Rep. Christopher Kurka, R-Wasilla, seen here leaving the House chambers on Feb. 22, questioned masking rules on the floor of the House Monday and said there was political bias behind enforcement of rules. However, also on Monday two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 other people, including two House lawmakers, have gone into quarantine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Rep. Christopher Kurka, R-Wasilla, seen here leaving the House chambers on Feb. 22, questioned masking rules on the floor of the House Monday and said there was political bias behind enforcement of rules. However, also on Monday two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 other people, including two House lawmakers, have gone into quarantine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

New COVID-19 cases at the Capitol

Cluster emerges as some lawmakers balk at masking

Two additional legislative staffers at the Alaska State Capitol have tested positive for COVID-19, with additional close contacts identified and currently quarantining, according to the Legislative Affairs Agency.

In an email Tuesday, LAA Director Jessica Geary said the two staffers immediately went into quarantine and contract tracing is underway. There are 14 people quarantining due to those positive cases, Geary said. Two of those are members of the House of Representatives, she said, two were non-legislative staff and there are both House and Senate staff members in the cluster.

The two positive cases were Senate staff members, according to an email from Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna.

Senate staff member Konrad Jackson, who works in Micciche’s office, is currently hospitalized at Bartlett Regional Hospital. In a Facebook post Monday, Konrad said he was moved from the critical care unit to a more private room without the need for constant attention from medical staff.

[State Senate leaders accommodate member over virus rules]

The House and Senate Rules Committees dictate the health mitigation rules for their respective bodies, and so far, there will be no changes to the Senate’s mitigation rules, according to Daniel McDonald, spokesperson for the Senate Majority.

Lawmakers in both bodies have balked at health mitigation rules, mask-wearing in particular. Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, was given limited access to Capitol facilities last week after refusing to wear a rules-compliant face covering.

Reinbold had been wearing a clear face shield that doesn’t fully cover the mouth since January. She also has refused the regular testing and temperature checks everyone entering the Capitol are supposed to submit to, according to the Associated Press. An alternative workspace was set up in Reinbold’s office last week, allowing her to participate in her legislative duties remotely.

The issue came to a head when senate staff members tested positive for COVID-19, Micciche told AP, and staff members had raised concerns about safety. On Monday Reinbold was wearing her same face shield but modified to be in compliance with Senate rules.

In the House of Representatives, Rep. Christopher Kurka, R-Wasilla, was asked to leave the floor of the chamber after refusing to wear a mask. Kurka gave a speech on the floor criticizing the mask policy and said he believed punishments for rules violations were politically biased. Following counter-statements from fellow lawmakers in favor of masking, Kurka removed his mask and was then asked to leave.

Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, tested positive for COVID-19 in February prompting the cancellation of House committee meetings. So far no Senate meetings or business had been canceled due to the positive cases, McDonald said. Alaska House Majority spokesperson Austin Baird also said no meetings had been canceled for House members.

• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnuEmpire.

More in News

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of May 18

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2024 schedule.… Continue reading

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, prepares to open the Alaska Senate’s floor session on Friday, May 2, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Senate President Gary Stevens to retire; House Rep. Louise Stutes announces run for seat

At least one other member of Senate’s bipartisan majority is expected to not seek reelection in 2026.

Juneau Assembly members discuss a proposed increase in the mill rate for the fiscal year starting July 1 during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Increasing mill rate to 10.24, rather than 10.19 in earlier versions of city’s budget, gets OK from Assembly

Extra costs in budget, loss of federal funds cited for higher increase from current rate of 10.04 mills.

Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks to the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, April 25, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
At adjournment, Alaska Legislature leaves elections overhaul, campaign finance bills undone

House Bill 16 and Senate Bill 64 could be part of a wave of big legislation that passes early next year.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Legislature overrides governor’s education veto in moment of ‘courage’

Supporters of bill raising BSA by $700 stand together as session nears adjournment.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, May 18, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Visitors walk along the downtown cruise ship dock on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Initiative to limit number of cruise ship passengers, shorten season fails to get signatures to make ballot

“Enthusiasm for this just wasn’t there in the same way as Ship-Free Saturday,” author of proposal says.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Dunleavy vetoes second bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Most Read