Government
RSSAlaska News tracks coverage of Alaska government including state legislature, municipal assemblies, and state agencies addressing public policy and community.
House Extends West Coast Disaster Declaration After Heated Debate
The Alaska House voted 28-11 to extend the West Coast storm disaster declaration for 30 days and approve a revised $63.83 million financing plan, but only after contentious debate over whether the legislature should use a resolution or pass a bill.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Alaska Senate passes wildfire evacuation color-code system
The Alaska State Senate unanimously approved legislation establishing a standardized Ready-Set-Go color-coded evacuation system for wildfires across the state.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance hears bill to add faculty regent to University board
The Senate Finance Committee held its first hearing on legislation that would add a tenured faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents for a two-year term.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House committee advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a seat to the Local Boundary Commission and requires at least one commissioner be from the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Legislative Council approves $70,200 Bethel office lease renewal
The Alaska Legislative Council unanimously approved a one-year lease renewal for the Bethel Legislative Information Office at $70,200, the first of five renewal options available under the original agreement.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska right-to-repair bill draws fire over broad scope and safety concerns
Alaska lawmakers debated House Bill 162, a digital product repair measure that would be the nation's most sweeping, with critics warning its broad definition could create unintended safety issues for heavy equipment and aircraft despite exemptions for motor vehicles.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
House panel advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard Senate Bill 63, which would add a sixth seat to the Local Boundary Commission specifically for someone from Alaska's unorganized borough, and set the bill aside with an amendment deadline.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska lawmakers hear testimony on four ballot initiatives
The Alaska Legislature held a joint hearing on four ballot initiatives covering citizenship voting requirements, campaign finance limits, and ranked choice voting.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Brain science experts brief legislators on early childhood development
Representatives from the All Alaska Pediatric Partnership presented research on brain development and early childhood programs to state legislators at an April 16 lunch-and-learn session.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Governor's appointee questioned on Holocaust views, residency qualifications
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Veronica Lambertson's appointment to the Alaska Police Standards Council to a joint session despite concerns about her residency qualifications and social media posts questioning the Holocaust.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate passes capital budget focused on school maintenance
The Alaska Senate approved a $247.7 million capital budget emphasizing deferred maintenance for schools, university facilities, and courthouses.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel hears refuse utility rate reform bill
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 16, which would allow refuse utilities to use a simplified rate filing process to speed up rate case decisions.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
House committee advances bill adding unorganized borough seat to boundary panel
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a sixth seat to the Alaska Local Boundary Commission specifically for a resident of the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel approves $163.8 million judiciary budget with lease, staff additions
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Judiciary approved a $163.8 million operating budget for Alaska's court system that includes funding for lease increases and therapeutic court staff.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate Panel Advances Nine Board Nominees After Confirmation Hearings
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee forwarded nine gubernatorial appointees to professional licensing boards after confirmation hearings addressing rural healthcare access, scope of practice, and COVID-era business practices.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
House Resources Committee Rejects Wildlife Refuge Amendments
The Alaska House Resources Committee voted 5-3 to advance House Bill 321 after rejecting amendments that would have limited state authority over private land in refuges and scaled back habitat protections.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House Judiciary adopts committee substitute for infant safety device bill
The House Judiciary Committee adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 9, which would create a legal framework for infant safety devices at hospitals and fire stations while adding civil immunity protections for parents who use Alaska's Safe Surrender Law.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House Resources advances Vogler nomination to Regulatory Commission
The House Resources Committee forwarded Julie Vogler's nomination to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the full House and Senate without objection after a confirmation hearing.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances property tax cap bill despite state warnings
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee moved forward with a bill allowing municipalities to cap annual property tax assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent, despite state officials warning of revenue losses and administrative complexity.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readSenate committee holds Senate Bill 259 on property tax caps
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee discussed but did not advance Senate Bill 259, which would allow municipalities to cap annual property assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances Lambertson to Police Standards Council despite questions
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Veronica Lambertson's appointment to the Alaska Police Standards Council to a joint session despite concerns about her residency qualifications and social media posts.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House panel advances seafood industry data-sharing bill
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 181, which allows the University of Alaska to access employment data for seafood industry research.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House Military Committee Advances Joint Armed Services Overhaul
The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs voted 6-0 to advance House Bill 382, which modernizes statutes governing the Joint Armed Services Committee, after adopting three amendments and rejecting six others.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Lawmakers Propose Legislative Oversight of $80B Permanent Fund Board
House committee considers requiring legislative confirmation of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation trustees for the first time since 1982, though constitutional concerns may require a constitutional amendment.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readSenate panel advances retirement bill despite $400M cost shift concern
The Senate Finance Committee moved forward with HB 78, a retirement reform bill that would shift nearly $400 million in unfunded liability costs from municipalities to the state over 13 years.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readHouse Finance committee debates pharmacist prescribing bill amid abortion concerns
House Bill 195 would expand pharmacist prescribing authority but faces intense scrutiny over whether collaborative practice agreements could enable abortion medication access.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee advances bill to expand early intervention eligibility
Committee heard testimony on legislation to lower developmental delay thresholds from 50% to 25% for early childhood services, potentially serving more children and saving millions in future special education costs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee advances plan for state immigrant welcoming office
The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation to create a comprehensive state office to coordinate services for immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate Committee Hears Testimony on Nurse Licensure Compact Bill
The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee received extensive testimony on Senate Bill 124, which would allow Alaska to join the multi-state nursing licensure compact amid the state's severe nursing shortage.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Passes Barbers Board Reform, Honors NICU Lifesaving Work
The House unanimously passed legislation streamlining professional licensing for barbers and hairdressers while recognizing healthcare achievements at Alaska's only children's hospital.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min readHouse Finance weighs bill to standardize state payment timelines
Lawmakers debate legislation requiring the state to pay non-profits, municipalities, and tribal organizations within 30 days, matching standards for private contractors.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Committee Extends Deadline for AI Personhood Amendment
The House Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on a constitutional amendment that would deny personhood rights to artificial intelligence systems after members requested more time to study the proposal.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Judiciary Confirms Four Governor Appointees to State Boards
The House Judiciary Committee reviewed four gubernatorial appointees to state oversight boards, including positions on judicial conduct, crime victim compensation, and police standards councils.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Advances Corporate Tax Bill, Rejects AI and Nuclear Amendments
The Alaska House moved forward with corporate tax legislation while decisively rejecting controversial amendments targeting AI companies and nuclear weapons.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
