Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Alaska Senate panel hears bill requiring 7-day review for foster youth in psychiatric hospitals
The Senate Finance Committee heard legislation Wednesday that would require judicial review within seven calendar days when foster children are placed in psychiatric hospitals, down from the current 30-day standard.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
House panel advances daylight saving time bill with Western Alaska carve-out
The House State Affairs Committee adopted a modified version of Senate Bill 26 that would split Alaska into two time zones if the state joins Pacific Standard Time, addressing concerns from Western Alaska while attempting to end twice-yearly clock changes.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance forwards Anchorage attorney to State Assessment Review Board
The Senate Finance Committee advanced Jana Walsheen's nomination to the State Assessment Review Board to a joint legislative session for confirmation Monday.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
The Alaska House Finance Committee narrowly advanced HB 261, an education funding reform bill using three-year student count averaging, after rejecting amendments to mandate averaging for special needs students and cap administrative spending at 15 percent.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House advances expanded disability benefits for all public workers
The Alaska House advanced legislation that broadens occupational disability benefits to all public employees and teachers, increases benefit rates from 40% to 75% of salary, and adds healthcare coverage.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel proposes doubling Dalton Highway surcharge in gas line bill
Senate Resources Committee introduced a new version of the gas pipeline bill with a 30-cent Dalton Highway maintenance surcharge, double the governor's proposal, while senators question whether $1 billion in property tax breaks would save average Anchorage households only $55.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska Legislature Falls Two Votes Short of Overriding Elections Bill Veto
The Alaska Legislature failed to override Governor Dunleavy's veto of Senate Bill 64, a comprehensive elections reform bill, falling two votes short of the required 40-vote supermajority in a 38-22 vote during a joint session Monday.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation to raise the maximum bulk fuel loan from $750,000 to $1.5 million as rural communities face doubled fuel prices and supply shortages.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances behavioral health crisis surcharge bill
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill establishing a surcharge to fund behavioral health crisis services after adding exemptions for low-income phone users.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
House panel advances retirement savings program with PFD deposit option
The House Labor and Commerce Committee approved Senate Bill 21 creating Alaska Work and Save, a state-sponsored retirement program for workers without employer plans, after adding an amendment allowing Alaskans to deposit Permanent Fund dividends into any investment account.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House Finance advances education fund amendment, rejects gas pipeline revenue tie
The House Finance Committee passed a constitutional amendment creating a public education fund 8-3 but rejected linking it to future gas pipeline revenues.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
AG nominee Cox faces criticism over grand jury access policies
Multiple citizens testified against Attorney General nominee Stephen Cox at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Monday, alleging he commissioned academic research supporting direct citizen access to investigative grand juries but then implemented policies blocking that access.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Attorney General Cox Defends 'Counter-China Initiative' Amid Jurisdiction Questions
Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox defended his proposed 'counter-China initiative' during a House Judiciary confirmation hearing, describing it as focused on reviewing Chinese-made technology in state infrastructure while lawmakers questioned whether the effort crosses into federal jurisdiction.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska AG nominee Cox declines to commit to defending same-sex marriage
Attorney General nominee Stephen Cox told lawmakers he has no plans to challenge same-sex marriage but would not directly commit to defending it if challenged by others, raising concerns among LGBTQ legislators.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
The House Finance Committee adopted a $2.5 billion capital budget that removes $94 million in federal receipt authority for the West Susitna Access Road project, sparking partisan debate over resource development priorities.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances resolution urging federal reclassification of 911 dispatchers
The Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee unanimously advanced a resolution Monday urging Congress to reclassify emergency dispatchers from clerical workers to protective service workers, giving them access to federal benefits currently available only to other first responders.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate panel hears proposal for immigrant integration office
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 169, which would create a Welcoming Alaska Office to help immigrants and newcomers integrate into Alaska communities and address workforce shortages.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate advances farm tax bill, carves out Anchorage exemption
The Alaska Senate advanced legislation Monday requiring municipalities to provide property tax deferrals for agricultural operations, with an exemption for Anchorage.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readSenate adds $156M to capital budget, prioritizes deferred maintenance
The Alaska Senate added $156 million to the governor's lean capital budget, directing most new spending toward deferred maintenance at K-12 schools, universities, and state facilities following an uptick in oil revenue.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago5 min read
Anchorage Park Foundation opens $300,000 challenge grant program
The Anchorage Park Foundation announced its annual challenge grant program offering up to $300,000 in matching funds for community-driven park and trail projects, with applications now open and a grantee kickoff scheduled for May 15.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Assembly considers smart taxi meters, $6 fare cap for Anchorage cabs
The Anchorage Assembly reviewed proposed changes to vehicle-for-hire rules that would require all taxi dispatchers to use GPS-based smart meters and raise the maximum fare cap from $3 to $6 per mile.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House passes dementia training bill for nursing aides
The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation requiring certified nursing aide training programs to include competencies in dementia care, communication skills, and behavioral health as the state's senior population rapidly grows.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Committee Advances Five Bills in Single Session
The House Labor and Commerce Committee moved five bills through the legislative process in one afternoon, covering tax discounts, industrial hemp, foreign worker visas, rideshare insurance, and electronic gaming.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Board Sets Fish Wheel Rules, Recovery Goals for Yukon Salmon
The Alaska Board of Fisheries unanimously approved fish-friendly fish wheel specifications and delisting criteria for Yukon River king and fall chum salmon stocks of concern, establishing the first codified recovery plans despite concerns about treaty complications and duplicative regulations.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Rural Alaska fuel prices could hit $25/gallon, lawmaker warns
A state senator warned that rural Alaska communities face fuel prices potentially reaching $20 to $25 per gallon, with western Alaska facing up to $500 million in additional costs from the global fuel shortage.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Weighs $113M Education Funding Overhaul
House Finance Committee debates education funding bill using three-year enrollment averaging to provide budget certainty, but faces questions about $113 million fiscal note and lack of long-term modeling.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
AG Nominee Cox Defends 110+ Amicus Briefs, Faces Questions on Alaska Priorities
Attorney General-designee Stephen Cox defended signing Alaska onto approximately 110 amicus briefs in eight months during his Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing, while senators questioned whether these national cases distract from Alaska-specific priorities like domestic violence prosecution.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Veterans sentencing bill advances despite concerns over court authority
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 299, which would allow veterans convicted of misdemeanors to enter therapeutic programs over prosecutor objections, with state officials warning of litigation risks over separation of powers.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
Alaska Senate Panel Advances Social Media Ban for Minors Under 16
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced Senate Bill 262, which would prohibit social media companies from allowing Alaskans under 16 to have accounts and ban algorithmic content for those under 18, despite warnings the measure is unconstitutional.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House passes bill shifting prepaid legal plans from insurance to consumer protection
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 33-4 to remove prepaid legal plans from insurance regulations and place them under consumer protection statutes, aiming to expand affordable legal access for Alaskans who cannot afford traditional attorney fees.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Anchor Point Man Arrested After Assault, Vehicle Theft
Guy Foreman, 45, of Anchor Point was arrested April 28 on charges of vehicle theft, assault and driving with a suspended license after allegedly assaulting someone and stealing their vehicle.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readHundreds pack Juneau Assembly meeting to oppose recreation facility cuts
Juneau residents filled a special Assembly meeting to testify against proposed budget cuts to pools, field house, ice arena, and Eagle Crest ski area, with many families warning closures would drive them from the city.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate passes bill to ease classic car import registration
The Alaska State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 239, which modernizes vehicle registration laws to align with federal standards for imported vehicles 25 years or older.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate passes bill restoring defined benefit pensions for public workers
The Alaska Senate passed House Bill 78 to restore a defined benefit pension plan for state workers, teachers, and municipal employees after 20 years and 34 legislative attempts, with the House concurring and sending the measure to the governor.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Big Lake Man Arrested Twice for DUI in Three Days
Nicholas Bailey, 40, of Big Lake was arrested twice in three days for DUI and refusal to submit to chemical testing following traffic stops in Big Lake and Wasilla.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska House panel advances penny rounding bill amid federal mint halt
The House State Affairs Committee heard House Bill 281, which would establish statewide rounding rules for cash transactions after the federal government stopped minting pennies in 2025.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances health care compacts bill despite sovereignty concerns
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee voted 3-2 to advance SB 281, which adds genetic counselors and respiratory care practitioners to state licensing and includes multiple interstate health care compacts, despite objections that the compacts erode state sovereignty.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House Finance Hears Sharp Divide Over $95M for West Susitna Road
The House Finance Committee heard nearly two hours of testimony on a $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with opponents calling it a subsidy for foreign mining companies and supporters arguing it would unlock economic development.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House Finance hears divided testimony on $95M West Susitna road allocation
The House Finance Committee heard sharply divided public testimony on a proposed $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with rural residents and environmental advocates opposing what they called a mining subsidy while Mat-Su officials championed it as essential infrastructure.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
Senate Finance advances $2.8B operating budget to Rules Committee
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee unanimously moved the state's operating budget forward on April 30, clearing its final committee hurdle before floor consideration.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read