Alaska Legislature
Key takeaways as Alaska legislative candidates have raised over $1M since February
Candidates vying for five open legislative seats across Alaska brought in some of the largest campaign fundraising hauls. Challenges to some incumbents, such as Rep. Ky Holland and Sen. George Rauscher, also drew heavy fundraising.
Ahead of another Alaska LNG special session, lawmakers express low hopes for passing bill to support project
House and Senate leaders said there’s not enough agreement to immediately consider a bill for a gas line property tax cut package, while Glenfarne Alaska LNG’s president continued to express optimism about the passage of a bill this year.
Legislative committee orders audit of Alaska Board of Fisheries
The audit comes after acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills blocked a set of restrictions the Board of Fisheries approved in an area near the South Alaska Peninsula.
Head of conference committee says Hilcorp helped influence failure of Alaska LNG bill
A spokesman for Alaska LNG developer Glenfarne challenged Rep. Schrage’s statement. Meanwhile, a Glenfarne lobbyist said that there was no pressure from Hilcorp, but Glenfarne reversed course on supporting the bill due to potential project cost increases.
Governor calls new special session after Alaska LNG tax break bill included corporate income tax expansion
The compromise legislation failed in the House and passed the Senate. It included language to expand the state’s corporate income tax to privately held companies in the oil and gas industry, but with an exemption for the gas line project.
Lawmakers expected to unveil compromise Alaska LNG bill Thursday
If the bill isn’t acceptable to Gov. Dunleavy and project developers, the governor could call lawmakers back into a third consecutive special session on the topic.
Lawmakers head back to Juneau with Alaska LNG bill unresolved
Disagreements remain on a tax provision that could raise hundreds of millions annually from oil and gas companies. The special session ends Sunday.
Dunleavy vetoes campaign contribution limits, allowing Alaska ballot initiative to proceed
Voters will be asked in August whether they would like to reinstate limits on campaign contributions.
Alaskans with certain low-level marijuana convictions can keep record private under new law
Alaskans are eligible if they have been convicted of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana, were 21 or older at the time of the arrest, and were not convicted of any other criminal charges in the case.
Wrongfully convicted Alaskans can apply for withheld PFDs under new law
Alaskans whose convictions were vacated, reversed or dismissed will have two years to apply for past dividend payments they were ineligible for while in prison.
Probe finds letter from Homer Rep. Vance likely violated ethics law
An ethics committee found probable cause that a letter from Homer Republican Rep. Sarah Vance criticizing the Homer News’ coverage of a Charlie Kirk vigil amounted to an illegal partisan use of official resources.
7 candidates vie for Southwest Alaska seat left open by House speaker’s run for state Senate
The outcome of the House race could have implications for the balance of power in the Legislature.
Dunleavy administration declines to estimate one-time education funding ahead of school year start
Lawmakers voted to send up to $115 million from unexpectedly high oil revenue to schools.
Legislators unveil new version of tax break for Alaska LNG project
The new version addresses some concerns raised by the private project developer, but key issues remain unresolved.
Dunleavy vetoes bill expanding Alaska’s Local Boundary Commission
It is Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s 19th bill veto since the beginning of the year.
Education funding, age of consent and more: Several new Alaska laws go into effect July 1
The bills that take effect Wednesday include one that raises Alaska’s age of consent to 18, a measure that encourages CPR training for public school students and changes to education funding.
Lawmakers focus on corporate income tax update as they negotiate tax break for Alaska LNG
Applying the state’s corporate income tax to privately held companies, including the Alaska LNG developer, could yield the state hundreds of millions in new revenue.
Gov. Dunleavy vetoes 6 bills, bringing this year’s veto total to 18
Among the vetoed bills were measures to curtail the spread of invasive species and limit plastic food containers in restaurants.
Gov. Dunleavy vetoes nearly $90 million from Alaska state budget
Among the items on Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s chopping block: teacher incentive payments, Head Start grants and a study on public education spending adequacy.
UA Regent Seth Church drops out of Fairbanks legislative race ahead of Saturday withdrawal deadline
Rep. Will Stapp joins the ranks of six other incumbents running unopposed to reclaim their seats in the Alaska Legislature. As of Wednesday, several other former candidates won’t appear on the primary ballot.
Gov. Dunleavy vetoed 9 popular bills. Why did Alaska lawmakers override only 2 of them?
Eighteen Republican minority members voted against overriding vetoes of bills they had previously supported.
Nonprofit foundation gifts Alaska Legislature 16 apartments in Juneau
The Juneau Community Foundation is giving the Legislature the apartments as part of a long-term effort to keep the state’s capital in Juneau.
Rare legislative subpoena issued on removal of Dan J. Sullivan from Alaska ballot
The subpoena was rescinded after Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom threatened to sue to have it quashed.
Lawmakers to negotiate on Alaska LNG tax break in bid to reach compromise in new special session
The House rejected the Senate’s changes to the bill in a 28-12 vote. Now, lawmakers from both chambers will meet in an effort to pass legislation that works for them, Gov. Dunleavy and project developer Glenfarne.
Governor blasts Senate changes to Alaska LNG tax break bill
The Senate added a measure to the bill that applies the state’s corporate income tax to privately held oil and gas companies. That and other changes drew pushback from Gov. Dunleavy.
Alaska Legislature overrides 2 of Gov. Dunleavy’s vetoes
Lawmakers overrode the governor’s vetoes of a bill that expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and another that updates regulations for interior designers.
Dunleavy calls 2nd Alaska LNG special session as senators weigh smaller tax break
A new version of the bill with a higher tax rate than what the House approved has advanced to a vote of the full Senate.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoes 9 bills on penultimate day of special session
Legislative leaders said they plan to vote on whether to override the governor’s vetoes Friday.
Gov. Dunleavy threatens second special session if Senate doesn’t pass tax break for Alaska LNG
The Senate has one day left in the current special session — Friday — to pass a bill.
‘A moving target’: Senate members race to finalize Alaska LNG tax breaks as session deadline looms
Key members of the Alaska Senate remain skeptical of the tax breaks sought by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, with two days remaining until special session must end.