Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Chuck Kopp
Representative · Alaska State House · District 24
29 articles · 11 transcripts · 1 clips
Affiliations
Alaska House members ask FCC to preserve E-Rate school internet discounts
Twenty-one Alaska House members asked the FCC to preserve E-Rate, which discounts school internet. Alaska's own school broadband grant depends on it.
Bering Straits Native Corporation honors 14 Elders of the Year from across the region
“recognizes that lasting progress depends on community control and participation”
The Supreme Court will rule on Dunleavy's agriculture department after he's gone
The Supreme Court will decide after the election whether Dunleavy could create an agriculture department by order. He'll be gone by the time it matters.
Alaska's youngest students are improving in math and reading. Older grades aren't.
“we have not really materially improved these outcomes. We have changed standards and tests, but not really the results.”
Alaska raised the age of consent, and school districts have new duties
“we are now protecting children under the age of 18 rather than just children under the age of 16”
Alaska House ties 19-19 on gas line bill, killing it for now
Alaska House deadlocked 19-19 on the Alaska LNG bill July 16, stalling gas supply plans as Cook Inlet production declines toward 2027 shortages.
Alaska lawmakers order audit of Board of Fisheries process
Alaska lawmakers voted unanimously to audit the Board of Fisheries' process after the Attorney General overturned five regulations citing ethics violations.
Alaska legislative auditor resigns after 34 years, replacement process underway
Alaska's legislative auditor Chris Curtis is resigning after 34 years, effective Aug. 30. The Legislature is hiring her replacement through a process that aims to seat a new auditor by August.
Anchorage child care fund squeezed by programs moved from alcohol tax
Anchorage's child care fund says two programs loaded onto it are starving its mission. The board wants them moved to the alcohol tax — which is shrinking even faster.
Senate passes gas-line bill; Dunleavy immediately calls lawmakers back to rewrite it
Special session concludes without passage of a gasline bill, and now the question is if this is an end to negotiations or if they'll continue tomorrow. The Governor thinks they're close.
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 suspends rules to carry gas pipeline bills into special session
“So this resolution allows the legislation on the governor's special session call to pick up where it left off. I would point out to members the proclamation specifically mentioned House Bill 381. You see it in the resolution there. Our body has done substantial work on property tax legislation thus far.”
Alaska House approves three day recess for Memorial Day weekend during gas line special session
“We have a number of members actually trying to catch a flight out of town right now to get out for Memorial Day weekend. This would allow that to happen and come back this next week. We have a full week of Finance Committee hearings on this bill this next week.”
Alaska House raises unemployment benefits, expands telehealth coverage
Alaska House raised maximum weekly unemployment benefits from $370 to $470, first increase since 2009. • Expanded telehealth coverage and raised disability pay for firefighters and police from 40 percent to 75 percent. • Updated insurance laws to clarify rebates and ban misleading advertising.
Alaska Passes Age of Consent Bill After Weeks-Long Senate Delay
“Another significant portion is Senate Bill 247, uh, AI-generated child sexual abuse material, also passed unanimously out of this body. And we remember that that, um, bill addresses the obscene, um, AI-generated child porn online And it makes it so there's a tool in the law that can actually address where technology is going with that dangerous exploitation of minors.”
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
“It's talking about our rookie Alaska State Troopers who finish the Public Safety Academy on the state's dime at a cost of over $200,000 and leave after 18 months to another state that offers a pension. Mr. Speaker, more than 70-some percent of the police officers that leave Alaska leave to a state that offers a pension.”
Alaska Legislature approves $1,000 PFD, $200 energy relief payment
Alaska Legislature set the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,000 and raised energy relief payments to $200 per person, with the energy increase costing $127.3 million.
Senate Finance hears omnibus crime bill targeting AI child porn, raising age of consent
“The first theme is brought out in House Bill 101, which raises the protected age of child victims of sex crimes from those children who are under 16 to all children who are under 18.”
Alaska House passes disability pay increase for injured public workers
Alaska House unanimously passed a bill raising disability pay for injured public workers from 40% to 75% of salary and restoring their health insurance, effective immediately if the Senate approves.
Alaska lawmakers hear warnings of rural fuel crisis, weigh loan program expansion
Rural Alaska diesel prices hit $17 per gallon and could jump 30 to 50 percent higher this year due to Middle East supply disruptions. • Lawmakers heard the state's $20 to $22 million bulk fuel loan program may need to double its funding to help communities cope. • A Jones Act waiver expiring in May and a compressed fuel delivery window in June or July add urgency to the crisis.
Senate Education Committee Advances Opioid Awareness Bill, Hears Tribal School Compact Proposal
Senate Education Committee advanced a bill requiring opioid prevention curriculum in grades 6-12. • Committee heard first presentation on allowing tribes to operate public schools through state-tribal compacts, with second hearing scheduled Monday.
Alaska releases FY25 Single Audit after closed-door review
Alaska's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee unanimously released the state's FY25 Single Audit, a federal requirement that examines how Alaska spends and manages federal funds.
Senate panel advances Salazar to Human Rights Commission
Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Grace Salazar's nomination to the Alaska State Commission on Human Rights to a joint session for confirmation.
House Finance sets amendment deadline for police, firefighter disability bill
House Finance set an April 23 amendment deadline for a bill raising disability pay for injured police and firefighters from 40 percent to 75 percent of salary.
Senate minority outlines pension reform, gas line concerns at press conference
Alaska Senate minority members outlined concerns about pension reform, the Alaska LNG project's economic viability, and several judiciary bills at a Thursday press conference.
Alaska Senate Panel Weighs Tougher Hit-and-Run Penalties
The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee is considering House Bill 239 to set four to seven year prison terms for fatal hit and run crashes.
Senate panel considers tougher penalties for fatal hit-and-run crashes
Alaska Senate panel heard testimony on a bill that would increase prison time for fatal hit-and-run crashes, citing 15 fatal hit-and-runs in Anchorage in 2024.
House Committee Extends Deadline for AI Personhood Amendment
Alaska House committee delayed a vote on whether to add language to the state constitution denying personhood rights to AI systems, pushing the deadline to April 7 to allow more legal review.
Senate Committee Advances Bill to Raise Alaska's Age of Consent Amid Sexual Violence Crisis
Alaska Senate advances bill to raise age of consent from 16 to 18, addressing the state's crisis of sexual violence against young people.