Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Dan Saddler
Representative · Alaska State House · District 25
43 articles · 20 transcripts · 1 clips
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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.
Dunleavy vetoes six bills, including invasive species and polystyrene measures
Gov. Dunleavy vetoed six bills June 24, including a statewide polystyrene ban and an invasive species management plan, citing implementation costs and concerns about state agency authority.
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.
House Finance amendment lets pipeline-route municipalities bill Alaska LNG directly — skipping the state appropriation step
“If I were a municipality, I'd have some pause”
Alaska Auto-IRA Bill Lets Workers Save PFD for Retirement
Alaska passed auto-IRA bill letting workers save Permanent Fund Dividend checks for retirement. • Program auto-enrolls private workers with paycheck deductions, costs employers nothing. • Targets half of Alaska workers without employer retirement plans. • Addresses senior poverty as Social Security falls short of Alaska living costs.
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
“I'm not sure if that's the bill number or the number of different pieces of legislation that were stuffed into one into one bill. Mr. Speaker, this is no way to legislate.”
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.
Alaska House Committee Advances Cryptocurrency Kiosk Regulations After Scam Victims Lose Millions
Alaska House advanced a bill requiring cryptocurrency kiosk licenses and $1,000 daily limits after Alaskans lost $26 million to online scams in 2024.
Alaska Lawmakers Advance Electronic Pull-Tab Gaming Bill
Alaska House committee advanced a bill allowing pull-tab games on tablets, but capped manufacturer costs in ways the sponsor warns could give one company a market edge.
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.
Alaska House panel advances penny-rounding bill to standardize cash transactions
Alaska House panel advanced a bill requiring retailers to round cash transactions symmetrically to the nearest five cents, standardizing rules as the U.S. stops making pennies.
Alaska House passes education funding reform despite split votes on transparency
“Public schools are responsible to the citizens of their local district, and the people with the most interest are clearly parents who have the most vested interest in their students.”
House panel hears electronic pull-tab bill with 35% manufacturer cap
House panel heard testimony on a bill capping electronic pull-tab manufacturer fees at 35 percent, which operators say is too high compared to Minnesota's 20 percent.
House rejects Senate's $1,000 PFD budget, sets up conference talks
“I move that the House concur in the Senate amendments to committee substitute for House Bill 263 Finance amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 263 Finance amended Senate and recommend that the members vote no.”
Alaska House panel debates insurance gaps for gig delivery drivers
The House Labor and Commerce Committee is debating Senate Bill 35 to require delivery companies to provide $1 million in liability insurance for gig drivers.
House Panel Advances $40M Community Impact Fund for Gas Pipeline
House Resources Committee voted 7-2 to increase a community impact fund for Alaska LNG pipeline municipalities to $40 million, over the project developer's objection that it exceeds economic modeling.
House advances expanded disability benefits for all public workers
“This amendment falls squarely within the state of the impact and desired end of HB 210, uh, the title Disability Benefits for Firefighters”
House panel hears tax proposal for Alaska LNG project
“what we hear clearly from the project managers and developers is that this project will not proceed without tax modifications. So to my mind, calculating what the revenue might go to municipalities and the state without tax modifications is hypothetical and not that useful”
House panel advances retirement savings program with PFD deposit option
Alaska House committee approved a retirement savings program for 105,000 workers without employer plans and expanded options to deposit Permanent Fund dividends into existing investment accounts.
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.
Alaska House panel advances penny rounding bill amid federal mint halt
Alaska House panel advanced a bill Thursday requiring businesses to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel, responding to the federal government's halt of penny production in 2025.
House panel advances income tax on large pass-through businesses
Alaska House panel advanced a bill imposing a 9.4% income tax on pass-through businesses earning over $25 million annually, with the tax taking effect in 2028.
Alaska House Revives Defined Benefit Pensions in Narrow 21-19 Vote
Alaska House voted 21-19 to restore defined benefit pensions for public employees, citing a 30 percent teacher turnover rate and $140 million in annual overtime costs.
Alaska LNG Tax Bill Walks Tightrope Between Project Viability and Local Needs
“I just want to make sure the language is not— I just want to make sure I understand what the language— if we're setting conditions, they have to be clear.”
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.
Alaska Energy Survey Shows Strong Support for Renewables, Mixed Views on Nuclear
Survey shows 70% of Alaskans support renewable energy and natural gas pipelines, but backing drops if costs rise or state investment is needed. • Rural Alaska faces energy crisis. Fairbanks burned 250,000 gallons of diesel daily last winter when natural gas power became unavailable. • Nuclear awareness grew from 25% to 40% between 2023 and 2025, with support rising as residents learned about microreactors.
House panel cuts cryptocurrency kiosk limits to protect seniors from scams
House panel cut cryptocurrency kiosk limits to $500 daily and $1,500 monthly to protect seniors from scams, which attorney general reports say account for 93 to 98 percent of kiosk transactions.
House Extends West Coast Disaster Declaration After Heated Debate
Alaska House extended the West Coast disaster declaration 30 days with a $63.83 million funding plan, but Republicans argued lawmakers should pass a bill instead to ensure proper oversight.
House panel advances seafood industry data-sharing bill
House committee advanced a bill allowing the University of Alaska and state labor department to share seafood industry data for research.
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
The House passed a bill requiring psychiatric hospitals to conduct surprise inspections and allow minors weekly private calls with parents.
House Passes Polystyrene Ban for Restaurants Despite Business Concerns
“This bill would actually mandate that private industry must use more expensive alternatives to polystyrene, which is already known to be inexpensive and effective and has been the industry standard.”
House committee hears bill to eliminate tax discounts
Alaska House committee heard a bill to eliminate five obsolete tax discounts and deductions that would raise nearly $500,000 annually for the state.
House Resources advances Vogler nomination to Regulatory Commission
House Resources Committee advanced Julie Vogler's nomination to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the full legislature for confirmation.
House advances bill requiring 30-day state payments after heated debate
“If we are going to to fine an agency for failing to meet an arbitrary deadline imposed upon it, it's only right that there be a clear timeline to avoid confusion.”
House Resources Committee Rejects Wildlife Refuge Amendments
Alaska House Resources Committee advanced a wildlife refuge reorganization bill 5-3 Friday, rejecting amendments that would have loosened habitat protections or expanded hunting and fishing access.
House committee advances insurance coverage for PANDAS/PANS treatment
Alaska House committee advanced a bill requiring insurers to cover expensive treatments for PANDAS and PANS, pediatric brain disorders triggered by infections.
House Resources Committee debates LNG equity stakes, rejects wildlife refuge amendments
Alaska House Resources Committee heard testimony on state equity stakes in the Alaska LNG project and rejected five wildlife refuge bill amendments on 5-4 party-line votes Friday.
House Labor Committee Advances Travel Insurance Bill, Hears Disaster Pet Plan
House Labor Committee advanced HB 302 updating travel insurance rules to take effect January 1, 2027. • Committee heard HB 335 requiring state disaster plans for pets and service animals after October 2026 typhoon response gaps. • Committee heard SB 180 to repeal 2024 language that created confusion over the Regulatory Commission of Alaska's authority over natural gas import facilities.
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
A House committee heard testimony on a bill to let emergency dispatchers retire after 20 years instead of 30 and classify them as first responders.
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
A House bill would let emergency dispatchers retire after 20 years instead of 30 by reclassifying them as first responders with police and firefighter benefits.
Wildlife refuge bill faces pushback over jet ski ban, firearm restrictions
House Bill 321 would simplify wildlife refuge designations and add 688 acres to Creamer's Field. • Alaska Department of Fish and Game opposes a jet ski ban in Kachemak Bay, but public testimony supports it. • Legislators want more time to review the complex 80-plus page bill with 20-plus maps.