Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Senate minority outlines pension reform, gas line concerns at press conference
Alaska Senate minority members discussed pension reform amendments, gas line project challenges, and legislative priorities at a Thursday press conference.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Senate panel advances Salazar to Human Rights Commission
The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded Grace Salazar's nomination to the Alaska State Commission on Human Rights to a joint session for confirmation.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel approves $4.2 billion health budget with Medicaid rate hikes
The Senate Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Health approved a $4.2 billion fiscal year 2027 budget that includes $377 million in Medicaid provider rate increases and funding for food banks and early learning programs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel approves $515 million budget for family services agency
The Senate Budget Subcommittee approved a $515.3 million fiscal year 2027 budget for the Department of Family and Community Services, including $1.5 million added for child advocacy centers.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
House Resources Committee Rejects Wildlife Refuge Amendments
The Alaska House Resources Committee voted 5-3 to advance House Bill 321 after rejecting amendments that would have limited state authority over private land in refuges and scaled back habitat protections.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House Judiciary adopts committee substitute for infant safety device bill
The House Judiciary Committee adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 9, which would create a legal framework for infant safety devices at hospitals and fire stations while adding civil immunity protections for parents who use Alaska's Safe Surrender Law.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
House Resources advances Vogler nomination to Regulatory Commission
The House Resources Committee forwarded Julie Vogler's nomination to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to the full House and Senate without objection after a confirmation hearing.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances property tax cap bill despite state warnings
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee moved forward with a bill allowing municipalities to cap annual property tax assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent, despite state officials warning of revenue losses and administrative complexity.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readSenate committee holds Senate Bill 259 on property tax caps
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee discussed but did not advance Senate Bill 259, which would allow municipalities to cap annual property assessment increases at 3 to 10 percent.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances Lambertson to Police Standards Council despite questions
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.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
House panel advances seafood industry data-sharing bill
The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 181, which allows the University of Alaska to access employment data for seafood industry research.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
House Military Committee Advances Joint Armed Services Overhaul
The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs voted 6-0 to advance House Bill 382, which modernizes statutes governing the Joint Armed Services Committee, after adopting three amendments and rejecting six others.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Bristol Bay tribes fight to defend EPA veto of Pebble Mine in court
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readTwo Skiers Rescued After Avalanche Near Turnagain Pass
Two skiers were injured and rescued after an avalanche at Falls Creek Trail near mile 106 of the Seward Highway on April 17, 2026.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAssembly Approves Study of Wildfire Service Area for High-Risk Zones
The Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved a resolution directing the administration to study creating a dedicated wildfire interface service area to fund fire protection in high-risk wildland-urban interface zones.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Lawmakers Propose Legislative Oversight of $80B Permanent Fund Board
House committee considers requiring legislative confirmation of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation trustees for the first time since 1982, though constitutional concerns may require a constitutional amendment.
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min readAlaska House Panel Advances Bill to Speed Up State Contract Payments
The House Finance Committee narrowly approved legislation requiring faster payment of state contracts despite concerns about $1 million+ costs and potential consequences for small nonprofits.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readSenate panel advances retirement bill despite $400M cost shift concern
The Senate Finance Committee moved forward with HB 78, a retirement reform bill that would shift nearly $400 million in unfunded liability costs from municipalities to the state over 13 years.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Panel Weighs Tougher Hit-and-Run Penalties
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on legislation that would establish a 4-7 year presumptive sentencing range for fatal hit-and-run crashes involving criminal negligence.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska House Rejects 30% Cut to Regional Jail Funding Despite Low Use
The Alaska House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would have reduced funding increases for underutilized regional jails, with supporters citing 22% statewide utilization rates.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska House Approves $2M for Talkeetna Trooper Post Using ANWR Funds
The Alaska House of Representatives voted to allocate $2 million from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease revenues to reestablish a state trooper post in Talkeetna, addressing public safety concerns along the Parks Highway corridor.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska OT Law Limits Patient Recovery, Licensing Board Says
Alaska's occupational therapy statute restricts therapists to helping patients cope with disabilities rather than actively working to improve function, prompting legislative action to align with national standards.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Finance passes Mount Edgecombe funding bill, advances mail theft measure
The House Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 146 to allow REAA funds for Mount Edgecombe High School and held its first hearing on House Bill 77 to make mail theft a state felony.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate panel considers tougher penalties for fatal hit-and-run crashes
The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on legislation that would increase prison sentences for drivers who kill pedestrians and flee the scene.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read163 Alaskans Wait for Life-Saving Organ Transplants
Life Center Northwest presented data showing 163 Alaskans currently await organ transplants, with most needing kidneys and having to travel to Washington for procedures.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska parole board grants 85% of recent applications, reversing trend
The Alaska parole board has dramatically increased its approval rate for discretionary parole applications to 85% in recent days, up from lower rates in previous years due to SB 91 repeal and COVID-19 impacts.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readHouse Finance committee debates pharmacist prescribing bill amid abortion concerns
House Bill 195 would expand pharmacist prescribing authority but faces intense scrutiny over whether collaborative practice agreements could enable abortion medication access.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska Senate considers tougher penalties for hit-and-run deaths
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation that would create enhanced penalties for drivers who flee fatal accidents without rendering aid.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee reviews $759K in agency requests to fix payment delays
State agencies requested hundreds of thousands in penalty funds and new positions rather than fixing systemic payment delays affecting nonprofits and contractors.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse committee advances bill recognizing dispatchers as first responders
HB 234 would classify emergency dispatchers as first responders, opening access to federal grants and addressing staffing challenges in rural Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee advances bill to expand early intervention eligibility
Committee heard testimony on legislation to lower developmental delay thresholds from 50% to 25% for early childhood services, potentially serving more children and saving millions in future special education costs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee advances plan for state immigrant welcoming office
The House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation to create a comprehensive state office to coordinate services for immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate Committee Hears Testimony on Nurse Licensure Compact Bill
The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee received extensive testimony on Senate Bill 124, which would allow Alaska to join the multi-state nursing licensure compact amid the state's severe nursing shortage.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readConference Committee Approves Supplemental Budget with CBR Safeguards
The conference committee passed House Bill 289, Alaska's supplemental budget, with amended language to limit constitutional budget reserve use and reduce contingency funding from $30 million to $20 million.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Passes Barbers Board Reform, Honors NICU Lifesaving Work
The House unanimously passed legislation streamlining professional licensing for barbers and hairdressers while recognizing healthcare achievements at Alaska's only children's hospital.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min readHouse Finance weighs bill to standardize state payment timelines
Lawmakers debate legislation requiring the state to pay non-profits, municipalities, and tribal organizations within 30 days, matching standards for private contractors.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate Committee Advances Bill to Raise Alaska's Age of Consent Amid Sexual Violence Crisis
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 101, which would raise Alaska's age of consent to 18 with a six-year age gap provision.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Committee Extends Deadline for AI Personhood Amendment
The House Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on a constitutional amendment that would deny personhood rights to artificial intelligence systems after members requested more time to study the proposal.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Judiciary Confirms Four Governor Appointees to State Boards
The House Judiciary Committee reviewed four gubernatorial appointees to state oversight boards, including positions on judicial conduct, crime victim compensation, and police standards councils.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readHouse Advances Corporate Tax Bill, Rejects AI and Nuclear Amendments
The Alaska House moved forward with corporate tax legislation while decisively rejecting controversial amendments targeting AI companies and nuclear weapons.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read