipeline tax bill Monday after 36 hearings, despite senators saying they lack expert information and the governor's administration has offered no support.
Senate panel reviews oil tax floor increase projecting $132M annual gain
Senate panel reviewed modeling showing a higher oil tax floor would generate $132 million annually on average, though some years could see revenue decline.
JBER plans 7-mile barbed-wire fence along Anchorage neighborhoods
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson plans a 7-mile barbed-wire fence along Anchorage neighborhoods, drawing concerns from residents about wildlife and trail access.
Gas pipeline bill adds oil tax increase, industry calls process rushed
Alaska Senate passed a gas pipeline bill raising the oil tax floor to six percent starting in 2027, even without the pipeline, over industry objections.
Gas line tax break delivers 20% savings, far less than competing states
Alaska's gas line tax break gives developers a 20% savings, far less than the 65% savings they'd get under a 10-year tax holiday like Texas and Louisiana offer, a consultant told lawmakers Saturday.
Senate panel weighs municipal concerns over Alaska LNG tax structure
Alaska Senate panel revised the LNG tax bill to raise annual revenue to $625 million and added a 10-year sunset clause to address municipal concerns about setting a precedent for future tax breaks.
Alaska Senate advances university regents reform bill with 2027 start date
Alaska Senate advanced a bill to restructure the University of Alaska Board of Regents, setting it to take effect Feb. 1, 2027, with a sunset review date six years later.
Senate cuts community impact fees for gas pipeline by half
Alaska Senate cut community impact fees for the Alaska LNG pipeline to $500,000 per mile, halving projected municipal payments from $740 million to $370 million during construction.
Senate panel advances gas pipeline bill with reduced community payments
Alaska Senate panel cut community payments for a major gas pipeline from $800 million to $200 million and added the governor's plan to raise oil taxes, advancing the merged bill toward a vote.
Senate panel advances gas pipeline bill with oil tax floor increase
Alaska Senate panel advanced a gas pipeline bill raising the minimum oil production tax from 4 percent to 6 percent starting January 2027, whether or not the pipeline gets built.
Oil industry opposes gas pipeline tax bill over bundled oil tax increases
“these payments, the $50,000 and the $30,000 $1.5 million are not taxes. They're investments in the state of Alaska as a corporate citizen of the state, here to develop our resources.”
Point Thomson Gas Blowdown Could Cost Alaska 65M Barrels of Condensate
“we were hoping you could review for us the technology that's required, the complexity. As well as what you would speculate would be the loss of condensate that could be removed with the blowdown of the gas at Point Thompson.”
Alaska Senate passes bill to expand early intervention for delayed children
Alaska Senate unanimously passed a bill lowering early intervention eligibility for young children from 50 percent to 25 percent developmental delay, potentially saving $38.9 million annually.
Senate Panel Advances Bill Tying Hunting Rights to 180-Day Residency
Alaska Senate panel advanced a bill tying resident hunting licenses to a 180-day residency standard, matching Permanent Fund Dividend rules to stop non-residents from claiming cheaper resident tags.
Gas tax hike could net Alaska $590M over pipeline life, analysis shows
Raising Alaska's gas production tax by 1 percentage point could generate $590 million over 30 years once the Alaska LNG project exports begin in 2033, without raising in-state gas prices.
Senate panel debates gas pipeline tax structure in 26th hearing
“Today we're hearing Senate Bill 280, Supporting a Gas Line for Alaskans Act. This is hearing number 26 since March 13th on this policy.”
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.
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.
