Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Senate Finance advances pension bill with municipal opt-in provision
The Senate Finance Committee voted 5-2 to advance a bill restoring defined benefit pensions for public employees after adopting an amendment allowing municipalities to opt in rather than being automatically enrolled.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House Judiciary rejects consumer data privacy bill after 3-3 vote
The House Judiciary Committee failed to adopt a committee substitute for House Bill 367, the Alaska Data Privacy Act, after a 3-3 tie vote on April 24, 2026.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate Judiciary hears testimony on crime omnibus combining five bills
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 239, an omnibus crime bill that packages provisions on domestic violence, sexual assault, hit-and-run crashes, AI-generated child abuse images, and tribal advocate protections.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House panel cuts cryptocurrency kiosk limits to protect seniors from scams
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to reduce daily and monthly transaction limits on cryptocurrency kiosks from $1,000 to $500 and $10,000 to $1,500 to protect elderly Alaskans from fraud.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House Extends West Coast Disaster Declaration After Heated Debate
The Alaska House voted 28-11 to extend the West Coast storm disaster declaration for 30 days and approve a revised $63.83 million financing plan, but only after contentious debate over whether the legislature should use a resolution or pass a bill.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Alaska Senate passes wildfire evacuation color-code system
The Alaska State Senate unanimously approved legislation establishing a standardized Ready-Set-Go color-coded evacuation system for wildfires across the state.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Kodiak Trooper Uses Surfboard to Rescue Teen from Island Lake Ice
Alaska State Trooper Anthony Will used a surfboard to rescue a hypothermic teenager who fell through thin ice on Kodiak's Island Lake on April 25, with Sergeant Nathan Walsh towing them to shore where fire department personnel provided medical care.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readSenate Finance hears bill to add faculty regent to University board
The Senate Finance Committee held its first hearing on legislation that would add a tenured faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents for a two-year term.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance adopts $13.8B budget with $150 energy payments, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes $150 per person energy relief payments and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts, while maintaining a $50 million reserve by budgeting at $73 per barrel oil.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance hears tax modernization bill, sets aside for further review
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift Alaska's corporate income tax apportionment from cost-based to market-based sourcing, but took no action on the measure.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
House committee advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a seat to the Local Boundary Commission and requires at least one commissioner be from the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Legislative Council approves $70,200 Bethel office lease renewal
The Alaska Legislative Council unanimously approved a one-year lease renewal for the Bethel Legislative Information Office at $70,200, the first of five renewal options available under the original agreement.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on House Bill 234, which would define emergency dispatchers as first responders and adjust their retirement benefits to match those of peace officers and firefighters.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House committee hears bill to reclassify emergency dispatchers as first responders
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on House Bill 234, which would define emergency dispatchers as first responders and adjust their retirement benefits to match those of peace officers and firefighters.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Psychologist who lost son to fentanyl urges Alaska lawmakers to support prevention
Sandy Snodgrass, founder of the Alaska Fentanyl Response Project, presented to state legislators about the fentanyl crisis and her work educating Alaska students after losing her son Bruce to fentanyl poisoning in 2021.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Alaska right-to-repair bill draws fire over broad scope and safety concerns
Alaska lawmakers debated House Bill 162, a digital product repair measure that would be the nation's most sweeping, with critics warning its broad definition could create unintended safety issues for heavy equipment and aircraft despite exemptions for motor vehicles.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
House panel advances Local Boundary Commission expansion bill
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard Senate Bill 63, which would add a sixth seat to the Local Boundary Commission specifically for someone from Alaska's unorganized borough, and set the bill aside with an amendment deadline.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
House Finance sets amendment deadline for police, firefighter disability bill
The House Finance Committee set an amendment deadline for legislation increasing disability benefits for injured peace officers and firefighters, while also advancing a mail theft bill and revising a paid parental leave measure.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Alaska lawmakers hear testimony on four ballot initiatives
The Alaska Legislature held a joint hearing on four ballot initiatives covering citizenship voting requirements, campaign finance limits, and ranked choice voting.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Brain science experts brief legislators on early childhood development
Representatives from the All Alaska Pediatric Partnership presented research on brain development and early childhood programs to state legislators at an April 16 lunch-and-learn session.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Governor's appointee questioned on Holocaust views, residency qualifications
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Veronica Lambertson's appointment to the Alaska Police Standards Council to a joint session despite concerns about her residency qualifications and social media posts questioning the Holocaust.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance adopts operating budget with $150 energy payment, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes a $150 per person energy relief payment and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
Alaska lawmakers urge federal reclassification of 911 dispatchers
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on a resolution urging Congress to reclassify emergency dispatchers from clerical workers to protective service personnel, granting them access to federal training and mental health resources.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readSenate passes capital budget focused on school maintenance
The Alaska Senate approved a $247.7 million capital budget emphasizing deferred maintenance for schools, university facilities, and courthouses.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance hears bill expanding civil rights protections to nonprofits
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 23, which would extend workplace discrimination protections to approximately 44,000 Alaskans employed by nonprofits and rename the Human Rights Commission.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate panel hears refuse utility rate reform bill
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 16, which would allow refuse utilities to use a simplified rate filing process to speed up rate case decisions.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Alaska judicial conduct commission to hold rare probable cause hearing this spring
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readHouse Judiciary Advances Bill Restoring PFDs for Wrongfully Convicted
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved legislation allowing Alaskans whose criminal convictions were overturned to claim past Permanent Fund Dividends they were denied while incarcerated.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House committee advances bill adding unorganized borough seat to boundary panel
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 63, which adds a sixth seat to the Alaska Local Boundary Commission specifically for a resident of the unorganized borough.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel approves $163.8 million judiciary budget with lease, staff additions
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Judiciary approved a $163.8 million operating budget for Alaska's court system that includes funding for lease increases and therapeutic court staff.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate panel approves $139.2 million budget for Department of Law
The Senate Finance Department of Law Subcommittee approved the fiscal year 2027 operating budget for the Department of Law totaling $139.2 million.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate cuts House domestic violence funding additions in half
The Senate Finance Subcommittee reduced House additions for domestic violence and sexual assault programs by 50 percent while approving a $357 million Department of Public Safety budget.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance subcommittee recommends $1.17 billion university budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the University of Alaska recommended a $1.17 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2027, including partial funding for student recruitment and employee compensation increases.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate Panel Advances Nine Board Nominees After Confirmation Hearings
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee forwarded nine gubernatorial appointees to professional licensing boards after confirmation hearings addressing rural healthcare access, scope of practice, and COVID-era business practices.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Senate panel advances $349 million administration budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Administration forwarded a $349.4 million operating budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, rejecting proposed decentralization of payroll and shared services.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel cuts jail funding in half, seeks out-of-state inmate housing
The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee cut House-approved community jail funding by half and requested information on housing Alaska inmates outside the state while advancing a $535 million corrections budget.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate panel advances $535 million corrections budget with jail funding cut
The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee approved a $535 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027, cutting House-added community jail funding in half and requesting a study on housing inmates outside Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel approves $441 million education budget with teacher incentives
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Education and Early Development approved a $441 million budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes new funding for teacher incentives and Head Start matching grants while reducing spending on boarding homes and residential schools.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate panel approves $485 million Department of Revenue budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Revenue forwarded a $485.1 million budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, including new auditor positions and rejecting structural changes to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate adjourns technical session after committee report
The Alaska State Senate held a brief technical session Wednesday, receiving one committee report before adjourning until Monday.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read