Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Andrew Gray
Representative · Alaska State House · District 14
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 24 clips
Affiliations
Late food aid applications drive Alaska's costly SNAP error rate, official says
Alaska's SNAP error rate could cost up to $49 million a year, and the state's director blames late applications for most of it. Below 6% costs nothing.
USDA proposes rules for Alaska's SNAP work-limit reprieve, which must end by 2028
USDA proposed rules for Alaska's SNAP work-limit reprieve, which by law ends by 2028. The state says its old eligibility system is one reason it needs it.
About 775 noncitizens lose full Alaska Medicaid, and just over half are children
About 775 refugees, asylees and other noncitizens lost full Alaska Medicaid coverage as of Oct. 1 under a new federal law. Just over 400 are children.
AFN presents subsistence listening-session findings that will guide its 2026-2030 plan
AFN shared subsistence listening-session findings at its Anchorage convention to shape a 2026-2030 strategic plan.
Three candidates for governor pledge tribal affairs offices or liaisons at AFN forum
Three governor candidates told AFN delegates they'd add tribal affairs offices, advisors or liaisons to state government. Bernadette Wilson didn't take part.
Ballot Measure 3 would add one word to Alaska's voting law, with most money from one donor
“In Alaska today, it is against the law for a non-US citizen to vote in a local or state or federal election.”
Five Alaska legislators and candidates amend financial disclosures in two days
“Add my personal residence as an asset -- currently I only have the mortgage declared.”
Alaska prosecutors must prove a voter knew a registration form was false
“not because they purposely voted, but because they didn't know that they couldn't”
A one-word change to Alaska's voting law could foreclose a path for American Samoan residents
“In Alaska today, it is against the law for a non-US citizen to vote in a local or state or federal election. It is against the law. And how do we know that? Because in 2023, we arrested 11 people in Whittier for voting.”
Ballot Measure 3 turns on a single word
“In Alaska, non-U.S. citizens are already forbidden from voting in local and state elections. This is what led to the arrest of voters in Whittier a couple of years ago.”
Two Dan Sullivans, and a ballot solution the state wrote itself
“The reality is the Division of Elections has to find a neutral, nonpartisan way to list these names on the ballot so that voters can tell them apart. And then I think it goes back to the campaigns. The campaigns have to spend some energy.”
Alaska asks 3,500 voters to confirm citizenship weeks before the primary
Alaska flagged 3,500 voters as possible noncitizens and made them inactive weeks before the primary. A phone call fixes it — if the letter arrived in time.
Alaska elections hearing reveals FBI contact, no precedent for 'good faith' test
State election officials admit they used a new good-faith test only on one candidate. They still refuse to explain why the FBI called.
Alaska kicked Sullivan off the ballot. In 2024, the state argued it couldn't
“this is Andrew Dunmire from Legislative Legal Services. I agree with the assessment that 6 AAC 25-212 is a regulation that provides instructions to the Division of Elections, and this section does not qualify or disqualify a candidate, nor does it give the division authority to disqualify or qualify a candidate.”
Daniel J. Sullivan sued the state today over a denied Senate ballot spot
Denied a Senate ballot spot, Daniel J. Sullivan sued today. Lawmakers held a hearing on the same question the same afternoon.
Three lawmakers get paid for late travel claims, and one filed most of them
Three lawmakers will be repaid about $5,970 for late travel claims. One accounts for $4,990 of it, and colleagues' questions drew trip-specific answers.
Alaska House passes new tax structure for Alaska LNG pipeline aimed at attracting investors
The Alaska House just passed the latest tax framework meant to finally install the LNG pipeline. Next, the Senate. Maybe. Pipeline still pending.
House moves to close property tax overpayment loophole
Alaska House voted to end a loophole that let taxpayers deliberately overpay property taxes to collect 8 percent interest refunds, passing House Bill 13 by 32-7.
House votes to eliminate tax filing discounts worth $500,000 annually
Alaska House voted to eliminate four tax discounts worth $500,000 yearly, including a cigarette stamp break that persisted two decades after the equipment it subsidized was paid off.
Alaska House passes tobacco age increase, vape tax, cigar lounge exemption
Alaska House passed bill raising tobacco and vape purchase age from 19 to 21, matching federal law. • New statewide tax on vaping products will fund smoking education programs. • Bill includes exemption for premium cigar lounges meeting strict requirements. • Penalties for underage possession lowered to $100 with no court appearance required.
House approves stricter hunting residency rules in divided vote
Alaska House approved stricter hunting and fishing residency rules in a 24-16 vote, requiring 180 days per year in state instead of just maintaining a domicile, effective January 2028.
House panel withdraws AI personhood amendment after legal questions arise
“My fear about Amendment 1 is if we say that they are definitively not people, are we telling the AI that these laws do not apply to them because these laws are for people?”
Alaska Legislature rejects governor's attorney general nominee
Alaska Legislature rejected Stephen Cox as Attorney General, 29-31, over his focus on national legal battles instead of Alaska interests.
Alaska House passes commercial-code update for digital assets
Alaska House passed SB 252 unanimously Wednesday, updating state commercial law to cover digital assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs with clearer rules on ownership and collateral.
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.
Alaska House rejects optional school district healthcare pooling plan
“This policy needs to be vetted and possibly amended in order to make sure that we don't have any unintended consequences for our smaller districts, for our big districts, for everyone involved.”
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.
House Judiciary advances consumer data privacy bill with 'duty of loyalty'
“Amendment 2 adds some language from a bill that was recently passed in Utah, and we pulled it directly from the bill in Utah. And the way this language came about in Utah was there was concern that because the technology develops so quickly and changes so much, they wanted some language in there that basically would provide protections that beyond, like, whatever the technology today might be.”
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.
Alaska Senate panel hears bill requiring 7-day review for foster youth in psychiatric hospitals
“The facility is able to bill Medicaid about $1,000 per night for the child.”
Attorney General Cox Defends 'Counter-China Initiative' Amid Jurisdiction Questions
Attorney General Cox defended a counter-China initiative at his confirmation hearing, but lawmakers questioned whether it strays into federal territory.
Alaska AG nominee Cox declines to commit to defending same-sex marriage
“But there are reasons to have concern that LGBTQ kids will grow up in a world where they don't have the freedoms that I had. They may not be able to serve openly in the military. They may not be able to marry the person they love. They may not be able to have children and, and have families.”
Veterans sentencing bill advances despite concerns over court authority
“if we were to add language that said clear and convincing evidence of eligibility would that eliminate some of the litigation about who qualifies if we were to require clear and convincing evidence of eligibility?”
Alaska House passes dementia training bill for nursing aides
Alaska House unanimously passed a bill requiring nursing aides to receive dementia and behavioral health training as the state's senior population grows rapidly.
House Judiciary advances bill extending confidentiality to tribal advocates
“Currently, a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault who seeks help from a victim counseling center run by a tribal government does not receive the same confidentiality protections that they would get from a victim counseling center run by any other entity.”
House panel hears confirmation for physician assistant to State Medical Board
House committee heard confirmation testimony from physician assistant Norman Walker for the State Medical Board. • UAA proposed a $30 million academic medical center to expand residency training for Alaska's growing medical school.
House Judiciary rejects consumer data privacy bill after 3-3 vote
The House Judiciary Committee deadlocked 3-3 on the Alaska Data Privacy Act. The bill would have let Alaskans control how companies collect and sell their personal data.
House Finance advances bill extending professional licensing board
House Finance advanced a bill extending Alaska's professional licensing board and adding registered interior designers, after revising language that prompted a gubernatorial veto last year.
House panel advances tribal victim advocate confidentiality bill
“it adds two words to statute: or tribal. And what this means is that someone seeking assistance from a domestic violence shelter that is run by a tribal entity would get the same confidentiality protections that that person would get if they sought the same care through a nonprofit or a state-run or a military-run facility.”
House Judiciary Advances Bill Restoring PFDs for Wrongfully Convicted
House Judiciary advanced a bill Wednesday allowing Alaskans whose convictions were overturned to claim missed Permanent Fund Dividends, including the Fairbanks Four.
House Military Committee Advances Joint Armed Services Overhaul
Alaska House panel voted to modernize a 27-year-old military-civilian committee by adding two new seats, requiring clearer appointment rules, and boosting minority representation.
House passes bill requiring transparency at psychiatric hospitals for minors
“I'd like to highlight the requirement of unannounced visits. I think that having unannounced visits is maybe the most important part of the bill.”
Alaska House panel advances dental insurance transparency bill
Alaska House committee advanced a bill requiring dental insurers to disclose what percentage of premiums pay for actual care, letting consumers compare plans.
House Passes Polystyrene Ban for Restaurants Despite Business Concerns
Alaska House passed a statewide ban on polystyrene foam food containers in restaurants, taking effect in over two years, despite business groups warning of higher costs.
House panel hears bill to extend confidentiality to tribal victim advocates
“Survivors must be able to seek care and counseling without fear that their communications could later be disclosed if their case is ever in a court of law.”
Alaska lawmakers hear testimony on four ballot initiatives
Alaska lawmakers heard testimony Thursday on three November ballot initiatives covering citizenship voting requirements, campaign finance limits, and ranked choice voting repeal, with no votes taken.
Alaska House committee advances bill to expand early intervention eligibility
A House bill would lower Alaska's early intervention eligibility threshold to match federal standards, potentially saving $34.9 million annually in special education costs.
House Advances Corporate Tax Bill, Rejects AI and Nuclear Amendments
Alaska House advanced a corporate tax bill targeting multi-state and digital businesses, rejecting amendments to tax AI companies and restrict AI from nuclear systems.
House Passes Barbers Board Reform, Honors NICU Lifesaving Work
Alaska House unanimously passed a bill streamlining barber and aesthetics licensing by letting the state handle paperwork while the board keeps oversight.
Panel Calls for Standardized Child Abuse Reporting Training Across Alaska
A state review panel called for standardized child abuse reporting training across Alaska after finding current programs vary widely and confuse mandatory reporters.