Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Jamie Allard
Representative · Alaska State House · District 15
46 articles · 20 transcripts
Affiliations
Appeals court upholds conviction for threat during Ketchikan bail hearing
Alaska Court of Appeals upheld Michael Henderson's conviction for threatening a witness during his son's Ketchikan bail hearing. The jury found the threat real, and he's serving 18 months.
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.
Alaska must appoint lawyers for people jailed on other states' warrants, appeals court rules
People jailed in Alaska on another state's warrant have a right to a free lawyer, an appeals court ruled. The case began with requests filed on the wrong form.
Labor-funded committee backs Republican Ruby Jones and opposes both her rivals in Eagle River House race
A labor-funded group picked a Republican in Eagle River's House race and is buying ads against the other two candidates, one Republican and one Democrat.
Alaska prosecutors must prove a voter knew a registration form was false
Alaska's appeals court held that a first-degree voter-misconduct charge based on a false oath requires proof the voter understood the act was wrong.
The state made a plea deal, then broke it. A court just said no.
A Point Hope man gets resentenced after a fill-in prosecutor argued for the max instead of honoring his plea deal — the appeals court ruled the state is bound by its own bargains.
Alaska appeals court identifies DUI jury instruction tension in Homer case
Alaska's appeals court upheld a Homer man's DUI conviction but flagged a gap in jury instructions that could reshape how DUI cases are tried statewide when defendants claim they drank after driving.
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.
ENSTAR says it locked in a price for Alaska LNG
ENSTAR locked in $16 per thousand cubic feet for North Slope pipeline gas, undercutting LNG imports at $20 to $23 but raising costs 48% above current Cook Inlet supply before adding $4.50 to $6 in distribution and storage charges.
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.
AGDC tells House Finance that Alaska property tax is 10 times higher than competing LNG projects
More conversations about the Governor's plan to make the AK LNG project more profitable to investors.
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 Committee advances PFD restoration for wrongfully convicted
“this just moves it from 1 year to 2 years as far as when they could put in the individual for reimbursement after being wrongly convicted”
House panel cuts youth tobacco fines, advances Tobacco 21 bill
“Admiral Fuller, who is against soldiers, Marines, whatever, armed forces individuals, says, I've heard this argument by some shipmates against cracking down on tobacco. If someone is young enough to die for their country, they should be free to be allowed to smoke. And then he goes on to say, with him turning basically the argument on its head, he says, if someone is young enough to fight for their country, they should be free from addiction to a deadly drug?”
House Finance approves pharmacist prescription bill after rejecting nurse compact
House Finance approved a bill letting pharmacists prescribe basic antibiotics directly, rejecting an amendment to add Alaska to a national nurse licensing compact.
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.
House panel sets amendment deadline for civics education bill
House Finance Committee set Friday's amendment deadline for a bill requiring Alaska high school civics education and a diploma seal, with $58,000 in first-year costs.
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
“the combination of new mandatory payroll tax, a sweeping expansion of unemployment benefits, an automatic CPI escalator that removes future costs from legislative control, extensive employer mandates with significant litigation exposure And a program that launches before an actual review raises serious concerns about fiscal responsibility.”
Alaska House Finance Rejects Cemetery, School, Energy Amendments
Alaska House Finance rejected five capital budget amendments Friday, citing limited revenue. • Denied $850,000 for Eagle River cemetery and full funding for Galena school renovations. • Also rejected Arctic Winter Games support, West Susitna road authority, and $5 million hydroelectric study.
Alaska House Panel Hears Push to Raise Tobacco Age to 21
A House panel is considering raising the tobacco age to 21. The change would align state law with federal standards and unlock millions in prevention funding.
House committee advances resolution backing military infrastructure push
“I think it's a great resolution and it does send a really strong message that we're here, we want to protect our country and other countries frankly, like our little buddies up north or east”
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
“We're looking at over $100 and I think $40, $130 million every year, and quite frankly, it doesn't fix anything.”
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 advances education fund amendment, rejects gas pipeline revenue tie
“I have a little bit of concern in regards to the dedicated funds and reduce the legislature's flexibility under Alaska constitutional structure, and the prohibition of dedicated funds exists precisely to preserve broad legislative discretion over the budget.”
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
“I really think it's important before we vote to adopt something that's going to completely, uh, probably be adopted, that's going to be stricken out.”
Alaska House Weighs $113M Education Funding Overhaul
House committee heard testimony on a $113 million bill to give school districts budget certainty by July 1, but members questioned whether the state can accurately model the long-term cost.
House passes bill shifting prepaid legal plans from insurance to consumer protection
“removing insurance oversight eliminates state's primary regulatory backstop if a plan provider fails to deliver promised services and insolvent to the consumers”
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.
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 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 considers multi-year school funding averaging bill
“we're looking at almost in, um, from 2027 to 2032, which is about 5 years exception, year or two. That's almost a billion dollars.”
House panel debates $113M education funding formula shift
House panel heard testimony on a bill that would shift school funding to a three-year enrollment average, costing $113 million annually but giving districts budget certainty earlier in the year.
Senate Finance hears bill to add faculty regent to University board
House Bill 10 would add a tenured faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, expanding it from 11 to 12 members with full voting powers.
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 Finance hears divided testimony on pharmacist prescribing bill
House Finance heard divided testimony Monday on a bill expanding pharmacists' prescribing authority, with supporters citing rural healthcare access and opponents raising abortion medication concerns.
House Finance hears divided testimony on pharmacist prescribing bill
House Finance heard divided testimony on HB 195. The bill would let pharmacists treat routine illnesses to help fill rural care gaps.
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.
Alaska House Panel Advances Bill to Speed Up State Contract Payments
Alaska House panel voted to require state agencies to pay contractors as fast as private companies do, adding seven state jobs at over $1 million in costs but delaying implementation until 2027.
Alaska Overhauls School Construction Funding to Help Rural Districts Compete
Alaska is changing school construction funding to prioritize building safety over age. The new rules start for fiscal year 2028.
House Finance committee debates pharmacist prescribing bill amid abortion concerns
House Finance Committee debated a bill Tuesday that would let pharmacists prescribe for minor ailments, but lawmakers split over whether it could permit abortion medication prescribing.
House committee advances special education funding resolution, CTE mobility bill
House Education Committee unanimously passed a resolution urging Congress to fully fund special education, which currently covers only 10 to 15 percent of costs in Alaska. • Committee advanced a bill allowing rural school districts to share career and technical education programs like welding and healthcare training. • Special Education Service Agency reported its first-ever waitlist, with nine students across seven districts waiting for services.
House Finance weighs bill to standardize state payment timelines
House Finance examined a bill requiring Alaska to pay nonprofits and tribal groups within 30 days, matching private contractor timelines, with interest penalties for delays.
House Education Committee Advances Bill to Boost Residential School Funding
House Education Committee heard testimony Thursday on a bill to raise funding for Alaska's nine residential schools for the first time since 2015, adding $2.3 million annually to cover inflation.