Government
RSSGovernment in Alaska is the network of state agencies, the legislature and municipal councils and assemblies that set public policy. It covers boards, commissions, ordinances, appointments and budget decisions in cities and boroughs across the state.
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Week of Apr 20
House committee advances bill adding unorganized borough seat to boundary panel
House committee advanced a bill to add an unorganized borough seat to Alaska's Local Boundary Commission, giving 74,448 residents a voice in decisions about city and borough incorporation.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel approves $163.8 million judiciary budget with lease, staff additions
Alaska's Senate Finance Subcommittee approved a $163.8 million judiciary budget on April 15, adding $722,000 in lease, staff, and travel costs the courts had requested.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min readSenate Panel Advances Nine Board Nominees After Confirmation Hearings
Alaska Senate committee advanced nine board nominees for confirmation, after hearings on rural healthcare access, pharmacist scope of practice, and COVID-era business practices.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago6 min read
House Resources Committee Rejects Wildlife Refuge Amendments
Alaska House Resources Committee advanced a wildlife refuge reorganization bill 5-3 Friday, rejecting amendments that would have loosened habitat protections or expanded hunting and fishing access.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
House Judiciary adopts committee substitute for infant safety device bill
House Judiciary advanced a bill to let hospitals and fire stations install anonymous infant safety boxes, after two infants died abandoned in Anchorage since 2013.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago5 min read
House Resources advances Vogler nomination to Regulatory Commission
House Resources Committee advanced Julie Vogler's nomination to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the full legislature for confirmation.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago3 min read
Governor's appointee questioned on Holocaust views, residency qualifications
Senate panel advanced Veronica Lambertson to the Alaska Police Standards Council despite questions about her residency and social media posts on the Holocaust and January 6.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances property tax cap bill despite state warnings
Senate panel advanced a bill allowing cities to cap property tax increases at 3 to 10 percent yearly, despite state warnings of lost revenue and administrative chaos.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago3 min readMore from Government
Senate committee holds Senate Bill 259 on property tax caps
Senate committee delayed a bill allowing Alaska cities to cap property tax assessment increases, citing concerns about lost revenue and state calculation problems.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago3 min read
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.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
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.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House Military Committee Advances Joint Armed Services Overhaul
Alaska House panel voted to modernize a 27-year-old military-civilian committee by adding two new seats, requiring clearer appointment rules, and boosting minority representation.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Week of Apr 13
Alaska Lawmakers Propose Legislative Oversight of $80B Permanent Fund Board
Alaska lawmakers proposed legislative confirmation of Permanent Fund Corporation board members for the first time since 1982, as the $80 billion fund now covers over 60 percent of state spending.
by Alaska News7mo ago3 min readSenate panel advances retirement bill despite $400M cost shift concern
Senate Finance Committee advanced a retirement bill that would shift nearly $400 million in unfunded costs from municipalities to the state, rejecting an amendment that would have prevented the shift.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readWeek of Apr 6
Alaska House committee advances bill to expand early intervention eligibility
A House bill would lower Alaska's early intervention eligibility threshold to match federal standards, potentially saving $34.9 million annually in special education costs.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee advances plan for state immigrant welcoming office
Alaska House committee heard testimony on a bill to create a state immigrant welcoming office by 2027, when the state must take over refugee services from a nonprofit.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readComing up
Denali Fish and Game Advisory Committee Meeting & Elections
Cantwell School library, 2nd Avenue, Cantwell, AK 99729 and Over Zoom
Meeting
Middle Yukon River Fish & Game Advisory Committee: Middle Yukon River Fish & Game Advisory Committee Special Meeting Sunday November 15th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Meeting
Mobile DMV Services – Aleknagik
Community event
Elected Officials Management Course in Anchorage
Class
Kodiak Island Borough School District: Board of Education Special Meeting
Meeting
About Government
Government in Alaska takes in the state agencies, the Legislature and the city councils, borough assemblies and school boards that set public policy. It reaches from the governor's office and statewide departments to the boards and commissions of single towns.
Its work includes ordinances and resolutions, appointments to boards and commissions, agency rulemaking and the review of permits and licenses. State departments such as Environmental Conservation and Education propose, revise and repeal regulations, while local bodies handle liquor and marijuana license renewals, plan review rules and the naming of public buildings.
Recurring questions concern how vacant seats on elected bodies are filled, whether members are elected by district or at large, and which rules agencies keep or drop. Government overlaps closely with elections, public budgets, personnel decisions and the courts.
More from Government
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.
by Alaska News7mo ago2 min readWeek of Mar 30
Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Nurse Licensure Compact Bill
State officials want to join a nursing compact to fill 1,100 vacancies and save $272 million in federal funding. The nurses union opposes the bill over concerns about workplace conditions.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readHouse Passes Barbers Board Reform, Honors NICU Lifesaving Work
Alaska House unanimously passed a bill streamlining barber and aesthetics licensing by letting the state handle paperwork while the board keeps oversight.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago1 min readHouse 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.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readHouse Committee Extends Deadline for AI Personhood Amendment
Alaska House committee delayed a vote on whether to add language to the state constitution denying personhood rights to AI systems, pushing the deadline to April 7 to allow more legal review.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readHouse Judiciary Confirms Four Governor Appointees to State Boards
House Judiciary Committee confirmed four of Gov. Dunleavy's appointees to state boards overseeing judges, crime victims, law enforcement, and violent crime compensation.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readHouse Advances Corporate Tax Bill, Rejects AI and Nuclear Amendments
Alaska House advanced a corporate tax bill targeting multi-state and digital businesses, rejecting amendments to tax AI companies and restrict AI from nuclear systems.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min read
