Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Calvin Schrage
Representative · Alaska State House · District 21
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 24 clips
Affiliations
Alaskans vote Tuesday on restoring campaign contribution limits
“wealthy individuals and special interests have an outsized impact”
Two former colleagues split over whether Ballot Measure 1 curbs big money or just reroutes it
“In 2006, 73% of Alaskan voters confirmed these values by supporting strict contribution limits to keep big money from dominating our political landscape.”
The sleeper on Alaska's August primary ballot: money, turnout and Measure 1
Alaska campaign donations currently have one limit: your imagination. Ballot Measure 1 would add a second — $2,000. Voters decide at the Aug. 18 primary.
Alaska LNG tax bill advances to floor on split conference committee votes
Alaska's Legislature advanced a revised LNG tax bill that replaces municipal property taxes with a state volumetric tax, redirecting an estimated $500 million in annual local revenue by 2033.
Conference draft keeps oil-and-gas pass-through tax, delays it to 2029
A House-Senate conference committee draft of HB 381 keeps a proposed income tax on oil-and-gas pass-through entities but delays collections to 2029.
Alaska LNG's cheap-gas promise hinges on exports — and on costs staying in line
New state numbers on Alaska LNG: exports are what make gas cheap for Alaskans (about $5/mcf vs. $12.65 without them), but a cost overrun could push the export price above what buyers pay.
Alaska gas pipeline tax bill sets $40M milestone test for boroughs, schools, and rural heating fund
Alaska's gas pipeline tax bill unlocks billions for boroughs and schools only if the developer pays $40 million and meets construction deadlines through 2037.
Alaska LNG tax bill advances as working draft, disputes unresolved
“This is not the final product and it will be refined further.”
Kenai's $9.4M school-cost risk may never actually come due
A gas-tax bill could add up to $9.4 million a year to Kenai's school costs — but the Legislature's analyst says a sunset means none of it would ever be charged.
Gas-line developer warns Alaska's Senate terms could drive it off
Glenfarne told lawmakers the Senate's gas-line amendments — a 9.4% investor tax, an automatic state takeover clause, tough labor rules — could make it walk. Lawmakers say they're protecting the state.
Alaska's gas-pipeline bill now carries a tax on Hilcorp and others
A permanent tax on pass-through oil companies like Hilcorp is riding inside Alaska's gas-pipeline bill — and it kicks in by 2028 whether the pipeline gets built or not.
State economist: even with tax breaks, the gas line barely works
Even with the Senate's tax breaks, Alaska's gas project still costs more to make than Asia pays for it — and one lawmaker put it bluntly: "It seems like they don't work."
Alaska's gas-line tax bill stalls in committee
“Having not adopted either the House or Senate versions of HB 381, and after consultation with the presiding officers, the committee will proceed with its work under the expectation that limited powers of free conference will formally be granted later in the process when the bodies reconvene and before the adoption of the final committee reports by both bodies.”
A leaked plan to fire Alaska's gas-line developer surfaces in Juneau
A "stolen" state document laying out how Alaska could fire Glenfarne from its $44B gas line leaked — and the developer says it's now wondering whether Alaska can keep a secret.
Alaska Senate digs in on gas tax bill, sends it to conference
Alaska Senate refused to back down on HB 381, sending the natural gas pipeline tax bill to a conference committee to resolve how to tax the Alaska LNG Project and fund municipalities and schools.
Alaska House recesses 10 days as gas line conference committee begins
We all know they're trying, but they very well may be intending for different outcomes when it comes to Alaska's LNG.
MEA seeks RCA approval to pass gas storage costs to ratepayers
MEA seeks approval to add natural gas storage costs to monthly electric bills through an automatic adjustment rider, passing Hilcorp storage fees directly to ratepayers as the utility secures more gas for Southcentral Alaska.
House Finance advances Alaska LNG tax bill, curtailing North Slope's power to negotiate
House Finance advanced Alaska LNG tax bill Wednesday: 13 cents, no side deals, double the impact fund to $80m
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
“what it does do is it protects ratepayers from higher natural gas prices while not interfering with the viability of this project”
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.
ConocoPhillips seeks North Slope road upgrades for Willow haul
“A 24-foot-wide road does not destroy salmon streams”
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.
Anchorage secures $25M for Port of Alaska in state capital budget
Anchorage won $25 million in state funding for Port of Alaska, with $15 million guaranteed and $10 million conditional on oil prices staying above $80 per barrel through mid-2026.
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 House passes corporate income tax bill for digital-era businesses
Alaska House approved a bill updating corporate income tax rules for digital businesses, passing 28-11. The measure lets Alaska collect revenue from out-of-state companies that operate without physical locations in the state.
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 campaign contribution limits that could take effect during 2026 election
Alaska House passed a bill to restore campaign donation limits of 2,000 dollars per donor per candidate. • The bill takes effect 90 days after the governor acts, likely before November 2026 election. • Governor can sign, veto, or do nothing. Inaction lets the bill become law. • Opponents say it restricts speech and will likely face lawsuit.
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.
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 Finance adds feral cat spay-neuter provisions to invasive species bill
“when a cat is picked up in the community if you don't have the permission of the landowner to deposit it back, they're not able to neuter and re-release the cat. So this would fix that so that a cat can be picked up, spayed, ear clipped, and returned into the community”
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 fire station grant program after rejecting rural aid amendments
House Finance rejected amendments that would have eased the cost burden on small rural communities seeking fire station grants, keeping the 50 percent local match requirement in place.
Alaska budget fight leaves $40M in senior, disability care hanging
A six-member legislative committee decides by May 20 whether to fund $40 million in senior and disability care that the House backs but the Senate opposes.
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
House Finance advanced a paid parental leave bill creating a new payroll tax, with benefits starting in 2029. • Small businesses with fewer than 25 workers would be exempt from providing benefits but employees would still pay in. • Committee raised concerns about long-term funding past 2040 and potential equal protection issues.
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.
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.
Alaska House Finance Rejects Cemetery, School, Energy Amendments
“if we were to follow the list as been as is proposed by this amendment, we are following the list. If we are to fully fund according to the list recommendations as this amendment proposes, it means that other schools are not funded.”
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.
House Finance cuts paid parental leave to 12 weeks, reduces benefits to $524
“I wonder if the amendment sponsor and the bill sponsor would be amenable to maybe 25 instead of 50. And maybe I'll just make that as a conceptual amendment to change it from a threshold of employer of 50 or more employees on line 2 to instead be an employer of 25 or more employees.”
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
The House Finance Committee advanced a school funding bill costing $130 million annually to stabilize district budgets.
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
Alaska House panel is considering doubling the maximum bulk fuel loan for rural communities to $1.5 million as fuel prices surge up to 100 percent and western Alaska faces potential supply shortages.
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
“if you look at the STIP for this year, there is a great deal more federal authorization than there are federal funds available to be distributed. And there is some concern from members that I've spoken to that having such a large project with so much federal receipt authority when there's limited dollars will divert funds from other projects towards this one.”
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.
House Finance hears divided testimony on $95M West Susitna road allocation
House Finance heard divided testimony on a 95 million dollar West Susitna road project. • Opponents cited habitat risks while supporters argued for economic growth. • The committee also reviewed funding for homeless programs and the Arctic Winter Games.
House Finance Hears Sharp Divide Over $95M for West Susitna Road
House Finance heard sharp debate Wednesday on a $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with opponents calling it a mining subsidy and supporters touting economic development.
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
House Finance advanced a bill making mail theft a class C felony, though the governor's competing version treats it as a misdemeanor and may be merged before final passage.
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 Finance hears $8.4M in governor's budget amendments
House Finance heard $8.4 million in budget amendments, including salary increases for public safety workers and a reversal of pay raises for newly unionized University of Alaska employees.
