Alaska State Legislature · Photo source · US government work
Lyman Hoffman
Senator · Alaska State Senate · District S
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 24 clips
Affiliations
Lyman Hoffman marks 40 years in the Legislature by citing rural Alaska's costs
“We have some of the highest costs. When you're paying $12 a gallon for a gallon of milk, $20 a gallon for heating fuel, and you have some of the lowest incomes in the state of Alaska.”
Bush Caucus endorses Kreiss-Tomkins as Wasilla group registers to oppose Menard
Bush Caucus unanimously backs Kreiss-Tomkins for governor. • Wasilla group registers to oppose Menard over unproven stolen valor claim. • Senate race sees new PAC spending for and against Sullivan and Peltola.
Legislative committee hires Guidehouse for $650,000 corrections cost study
“The Department of Corrections has been one of our fastest growing areas of government”
Congress weighs $500 million in tribal water money Alaska can't reach
Congress is moving $500 million for one California tribe's water rights, a kind of federal money that Alaska's tribes, by their legal status, can barely reach.
Free school supplies and dinner at Nome's Back-to-School Bash
“you go to the store and a gallon of milk costs $10.”
A progressive firm's Alaska poll: two-thirds worry about the basics, and a simulated Senate race favors Peltola
“when you're a family of 4 living in Anchorage or Kodiak or Bethel or Nome, you go to the grocery store, you have to put food on the table and it's getting more and more costly”
Sitka's sole finalist for city administrator is gone, and the Assembly is starting over
“Manager for the City and Borough of Sitka.”
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 doubles bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5 million for rural communities
“I talked about on Senate floor what a report was given that rural residents may see costs of fuel, heating fuel, as high as $20, $25 a gallon. So there are tremendous differences in energy costs for people in rural Alaska.”
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."
An oil spike filled Alaska's budget and hammered its schools — and the new budget sends some back
“Because of the war in Iran, fuel prices have spiked, causing a great financial burden across the state of Alaska. To help address these, we've included what we could in this budget to address energy relief for individuals, school districts, and communities.”
A Plan to Reopen Rural Alaska's Armories — On Paper
“Reopening our National Guard armories will boost our rural economies, enhance emergency response throughout Western Alaska, and provide a pathway for more young Alaska men and women who want to join the military and live in their communities.”
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 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.
Dunleavy called a second special session over the unresolved LNG tax bill
Long Friday in Juneau: LNG tax bill stuck, second special session called, two vetoes overridden, three failed. Round three starts Saturday.
Senate Finance presses Alaska LNG spur line: who builds, who pays, who regulates
Senate Finance gets into the numbers of the LNG line in a hot and spicy day of meetings
Senate Finance demands Phase 1 pipeline math before Alaska LNG tax vote
Senator Stedman blocked a vote on a $750 million annual tax break for Alaska LNG's Phase 1 pipeline until the Department of Revenue shows whether the project actually needs the 2-mill property tax cut to work financially.
Senate Finance weighs Alaska LNG tax worth $124M a year — and whether it's enough for host communities
Governments are making compromises on the amount of property tax they'll receive - not all are happy about it
Anchorage's mayor told Senate Finance LNG could cost "tens of millions of dollars"
Anchorage's mayor told Senate Finance LNG would cost "tens of millions" — a number that lands somewhere between $23M and $173M. Her plan targets $23M.
Fairbanks spur line language added to Alaska LNG tax bill
Fairbanks North Star Borough secured a requirement for a gas spur line in the state LNG tax bill. Developers must build the spur to access tax breaks. Costs will spread across Railbelt users to keep rates affordable for 3500 local customers.
ENSTAR Caps the Price. Stedman Eyes the Debt.
ENSTAR is locking in a $16 price ceiling, but Sen. Bert Stedman argued the costs may have just moved upstream, to the tune of $3.3 billion over 30 years.
All three major North Slope producers have signed Alaska LNG Phase 1 sale agreements — and they want their ownership to stop at the lease line
All three major North Slope producers have signed Alaska LNG Phase 1 sale agreements — and they want their ownership to stop at the lease line
Department of Revenue presents Senate Finance with Alaska LNG breakeven modeling across cost and tax scenarios
Alaska LNG needs $9.07 per thousand cubic feet to break even under current law, or $10.69 if capital costs reach $60 billion. • Senate Bill 2001 would lower those breakeven prices to $8.54 and $9.97 respectively, but reduce state revenue from North Slope gas. • Department of Revenue presented the modeling to help Senate Finance evaluate the tax restructuring tradeoff.
Department of Revenue presents Senate Finance with 25-scenario sensitivity analysis on Alaska LNG fiscal impact
Department of Revenue modeled Alaska LNG's fiscal impact under SB 2001 across 25 scenarios through 2062. • Baseline scenario projects $29 billion in net state revenue gains. • Worst-case scenario with $100 per barrel oil and major production losses would cost the state $16.2 billion.
North Slope has two fields cleared for gas sales, AOGCC tells Senate
Alaska's oil regulator told lawmakers that only Prudhoe Bay and Point Thomson fields have approval to supply gas to the Alaska LNG project, which aims to start deliveries in 2029.
Glenfarne's own cost estimate for Alaska LNG is now significantly higher than AGDC's — and the state's equity option sits in the middle of the new math
Glenfarne raised Alaska LNG cost estimate to 44.5 to 54.5 billion dollars, up from state agency's 38.7 billion. • Legislature can buy 5 to 25 percent equity stake within 180 days after final investment decision. • Property tax reform is central to project financing, with current rates costing roughly 380 million dollars yearly during construction.
Alaska keeps veto power over LNG project despite 25% stake
Alaska keeps veto power over major Alaska LNG decisions despite owning only 25 percent of the joint venture with Glenfarne Group, including approval rights over contracts, capital requests, and rate structures that prioritize in-state gas use.
Consultant warns Senate Finance that Alaska LNG faces megaproject risks
Consultant warns Senate Finance that Alaska LNG faces megaproject risks, citing data showing 67% of LNG projects exceed budgets by 70% on average.
Senate Finance hears $18 billion revenue trade-off for Alaska LNG tax break
Senate Finance heard the proposed Alaska LNG tax break would cut state and municipal revenues by $18 billion over 30 years, but the estimate rests on construction costs that may range from $45 billion to $90 billion.
Senate Finance Committee: how do you analyze a $46.2 billion pipeline without the numbers?
“I would just submit that hope is not the ideal strategy when it comes to analyzing investments. That issue is of utmost importance to this committee, and we are working with administration to see what, if any, information can be provided.”
Alaska LNG could cost $70 billion; state's 25% stake faces dilution
“we need to get the projected cost of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the actual cost, which has been, was substantially higher than doubled. From my recollection.”
Alaska Senate backs Kipnuk, Kwigillingok relocation after Typhoon Halong
Alaska Senate unanimously backed relocation of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok after Typhoon Halong devastated the coastal villages last September, calling for full state and federal support though the resolution itself does not fund the move.
Alaska Senate passes $13.9B operating budget with $200 energy relief
Alaska Senate approved $13.9B budget with $200 energy relief per person added to Permanent Fund Dividend. • Budget passed 17-3 and includes $11M for heating assistance and $29.1M in school fuel grants. • Operating budget maintains $44M surplus and now goes to House for final vote.
Alaska Senate Passes Education Bill With 4% Property Tax Cap
“ACSA appreciates the thoughtful approach to the proposed 5% cap on the growth of the required local contribution.”
Alaska Energy Conference Highlights Gas Pipeline Progress Amid Legislative Tax Debate
Alaska LNG pipeline signed contracts, targets 2029 delivery, but governor and legislature split on tax framework. • Southcentral consumers could pay $22.96 per thousand cubic feet if exports fail, double current rates. • Federal officials highlighted critical minerals and $1 billion in funding, but permitting takes 15 to 18 years. • Rural Alaska pays $6.63 per gallon with no pipeline relief in sight.
Alaska Senate panel hears gas line bill with $900M annual tax break
“If I were Fairbanks and the line was going to be built over 5 to 10 years, $50 million is not even going to be able to address the concerns that possibly Fairbanks might have, let alone the rest of the impacted areas of the state.”
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
Alaska Legislature fell seven votes short of overriding the governor's veto of a bill that would have restored pension options for public employees and teachers, voting 33-27 when 40 votes were needed.
Alaska Senate advances sweeping public safety bill with AI child abuse provisions
“In the language— the language changes adds definitions to the section on theft in the third degree for first authorizing depositories, second mailing, third mailing receptacles, and fourth postage. Adds an exemption for a tech employee or contractor whose sole job is to seek and destroy child sexual abuse material or obscene generated, CSAM, from the offenses of distributing these materials if they are doing so only in the course of doing their job, expands the Border Patrol from parole from 5 members to 7 and adds a 2-year limit.”
Alaska lawmakers review paid parental leave bill funded by payroll taxes
Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 193, which would create 8 to 12 weeks of paid parental leave funded by payroll taxes, with benefits starting January 1, 2030.
Senate panel advances education bill with energy relief, loan program
“my objection is that I think it should stay in place knowing we have the report coming and the report obviously is going to be addressing not only the energy relief portion of this bill, but the 5% provision”
Alaska Senate Passes Statewide Styrofoam Ban for Restaurants
Alaska Senate passed a statewide ban on polystyrene food containers at restaurants, effective January 1, 2027, citing health and environmental concerns.
Alaska Legislature approves $1,000 PFD, $200 energy relief payment
“I'm just objecting because, you know, listening to constituents and what the high— actually, we had a really long winter, extremely high prices now that are looking like they're going to go into this winter. I'm thinking the largest PFD that we could pay would be the best choice for Alaskans.”
Senate Finance advances public safety bill with parole board overhaul
Senate Finance advanced a public safety bill that shrinks Alaska's parole board to five members, adds tribal and addiction expertise requirements, and creates address protections for crime victims.
Alaska Senate advances university regents reform bill with 2027 start date
Alaska Senate advanced a bill to restructure the University of Alaska Board of Regents, setting it to take effect Feb. 1, 2027, with a sunset review date six years later.
Senate panel advances civil rights commission bill with new settlement tool
“The first item on today's calendar is HB 23, State Commission for Civil Rights. This bill was first heard on April 21st. We took public testimony and reviewed the fiscal notes at At that time we have a CS for introduction.”
Alaska Lawmakers Advance Electronic Pull-Tab Gaming Bill
“I move Senate Bill 170, Work Order 34-LS, 0213/E as adopted with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes”
Senate panel cuts oil production tax rate from 35% to 17%
“We'll hear invited testimony from members of the oil and gas industry at that meeting”
Senate Finance reviews bill to double bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5M
Senate Finance heard a bill to double the bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5 million for rural Alaska communities facing higher seasonal fuel costs.
