Government
RSSAlaska News tracks coverage of Alaska government including state legislature, municipal assemblies, and state agencies addressing public policy and community.
Seward Council to decide fate of pool that trained Olympic gold medalist
Seward City Council meets Tuesday to decide if it will fund the high school pool, which trained Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby. • The school district plans to close all its pools without new money or a city takeover. • Community swimmers are urging residents to speak at the meeting to keep the facility open.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House approves three day recess for Memorial Day weekend during gas line special session
Alaska House votes to recess two weeks during special session on gas line taxation, allowing members to leave for Memorial Day weekend. • Opponents warn the break could delay the gas line bill, which they call the state's most urgent issue. • House also approves carrying over two companion bills on natural gas pipeline property taxes into the special session.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes bill repealing inactive state funds
Alaska House passed Senate Bill 163 unanimously Wednesday, repealing three inactive and empty state funds including the Public Access Fund and the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games Reserve Fund.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
House moves to close property tax overpayment loophole
Alaska House voted to end a loophole that let taxpayers deliberately overpay property taxes to collect 8 percent interest refunds, passing House Bill 13 by 32-7.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
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.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Thorne Bay certifies mayoral election with 47 percent turnout
Thorne Bay certified its May 12 mayoral election on May 18 with 235 ballots cast, a 47 percent turnout of 500 registered voters.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
House Passes Civics Education Bill After Decade-Long Push
The Alaska House voted 37-3 to require comprehensive civics education for K-12 students, mandating instruction on founding documents and government structure ahead of America's 250th anniversary.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate advances sweeping public safety bill with AI child abuse provisions
The Alaska State Senate unanimously approved an 80-page public safety omnibus bill that raises the age of consent to 18, criminalizes AI-generated child sexual abuse material, and expands the state parole board.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
Dunleavy vetoes public pension bill, leaving override as long shot
Governor Dunleavy vetoed legislation that would have reopened a defined benefit pension option for Alaska public employees and teachers, citing fiscal and legal concerns.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska lawmakers review paid parental leave bill funded by payroll taxes
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that would create an 8-12 week paid parental leave program funded by new payroll taxes, with benefits not available until 2030.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House passes fisheries tax credit expansion unanimously
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 40-0 Sunday to extend and expand a tax credit program that helps seafood processors invest in new equipment and value-added products, with supporters saying it aids both large processors and small direct-marketing fishermen during poor market conditions.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readSenate Passes Insurance Gap Fix for Gig Economy Drivers
The Alaska Senate voted 13-7 Sunday to amend a bill requiring insurance coverage for delivery app drivers like Instacart and Uber Eats workers, who currently have zero coverage during accidents.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House Passes Paid Parental Leave, Exempts Seasonal Workers from Sick Leave
The Alaska House passed a paid parental leave program (8-12 weeks) funded through unemployment insurance contributions while simultaneously exempting seasonal workers and businesses under 10 employees from voter-approved paid sick leave requirements.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAlaska Senate advances university regents reform bill with 2027 start date
The Alaska Senate moved forward legislation Thursday that would restructure the University of Alaska Board of Regents, pushing the effective date to February 2027 and drawing bipartisan support from at least 10 senators who signed on as cross-sponsors.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readHouse committee advances LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill on 4-3 vote
The Alaska House State Affairs Committee voted 4-3 Thursday to advance HB 301, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to state civil rights law covering employment, housing, and public accommodations.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readSenate approves mental health education bill after six-year push
The Alaska Senate voted 17-3 Friday to concur with House amendments to a bill requiring age-appropriate mental health education in schools, marking the culmination of a six-year legislative effort.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readSenate panel advances civil rights commission bill with new settlement tool
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved a bill Friday that adds a predetermination agreement procedure to the State Commission for Civil Rights, sending the measure to Senate Rules.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House panel withdraws AI personhood amendment after legal questions arise
The Alaska House Judiciary Committee withdrew an amendment that would have declared AI systems cannot be recognized as persons under commercial law after members raised concerns about unintended legal consequences.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House panel hears testimony on statewide spay-neuter program, no vote taken
The Alaska House Finance Committee heard testimony Wednesday on legislation to create the state's first statewide spay and neuter assistance program, designed to address animal overpopulation in rural communities where veterinary services are scarce or nonexistent.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House panel advances telehealth pay parity bill with wage protections
The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee passed legislation Friday requiring equal reimbursement for telehealth and in-person care while adding language to prevent healthcare companies from shifting jobs to lower-wage states.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAlaska House expands pharmacist prescribing powers in 32-8 vote
The Alaska House of Representatives passed legislation Friday allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer medications for minor ailments and chronic conditions, a policy tied to $272 million in federal rural health funding that must be enacted by December 2027.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readSenate panel advances judicial nominee who sued judges over abortion questions
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Mike Miller's nomination to the Alaska Judicial Council to a joint session despite his 2004 lawsuit against judges over abortion questionnaires, after Miller said he changed his position 25 years ago.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Leaks, mold, cold plague Anchorage apartments after California takeover
Anchorage apartment tenants are experiencing leaks, mold, cold and sewage problems after a California landlord took over their buildings, highlighting concerns about out-of-state property management.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAlaska Lawmakers Advance Electronic Pull-Tab Gaming Bill
The House Labor and Commerce Committee passed legislation legalizing electronic pull-tab gaming after debate over market competition, manufacturer caps, and concerns about creating monopolies.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House Finance approves pharmacist prescription bill after rejecting nurse compact
The House Finance Committee advanced a bill expanding pharmacist prescribing authority Thursday after voting down an amendment to add Alaska to a 40-state nurse licensure compact, despite warnings the compact is required for federal healthcare funding.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House panel rejects gaming price caps after industry debate
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted Thursday to rescind and then reject amendments that would have lowered manufacturer price caps on electronic pull-tabs, following debate over market competition and rural Alaska impacts.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House passes mental health education bill after emotional debate
The Alaska House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 41 by a 27-13 vote Thursday, requiring the state to develop optional mental health curriculum guidelines for K-12 schools to address Alaska's nation-leading youth suicide rate.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAutonomous vehicle bill advances despite state warnings on outdated standards
The Alaska Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on a bill requiring human safety operators in autonomous vehicles, with the Department of Transportation warning the legislation uses decade-old definitions that could harm innovation and grant competitiveness.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House panel advances retirement savings program for private workers
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 21, which would create Alaska Work and Save, an automatic IRA program for employees whose employers do not offer retirement plans.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readHouse Finance advances fire station grant program after rejecting rural aid amendments
The House Finance Committee advanced a fire station grant program Friday after rejecting amendments that would have lowered match requirements for small rural communities, highlighting tensions between urban and rural fire safety needs.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House panel advances bill to expand early intervention for delayed infants
The House Health and Social Services Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 178, which would lower Alaska's developmental delay threshold from 50% to 25% for children ages 0-3 to qualify for intervention services.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House Finance reschedules gas line hearing, shifts to vehicle title bill
The House Finance Committee announced Friday that a scheduled hearing on gas line legislation may be canceled pending a Rules Committee decision, prompting the panel to reorganize its agenda around a vehicle and boat transfer-on-death title bill.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAlaska budget fight leaves $40M in senior, disability care hanging
A legislative conference committee must reconcile more than $40 million in disputed funding for senior and disability services before the Alaska Legislature adjourns on May 20, with the House and Senate deeply divided on nearly every line item.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAlaska Legislature rejects governor's attorney general nominee
The Alaska Legislature voted 31-29 Thursday to reject Stephen Cox's confirmation as Attorney General, with bipartisan opposition citing his lack of Alaska experience, controversial amicus briefs, and failure to defend Alaska against federal overreach.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readSitka voters to decide charter change on initiative and referendum power
The Sitka Assembly will consider placing a charter amendment on the October 2026 ballot that would alter the city's initiative and referendum process.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readUnorganized Borough Gains First Seat on Boundary Commission
Senate Bill 63 creates the first Local Boundary Commission seat for Alaska's Unorganized Borough and passed the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readWasilla Senator's Mother Scammed, Sparks Crypto Kiosk Crackdown
Senator Cathy Tilton's bill to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks passed the Alaska Senate unanimously after her mother was scammed out of thousands of dollars, part of $26 million Alaskans lost to online fraud in 2024.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readGas Line Developer Warns Tax Hike Would Delay Project, Jeopardize 2029 Deadline
Glenfarn Alaska LNG told House Finance that the 15-cent volumetric tax in the Resources Committee version would delay the project's final investment decision and threaten the 2029 completion timeline, calling the rate economically unworkable.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances bill cutting sick leave for seafood workers
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would reduce paid sick leave for seasonal seafood processing workers from 56 to 48 hours annually and cap monthly usage at 12 hours.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature Passes Bill Recognizing Gold, Silver as Legal Tender
The Alaska Legislature has passed HB 1, which recognizes gold and silver as legal tender and exempts precious metal transactions from local sales taxes, with the bill now awaiting Governor Dunleavy's signature.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
