Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Senate 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
House rejects Galena school funding swap after dramatic rescind vote
The Alaska House of Representatives narrowly rejected an amendment to redirect $5 million from a Galena school renovation to Anchorage and Mat-Su projects after a dramatic rescind vote brought the measure back for reconsideration.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readLeaks, 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 hears gas line tax bill with 15-cent volumetric fee
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Thursday on House Bill 381, which would replace traditional property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a 15-cent per thousand cubic feet volumetric tax, generating an estimated $577 million by 2033 while giving municipalities decision-making authority over gas treatment plants and LNG facilities.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 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 limits disability employment training to 50 care coordinators
Alaska is limiting a free online course on employment services for people with disabilities to the first 50 care coordinators who register, raising questions about workforce training capacity statewide.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 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 readStone Soup Group finale teaches families IEP advocacy for disabled youth
Stone Soup Group hosts its final Transitions Series event on May 30, 2026, teaching families of disabled youth how to advocate at IEP meetings and navigate disability policy in Alaska.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 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 readAlaska House doubles bulk fuel loan cap to $1.5 million
The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation raising the bulk fuel loan cap from $750,000 to $1.5 million for communities under 2,000 people, responding to soaring fuel costs driven by overseas conflict and the coldest Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta winter in 15 years.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate passes cryptocurrency kiosk consumer protection bill unanimously
The Alaska Senate voted 20-0 Tuesday to pass legislation requiring licensing, transaction limits, and fraud protections for cryptocurrency kiosks after Alaskans lost over $26 million to online fraud in 2024.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate passes bill to expand early intervention for delayed children
The Alaska Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday to expand access to developmental services for infants and toddlers by lowering the eligibility threshold, a change supporters say could save the state $38.9 million annually.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Sitka cemetery caretaker Bob Sam honored after decades of quiet service
Bob Sam of Sitka received the 2026 First Lady's Volunteer Award for more than 30 years of quietly maintaining and restoring the community's cemeteries as he steps back from the work.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAlaska Senate Passes Right to Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
The Alaska Senate passed Senate Bill 111 on May 11, 2026, requiring manufacturers to provide repair documentation, tools, and parts for consumer electronics to owners and independent technicians.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAlaska Conference Committee Advances 23 of 25 Supplemental Budget Items
A legislative conference committee Tuesday adopted most items in Alaska's FY26 supplemental operating budget, accepting Senate versions while leaving two items open for continued negotiation.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House panel advances penny-rounding bill to standardize cash transactions
The Alaska House State Affairs Committee unanimously advanced legislation requiring retailers to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel, addressing inconsistent business practices as pennies disappear from circulation.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAssembly Approves $64.8M Bond Appropriation for Capital Projects
The Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved appropriating $64.86 million in voter-approved bond proceeds for public safety, transit, fire protection, roads, parks and other municipal improvements.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 7-4 to advance a paid parental leave bill that would create a new payroll tax and provide up to 12 weeks of benefits, despite warnings the fund could be depleted by 2040 and concerns about small business exemptions creating legal vulnerabilities.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances bill barring felons from school boards
The Alaska Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously advanced legislation Tuesday that would prohibit convicted felons from serving on school boards statewide and allow board members to substitute teach.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House passes education funding reform despite split votes on transparency
The Alaska House passed HB 261, a major education funding reform using multi-year enrollment averaging, but narrowly rejected amendments requiring public meetings and website posting of mental health curriculum.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate panel advances autonomous vehicle restrictions despite industry opposition
The Alaska Senate Transportation Committee advanced a bill Tuesday requiring human safety operators in commercial autonomous vehicles over 10,000 pounds, drawing opposition from tech companies who warned Alaska would become the only state to effectively ban the technology.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read