Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Gary Stevens
Senator · Alaska State Senate · District C
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 24 clips
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Alaska fishing jobs grew in 2025 after five straight years of losses
“Alaska seafood industry employs more than 41,800 workers annually and contributes $5.2 billion to Alaska's economy.”
Kodiak Borough asks lawmakers whether to keep village projects on its state funding list
Kodiak's borough will ask two lawmakers whether village projects, like Larsen Bay's eroding spillway, stay on its state funding list. Ten of 17 are villages'.
In Kodiak, Sullivan and Peltola agreed on the problems and fought over the fix
Sullivan and Peltola agreed on nearly every fisheries problem in Kodiak and split on what fixing one looks like: laws passed, or fish in the river.
Bronson calls for bottom trawling ban in state waters at Kodiak fisheries debate
“Will you hire a dedicated fisheries advisor?”
Gubernatorial candidates split on Board of Fisheries overhaul
Proposals range from expanding the board to nine or eleven members to stricter recusal rules and industry-conflict guidelines.
Senate majority to regulators: reconsider the rejected gas storage project, and make BlueCrest produce
Senate majority members want a rejected gas storage project revisited and an idle Cook Inlet lease produced — amid a fight over who fixes the gas crunch.
Alaska Senate Majority says gasline tax break waits on Glenfarne financial numbers
“A decision of this scale will outlast all of us, and it deserves to be made with care rather than in haste. We are ready to evaluate the project further once the producer, Glenfarne, and the Administration bring us the numbers this year.”
Alaska Senate passes LNG bill as Republicans warn it kills financing
Alaska's Senate passed its LNG bill 11-8, and Senate Republicans immediately said the added taxes and labor rules make the pipeline unfinanceable.
After a lawmaker's mom lost $8,000, Alaska cracks down on crypto scam kiosks
“So seniors have accounted for what— roughly a third of the losses that we see in regards to online fraud. And the virtual currency kiosk has become the scammers' favorite tool because The transactions are instant, they're irreversible, and they're largely untraceable.”
Alaska Senate passes S-corp LNG tax with 2028 effective date
Alaska Senate passed a tax on oil and gas pass-through entities, effective 2028, after rejecting an immediate start date. The state estimates the tax will recover more than $400 million annually once the LNG project reaches full production.
Juneau donors are giving the Legislature 16 more apartments for lawmakers
Juneau donors are giving the Alaska Legislature 16 more apartments for lawmakers to live in during session, in a capital where housing is scarce and costly.
Alaska warns Medicare users about brace and food scams
“In 2024 alone, Alaskans lost more than $26 million to online fraud”
Alaska Senate adds telehealth parity and disability coverage to benefits bill
Alaska Senate added telehealth pay parity to a welfare bill, requiring insurers to pay the same rate for remote care as in-person visits. • Disability benefits for injured troopers and firefighters increased from 40 percent to 75 percent of salary, with health insurance restored. • The amendments passed 19-1 and now return to the House for final approval.
Alaska Senate passes bill letting pharmacists treat minor illnesses without a doctor's call
“16 Yeas, 4 nays. Thank you. 16 Yeas, 4 nays. We will advance from second to third reading.”
Alaska Senate Passes Education Bill With 4% Property Tax Cap
Senate passed education bill with 4% cap on required local contribution growth, limiting property value increases that shift school funding from state to local governments. • Bill includes energy grants for schools and teacher loan repayment up to $5,000 yearly for STEM and special education teachers. • Cap could cost state $41.6 million by 2035 but prevents districts from losing millions in revenue.
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
“by a vote of 33 yeas and 27 nays, the joint legislative session has failed to override the governor's veto on House Bill 78”
Alaska Senate advances sweeping public safety bill with AI child abuse provisions
“20 Yeas, 0 nays. And so by a vote of 20 yeas to 0 nays, Senate CS for CS for House Bill 239 Finance has passed the Senate.”
House Finance advances tobacco age increase, e-cigarette tax on 7-4 vote
House Finance advanced a bill raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 and taxing e-cigarettes at retail, effective July 2026 and July 2027.
Alaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate
Senate passed gas pipeline tax bill raising oil production tax floor to six percent, drawing industry criticism. • Point Thomson regulators warn blowdown for pipeline risks sixty-five million barrels of condensate. • Mount Edgecumbe enrollment dropped a quarter to three hundred eleven students amid facility and health concerns. • Fish and Game reviews wheeled plane landings at McNeil River bear sanctuary despite conservation objections.
Alaska House passes fisheries tax credit expansion unanimously
Alaska House unanimously approved a bill extending a tax credit for seafood processors through 2037 and expanding it to all fish species, aiming to help the industry during poor market conditions.
Gas pipeline bill adds oil tax increase, industry calls process rushed
Alaska Senate passed a gas pipeline bill raising the oil tax floor to six percent starting in 2027, even without the pipeline, over industry objections.
House panel cuts youth tobacco fines, advances Tobacco 21 bill
Alaska House panel advanced a Tobacco 21 bill Saturday, cutting fines for minors from $300 to $100 and eliminating mandatory court appearances for tobacco possession citations.
House Finance advances civics education bill after rejecting military exemption
Alaska House Finance advanced a civics education bill for high school graduation, rejecting a military exemption after finding existing law already protects military families.
Alaska Senate tightens hunting residency rules to match PFD standards
Alaska Senate voted to require hunters and anglers to spend at least 180 days in state per year to qualify for cheaper resident licenses, using the same residency test as the Permanent Fund Dividend.
Senate panel advances full funding for pre-K students statewide
Senate panel voted to count pre-K students as full-time in school funding, removing a $3 million cap and 2034 sunset date to boost aid to districts.
Senate passes cryptocurrency kiosk consumer protection bill unanimously
“In 2024 alone, Alaskans lost more than $26 million to online fraud.”
Alaska Senate passes bill to expand early intervention for delayed children
“20 Yeas, 0 nays. And so by a vote of 20 yeas, 0 nays, CS for Senate Bill 178 Finance has passed the Senate.”
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.
Alaska House panel hears push to raise tobacco age to 21, tax vapes at 25%
The House Finance Committee is considering a bill to raise the tobacco age to 21 and add a 25 percent tax on vaping products.
Alaska Senate Passes Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
“8 Yeas, 12 nays. With 8 yeas to 12 nays, Amendment Number 2 has failed to pass the Senate.”
Alaska Senate Advances Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
Alaska Senate advanced a right-to-repair bill Friday requiring electronics makers to provide repair tools and manuals to independent shops, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Alaska Senate Passes Operating Budget With Energy Relief
“17 Yeas, 3 nays. And so by a vote of 17 yeas to 3 nays, Senate CS for CS for House Bill 263 Finance as amended has passed the Senate.”
Alaska House Panel Hears Push to Raise Tobacco Age to 21
“The bill raises the legal age to buy, sell, use, and possess cigarettes, nicotine products, and e-cigarettes products to age 21. The bill is also complementary to a federal program that will provide the state with millions of dollars to publicize the dangers of addiction.”
Senate panel proposes doubling Dalton Highway surcharge in gas line bill
Senate committee doubled the Dalton Highway maintenance surcharge to 30 cents per barrel in the gas pipeline bill, but questioned whether $1 billion in tax cuts justify the cost to Alaska.
Alaska Legislature Falls Two Votes Short of Overriding Elections Bill Veto
“And so by a vote of 38 yeas and 22 nays, the joint legislative session has failed to override the governor's veto of Senate Bill 64.”
Alaska residential schools seek doubled stipends to cover rising costs
Senate Bill 257 would double state funding for Alaska residential schools to cover rising costs. The bill aims to fix a funding gap that has remained stagnant since 2014.
AG Nominee Cox Defends 110+ Amicus Briefs, Faces Questions on Alaska Priorities
“something I've always loved about American history, no matter who you are and where you come from, Whatever your wealth, whatever your religion, whatever your background, if you come to this country and you have a child and they're born in this country, they are a citizen of this country.”
Alaska Senate passes bill to ease classic car import registration
“20 Yeas, 0 nays. And so by a vote of 20 yeas to 0 nays, Senate Bill 29 has passed the Senate.”
Alaska Senate passes bill restoring defined benefit pensions for public workers
“yesterday, as you know, the Senate passed House Bill 78, which returns public employees to a defined benefit pension plan. Been a top priority of our caucus in the Senate.”
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.
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.
Senate panel advances Lambertson to Police Standards Council despite questions
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Veronica Lambertson to the Police Standards Council despite concerns over her residency.
Senate unveils gas pipeline bill with $600M property tax, consumer protections
Alaska Senate rewrote the governor's gas pipeline bill to raise property taxes from $74 million to $600 million at full production and ban passing cost overruns to consumers.
Senate Passes Alaska Work and Save Retirement Program 15-4
“15 Yeas, 4 nays. And so by a vote of 15 yeas to 4 nays, CS for Senate Bill 21 Finance has passed the Senate.”
Senate panel holds Alaska state seal redesign resolution
“The earliest seals you'll see show things like igloos and kayakers and forests and actually an aurora and Native fur seal hunters. But the original icons sort of disappeared as time passed. And what we see in the current seal that we have is— are things like smelters, mining smelters and hills with all the trees cut off and locomotive engines and cargo ships and horse-drawn wheat harvesters.”
Senate Education Committee advances teacher loan repayment pilot program
Senate Education Committee advanced a bill offering teachers in high-need subjects up to $5,000 yearly for three years to repay student loans, targeting Alaska's teacher shortage.
Senate passes capital budget focused on school maintenance
Alaska Senate passed a capital budget prioritizing school maintenance over new construction, targeting roughly 15 projects from a $401 million statewide list.
Alaska Senate adjourns technical session after committee report
Alaska Senate advanced its FY27 capital budget bill to the Rules Committee after a Finance Committee substitute, reconvening April 20.
Senate advances software licensing bill, food dye ban to third reading
Alaska Senate advanced a bill banning seven synthetic food dyes from school meals starting January 2028, plus legislation on software licensing contracts and worker visa recognition.
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.