Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Senate Finance exempts emergency management from contract payment rules
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that exempts Alaska's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management from new state contract payment requirements, giving emergency responders flexibility during disasters.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Cordova Seeks Rock Extraction Deal to Fund New Public Safety Building
Cordova is accepting proposals for exploratory excavation that could lead to a rock-for-site-preparation trade arrangement to fund a new Public Safety Building outside the tsunami-inundation zone.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAlaska Launches New Online Form for Vulnerable Adult Abuse Reports
Alaska's Division of Senior and Disabilities Services launched a new federally compliant online form consolidating all reports of harm to vulnerable adults and critical incidents into one system.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readHome care worker pay mandate divides Alaska lawmakers over rural access
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation requiring agencies to spend 80 percent of Medicaid rates on direct caregiver wages by 2030, with provider groups warning the mandate could force rural agency closures while worker advocates argued built-in safeguards would prevent disruption.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance hears omnibus crime bill targeting AI child porn, raising age of consent
Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on an omnibus crime bill that would criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material and raise Alaska's age of consent from 16 to 18 across more than 24 criminal offenses.
by Alaska News4mo ago6 min read
House panel hears electronic pull-tab bill with 35% manufacturer cap
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Monday on a bill that would cap manufacturer fees for electronic pull-tabs at 35%, drawing criticism from operators who say the rate is too high compared to Minnesota's 20% cap.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House Passes Required Local Contribution Cap for Schools
The Alaska House adopted an amendment capping annual growth in required local property tax contributions to schools at 2%, shifting an estimated $29 million in education costs from municipalities to the state.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Alaska House panel hears push to raise tobacco age to 21, tax vapes at 25%
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on Senate Bill 24, which would raise Alaska's legal tobacco purchase age from 19 to 21 and impose a 25% retail price tax on vapor products, drawing support from public health advocates and opposition from retailers who warn the tax structure could fuel illicit markets.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAlaska Legislature Forms Conference Committee on $14B Operating Budget
Six lawmakers convened Monday to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of Alaska's fiscal year 2027 operating and mental health budgets, adopting identical items and requesting limited negotiating powers.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance considers $1M teacher loan repayment pilot program
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on a three-year pilot program that would repay up to $5,000 annually in student loans for teachers in high-need fields, part of a broader education funding package addressing the state's severe teacher shortage.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House Finance advances pharmacist prescribing bill with drug restrictions
Alaska House Finance Committee approved amendments restricting pharmacists from prescribing high-risk drugs including opioids and abortion medications, while requiring naloxone prescriptions alongside opioid prescriptions over three days.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Wrangell Assembly adds mystery item to May 12 agenda at last minute
The Wrangell Borough Assembly amended its May 12, 2026 meeting agenda on May 11 to add Item 13i without disclosing its content, giving residents less than 24 hours' notice before the meeting.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAlaska Senate Passes Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
The Alaska Senate voted 15-5 Monday to require manufacturers to provide repair access for consumer electronics, advancing legislation that supporters say will keep money in Alaska and reduce electronic waste.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House committee hears bill to update Alaska commercial law for cryptocurrency
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Monday on Senate Bill 252, which would update Alaska's Uniform Commercial Code to govern transactions involving cryptocurrency, NFTs, and electronic promissory notes.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House rejects optional school district healthcare pooling plan
The Alaska House narrowly defeated an amendment that would have allowed school districts to join the state's AlaskaCare healthcare system, potentially saving major districts millions annually.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Navy eyes return to Adak amid Arctic security concerns
The U.S. Navy is gathering information to potentially reestablish operations at Adak, marking a significant shift in Arctic military posture as adversary activity increases in the region.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House rejects Senate's $1,000 PFD budget, sets up conference talks
The Alaska House unanimously rejected the Senate's operating budget Friday, which cut the dividend from $1,500 to $1,000 and reduced education funding, sending both chambers toward conference committee negotiations.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate Advances Right-to-Repair Bill for Consumer Electronics
The Alaska Senate advanced legislation requiring manufacturers to provide repair tools and documentation for consumer electronics after narrowing the bill's scope and pushing back its effective date.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances bill adding faculty member to university board
The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved legislation to add a faculty representative to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, updating implementation dates to 2027 with a 2033 sunset clause.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Finance Rejects Cemetery, School, Energy Amendments
The House Finance Committee rejected multiple capital budget amendments Friday, including funding for an Eagle River cemetery, Galena school repairs, Arctic Winter Games, and the West Susitna Access Road, citing budget constraints despite acknowledging merit in the proposals.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House Judiciary advances consumer data privacy bill with 'duty of loyalty'
The Alaska House Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 Friday to advance HB 367, which would give Alaskans new rights over their personal data and require companies to act in consumers' best interests.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate Judiciary advances ethics bill with complaint disclosure changes
The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 298 after adopting amendments that allow subjects of ethics complaints to request public disclosure.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Bank of America Files Four Debt Suits Against Kenai Residents in One Day
Bank of America filed four debt collection lawsuits against Kenai Peninsula residents on May 5, 2026, part of a pattern of collection activity that raises questions about whether the bank is pursuing debts it may have already sold.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago1 min readIndustry groups oppose Dalton Highway toll targeting oil and gas traffic
Industry representatives testified against a bill to establish tolls on a two-mile stretch of the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse, warning the measure could jeopardize federal funding and create unfair taxation on oil and gas operations.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
True North Recovery proposes Fairview behavioral health center
The Anchorage Assembly Public Health and Safety Committee heard a presentation from True North Recovery on a proposed peer-led behavioral health navigation center in Fairview, sparking debate over location and community impact.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Senate Finance advances early intervention services expansion
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee approved legislation Thursday to expand early intervention services for children, with amendments giving the Department of Health more time to implement required Medicaid changes.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
State Defends Transboundary Mining Oversight as Stakeholders Demand Stronger Protections
Alaska officials testified that water quality monitoring shows no pollution from British Columbia mines crossing the border, but fishing groups, tribes, and conservation organizations argued the state is not doing enough to protect Southeast Alaska's salmon rivers from upstream mining risks.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Alaska House passes disability pay increase for injured public workers
The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation raising occupational disability benefits from 40% to 75% of salary for state employees injured on the job, while restoring their healthcare coverage.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate Passes Budget Balanced at $73 Oil, Rejects House's $320M Deficit Plan
The Alaska Senate approved an operating budget Wednesday that balances at $73 per barrel oil with a $47.5 million surplus, fundamentally different from the House version that carries a $320 million deficit at $75 per barrel oil.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Legislature advances $347M fire station grant program
The Alaska House Finance Committee heard testimony Wednesday on Senate Bill 140, which would create a 50-50 matching grant program to address over $347 million in fire station construction needs and $22 million in renovation needs statewide.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Passes Operating Budget With Energy Relief
The Alaska Senate approved a fiscally conservative operating budget that balances at $70/barrel oil, includes $150 energy relief payments, and avoids drawing from the Constitutional Budget Reserve—contrasting sharply with the House version.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House Finance cuts paid parental leave to 12 weeks, reduces benefits to $524
Alaska House Finance Committee amended paid parental leave legislation to reduce maximum leave from 26 to 12 weeks and cut weekly benefits from $817 to $524, while exempting businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances travel insurance modernization bill
The Senate Transportation Committee moved forward Thursday with legislation to update Alaska's travel insurance laws, aligning the state with 42 others that have adopted similar reforms.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes gold, silver legal tender bill unanimously
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 40-0 Thursday to recognize gold and silver specie as legal tender and exempt such transactions from borough and city sales taxes.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate Committee Advances Healthcare Licensing Compact Bill
The Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 110, which includes five interstate healthcare licensing compacts and scope of practice changes for respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Panel Hears Push to Raise Tobacco Age to 21
The Alaska House Finance Committee heard testimony Thursday on Senate Bill 24, which would raise the legal age to buy, sell, use and possess tobacco and e-cigarette products from 19 to 21 and establish a sales tax on vaping devices.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Fatal trailer fire in rural Big Lake outside fire-district boundaries
A fatal travel trailer fire on Burma Road in Big Lake on May 6, 2026 exposed gaps in rural fire protection coverage after area firefighters declined to respond to the incident outside established fire district boundaries.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago1 min readHouse Committee Hears Divided Testimony on Electronic Pull-Tab Bill
Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee heard sharply divided testimony on HB 386, which would allow electronic pull-tabs on tablets, with operators warning of reduced charity proceeds and manufacturers citing Minnesota's revenue growth.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readHouse passes ethics reform to clarify complaints and strengthen oversight
The Senate Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on House Bill 298, which strengthens Alaska's legislative ethics oversight and passed the House 37-3, with discussion focusing on potential amendments to campaign-period complaint procedures.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House panel hears bill to hold contractors liable for unpaid wages
The Alaska House Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 260, which would make general contractors jointly liable for unpaid subcontractor wages and shift enforcement from criminal to administrative penalties.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read