Alaska's bicameral legislature — 20-member Senate and 40-member House — meeting in Juneau from January to May each year. Sets the state budget, oil and gas policy, school funding, and the annual Permanent Fund Dividend calculation.
Juneau, Alaska
HotNewTop
Alaska Special Education Crisis: 200 Teaching Positions Unfilled Statewide
Education officials testified about a severe special education staffing crisis with 200 unfilled positions and a 14% increase in students with disabilities despite steady enrollment.
by Alaska News3d ago1 min read24 viewsAI
Alaska Native Groups Push for Fishing Permit Reform After $7.5B Exodus
Alaska Federation of Natives presented research showing $7.5 billion in salmon earnings have left the state through non-resident permit holders since 1975, devastating rural fishing communities.
by Alaska News10h ago2 min read1 viewAI
Alaska 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 News2d ago2 min read7 viewsAI
Senate Panel Questions DNR Commissioner Nominee on Gas Development
The Senate Resources Committee conducted a confirmation hearing for John Crowther, the governor's nominee for Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min read7 viewsAI
Alaska 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 News2d ago2 min read1 viewAI
Senate 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 News2d ago2 min read1 viewAI
House 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 News2d ago2 min read1 viewAI
Mayors Oppose Alaska LNG Tax Bill, Cite Revenue Concerns
Five borough mayors testified against Senate Bill 280's proposed tax structure for the Alaska LNG project, citing significant revenue losses and inadequate impact compensation.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min read1 view100% readAI
Alaska considers ban on driverless commercial trucks amid safety debate
The Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on HB 217, which would require human drivers in all commercial autonomous vehicles, effectively banning driverless operations statewide.
by Alaska News9h ago3 min readAI
Alaska Tribes Removed 1.5M Pounds Marine Debris Despite Funding Barriers
Rural Alaska communities successfully cleaned massive amounts of marine debris from shores but face significant barriers accessing federal funding and resources needed to continue protecting subsistence areas.
by Alaska News9h ago3 min readAI
Senate 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 News9h ago3 min readAI
Alaska Overhauls School Construction Funding to Help Rural Districts Compete
The state is changing how it evaluates school construction projects to level the playing field for smaller districts that cannot afford expensive application processes.
by Alaska News9h ago4 min readAI
Alaska School Funding System Favors Wealthy Districts, Senators Say
Senate Finance Committee members raised concerns that Alaska's school construction funding process allows affluent districts to pre-fund projects and jump ahead of poorer communities that have waited years for repairs.
by Alaska News9h ago4 min readAI
Alaska 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 News9h ago3 min readAI
Alaska 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 News10h ago2 min readAI
Alaska Senate Shelves Homemade Food Safety Bill After Complex Debate
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee set aside a bill restricting sales of home-canned foods in reduced oxygen packaging after lawmakers struggled with complex food safety definitions and enforcement questions.
by Alaska News10h ago3 min readAI
Alaska 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 News10h ago3 min readAI
Alaska 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 News10h ago3 min readAI
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 News10h ago3 min readAI
Alaska Senate panel weighs restrictions on vacuum-sealed homemade food sales
The Senate Resources Committee discussed legislation that would restrict packaging methods for commercially sold homemade foods, targeting vacuum-sealed and heat-processed containers.
by Alaska News10h ago2 min readAI
Alaska House panel advances free school meals for reduced-price students
The House Education Committee moved forward a bill to eliminate meal costs for 3,326 students who qualify for reduced-price meals but struggle to afford full payment.
by Alaska News2d ago2 min readAI
House 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 News2d ago2 min readAI
Alaska 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 News2d ago2 min readAI
Alaska 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 News2d ago2 min readAI
Alaska 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 News2d ago2 min readAI
House 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 News2d ago2 min readAI
House 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 News3d ago2 min readAI
House Education Committee Advances Bill to Boost Residential School Funding
The committee heard testimony on HB 380, which would increase funding for Alaska's nine residential school programs for the first time since 2015.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI
Conference Committee Forms to Resolve HB 289 Budget Differences
A joint legislative conference committee convened to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2026 supplemental budget.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI
House 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 News3d ago2 min readAI
Alaska Senate Panel Weighs Naturopathic Doctors' Prescription Authority
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 193, which would allow licensed naturopathic doctors to prescribe certain medications under physician supervision.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI
House 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 News3d ago1 min readAI
Senate 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 News3d ago2 min readAI
House Panel Considers Bills to Ease Alaska's Liquor Liability Insurance Crisis
The House Labor & Commerce Committee heard testimony on legislation aimed at addressing Alaska's severe shortage of affordable liquor liability insurance for restaurants and bars.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI
Panel Calls for Standardized Child Abuse Reporting Training Across Alaska
The Citizens Review Panel presented recommendations to standardize mandatory reporting training and improve early intervention services for at-risk families.
by Alaska News3d ago1 min readAI
Conference 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 News3d ago2 min readAI
House 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 News3d ago2 min readAI
Wildlife refuge bill faces pushback over jet ski ban, firearm restrictions
House Resources Committee heard testimony on HB 321, which would redesignate state wildlife areas and ban personal watercraft in Kachemak Bay.
by Alaska News3d ago3 min readAI
House 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 News3d ago2 min readAI
Alaska Senate Passes Russian Seafood Import Ban Extension Resolution
The Alaska Senate unanimously approved a resolution supporting continued federal prohibition on Russian seafood imports to protect the state's fishing industry.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI