Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Eagle Crest faces $1.68M subsidy request or severe cuts
Eagle Crest Ski Area presented three budget scenarios to the Assembly Finance Committee, revealing that operating at the historical $930,000 subsidy level would require 56% staff cuts and eliminate operational resilience, while a bare-minimum viable operation requires $1.68 million in taxpayer support.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
House panel advances statewide evacuation alert system
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation establishing red, yellow, and green as standardized evacuation alert levels across Alaska.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Urban Design Commission to sunset after May meeting
The Anchorage Assembly voted to eliminate the Urban Design Commission, with the final regular meeting scheduled for May 2026 and responsibilities transferring to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Urban Design Commission votes to recommend its own dissolution
The Anchorage Urban Design Commission voted 5-1 to recommend the Assembly dissolve the commission and transfer its duties to the Planning and Zoning Commission, citing efficiency concerns and a thin caseload.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Wasilla Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Assault Charge
Alaska State Troopers arrested Ross Turner, 33, on domestic violence assault charges after a late-night disturbance at a Wasilla residence where a child was present.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readHouse advances bill requiring 30-day state payments after heated debate
The Alaska House of Representatives advanced legislation requiring the state to pay contractors and nonprofits within 30 days, adopting amendments to phase in the requirement and increase transparency while rejecting performance metrics and resource development compliance language.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Education Fund Amendment Advances With Key Questions Unresolved
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on a constitutional amendment to create a dedicated education fund, but critical details about what qualifies as public education, how money would enter the fund, and whether the legislature could dissolve it remain undefined.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate Passes $2.47B Capital Budget Focused on School Repairs
The Alaska Senate unanimously approved a $2.47 billion capital budget Tuesday that directs 94% of new unrestricted general funds to K-12 school maintenance, addressing projects that have waited up to 20 years for funding.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Fairbanks father's testimony drives push for faster body cam release
The House State Affairs Committee heard emotional testimony from a Fairbanks father whose sons were shot by state troopers, fueling support for a bill requiring police to release body camera footage within 30 days of use-of-force incidents that result in death or serious injury.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House panel advances income tax on large pass-through businesses
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted 4-2 to advance HB 350, which would impose a 9.4% income tax on S-corporations, LLCs, and partnerships earning over $25 million annually, with first payments due in 2028.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel holds Alaska state seal redesign resolution
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on a resolution to create a commission that would evaluate redesigning Alaska's 1913 state seal, which critics say lacks Alaska Native representation and emphasizes outdated industrial imagery.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances 10 health board nominees to full Legislature
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee recommended 10 gubernatorial appointees to various health professional boards for full legislative confirmation, including positions on nursing, pharmacy, optometry, and social work boards.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Alaska House panel hears bill to overhaul school funding timelines
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 261, which would allow districts to use three-year average student counts instead of single-year October counts to set budgets months earlier and offer teacher contracts in spring rather than summer.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate Passes Alaska Work and Save Retirement Program 15-4
The Alaska Senate approved a first-in-Alaska automatic retirement savings program for workers at small businesses, despite concerns from the Alaska Chamber about mandates on employers.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
House passes bill requiring transparency at psychiatric hospitals for minors
The Alaska House unanimously passed legislation requiring psychiatric hospitals to allow minors confidential communication with parents, conduct unannounced inspections, and notify families when seclusion or restraint is used.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Alaska releases FY25 Single Audit after closed-door review
The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee unanimously approved the release of Alaska's FY25 Single Audit on April 22, 2026, following an executive session to discuss the annual federal financial review.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su Emergency Services Certifies 25 Responders in Trench Rescue
Twenty-five emergency responders from across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are completing week-long trench rescue technician certification training to address the common hazard of trench collapses in the region.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House advances bills on autonomous vehicles, nurse training, interior design
The Alaska House of Representatives advanced three bills through second reading on Tuesday, including legislation regulating autonomous commercial vehicles, certified nurse aide training requirements, and expanding the state's professional licensing board to include interior designers.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Alaska House Revives Defined Benefit Pensions in Narrow 21-19 Vote
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 21-19 to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 78, restoring defined benefit pension options for state and municipal employees after a 20-year hiatus, despite concerns about fiscal risk and implementation challenges.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House Finance advances mail theft bill despite competing governor's version
The Alaska House Finance Committee unanimously advanced a bill making mail theft a class C felony, even as a competing administration bill with lighter penalties moves through the Senate, creating potential legislative conflict.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Borough proposes $580K budget with new staff, building upgrades
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviewed the FY 2027 budget proposal, which includes adding a construction management position, transitioning to electric heating, and planning ADA accessibility improvements to the borough building entrance.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
How to challenge your property assessment in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Property owners in Fairbanks North Star Borough have 30 days from the January assessment notice to appeal their property valuation, but must provide specific evidence and pay taxes on time even while the appeal is pending.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Commission Approves Explosives Storage Site for Avalanche Control
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing the Alaska Department of Transportation to build an explosives storage facility and heliport near Girdwood for avalanche mitigation operations along the Seward Highway.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Willow Woman Charged After 25 Sled Dogs Found Dead on Property
A Willow woman faces 26 felony animal cruelty charges after 25 sled dogs were found starved to death on her property following months of ignored complaints to Mat-Su Animal Control.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readSenate panel advances two nominees to Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board
The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended two gubernatorial appointees — Anna Cometa seeking a second term and Joel Hard, a new nominee with 40 years in law enforcement — for confirmation to the Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board, which has seen a 32% increase in applications since 2022.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances property tax assessment cap bill
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced legislation allowing municipalities to optionally cap annual property tax assessment increases between 3 and 10 percent, despite opposition from professional assessors who warned the measure would create long-term inequities.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate advances pension bill without updated actuarial analysis
The Alaska Senate advanced a retirement system overhaul to third reading despite lacking an updated actuarial analysis on the final version, relying on a legal opinion that last year's analysis meets statutory requirements.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
House Finance considers multi-year school funding averaging bill
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 261, which would shift Alaska's education funding to a three-year enrollment average instead of annual counts, giving districts earlier budget certainty but carrying a fiscal note approaching $1 billion over five years.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Alaska moves to standardize wildfire evacuation alerts statewide
The Alaska House Community & Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation to codify a uniform 'Ready, Set, Go' color-coded evacuation system across the state, addressing confusion that arose during the 2022 Clear Fire when inconsistent local systems left residents uncertain about danger zones.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
House panel questions education fund proposal with no guaranteed revenue
Alaska House Finance Committee members raised concerns about a constitutional amendment that would create an education fund without any dedicated funding source or protections against future legislatures spending it down to zero.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
House Finance hears $8.4M in governor's budget amendments
The House Finance Committee heard presentations on two batches of budget amendments totaling $8.4 million in unrestricted general funds, including union contracts and transportation project allocations.
by Alaska News5mo ago8 min read
Valdez Fire Department Contains Late-Night House Fire on Gulkana Street
The Valdez Fire Department contained a late-night structure fire on Gulkana Street on April 27 with no reported injuries, though details on property damage and cause remain limited.
by Alaska News5mo ago1 min readAlaska expands background checks to all medical professionals
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee adopted changes requiring fingerprint-based criminal background checks for all physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, and physician assistants seeking Alaska licenses, not just those applying through interstate compacts.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
House panel hears bill requiring disclosure of out-of-state campaign funding
The House State Affairs Committee held an introductory hearing on HB 371, which would require independent expenditure groups funded primarily by non-Alaskans to disclose that fact in political communications and maintain Alaska addresses or registered agents.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
House panel hears bill to strengthen campaign finance disclosure
The House State Affairs Committee held an introductory hearing on HB 371, which would require groups making independent expenditures to maintain Alaska addresses and disclose non-resident funding sources.
by Alaska News5mo ago5 min read
House Labor Committee Advances Travel Insurance Bill, Hears Disaster Pet Plan
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to advance travel insurance legislation after adopting technical amendments, while hearing proposals to strengthen emergency planning for pets and clarify state authority over natural gas contracts.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Task Force Hears Federal Assessment Rules, NAEP Context, and AKSTAR Demo
The Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Funding received presentations on federal testing requirements under ESSA, how to interpret NAEP scores, and a demonstration of Alaska's AKSTAR assessment system.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago8 min read
House Finance advances bill extending professional licensing board
The House Finance Committee voted to advance House Bill 314, which extends the Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors by eight years and adds registered interior designers to the professions it regulates.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
State employee per diem frozen since 2010 despite 40% inflation
The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation to raise state employee per diem rates for in-state travel, which have remained unchanged since 2010 while Alaska's cost of living has risen 40%.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House panel hears Fairbanks road service area reform proposal
The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation that would give second-class boroughs more flexibility to adjust road service area boundaries without requiring multiple concurrent voter approvals.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read