Alaska Legislature

Snow falls on the Alaska Capitol and the statue of William Henry Seward on Monday, April 1, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Capitol may begin screening all visitors in 2025, according to draft security proposal

An airport-style security screening checkpoint could be coming to the Alaska State Capitol, ending decades of open public access. In a public notice published Oct.… Continue reading

 

A view of Gastineau Channel, where a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas north of the current bridge is in the evaluation stage. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Flood protection, second Juneau-Douglas crossing top Planning Commission’s legislative wish list

Draft 19-item list also includes housing, other projects Assembly will rank and seek funds for.

 

Rep. Laddie Shaw, R-Anchorage, is surrounded by education advocates as he enters the House chambers before a veto override vote on Senate Bill 140 on Monday, March 18, 2024. Shaw voted no on the override, which failed by a single vote. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska legislative panel bans large signs in the state Capitol after education protest

Signs limited to 11x17” and can’t be attached to posts or sticks, according to new visitor policy.

 

Workers at the Alaska Division of Elections’ State Review Board consider ballots on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the division’s headquarters in Juneau. At background is the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

After Alaska’s primary election, here’s how the state’s legislative races are shaping up

Senate’s bipartisan coalition appears likely to continue, but control of the state House is a tossup.

Workers at the Alaska Division of Elections’ State Review Board consider ballots on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the division’s headquarters in Juneau. At background is the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Members of the Alaska House watch for the vote tally on House Bill 17 on Thursday, March 21, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Governor vetoes bill that would have expanded Alaska women’s access to birth control medicine

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed a bill that would have eased access to contraceptives. Dunleavy on Wednesday vetoed House Bill 17, a measure that the… Continue reading

Members of the Alaska House watch for the vote tally on House Bill 17 on Thursday, March 21, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a rally on behalf of Alaska residents with disabilities at the Alaska State Capitol on March 1, 2023.

Bills by Juneau legislator adding official Indigenous state languages, upgrading dock safety become law

Safety bill by Rep. Story also contains provision by Sen. Kiehl expanding disaster aid eligibility.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a rally on behalf of Alaska residents with disabilities at the Alaska State Capitol on March 1, 2023.
Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speaks during a session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Rauscher was the lead sponsor of House Bill 88. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy vetoes work quota rules for Amazon-like warehouses

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed a bill that would have required the operators of large warehouses to provide their employees with a written work quota… Continue reading

Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speaks during a session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Rauscher was the lead sponsor of House Bill 88. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A ballot box containing absentee ballots dropped off at Anchorage City Hall is seen on Aug. 19, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Progressive candidates show unusual strength in Alaska state legislative primaries

Near-record-low turnout has experts warning against drawing conclusions before November election.

A ballot box containing absentee ballots dropped off at Anchorage City Hall is seen on Aug. 19, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Dunleavy vetoes five bills passed late by state House

All five pieces of legislation were passed by the House after midnight on Legislature’s 121st day.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Waters of Anchorage’s Lake Hood and, beyond it, Lake Spenard are seen on Wednesday behind a parked seaplane. The connected lakes, located at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, comprise a busy seaplane center. A study by Alaska Community Action on Toxics published last year found that the two lakes had, by far, the highest levels of PFAS contamination of several Anchorage- and Fairbanks-area waterways the organization tested. Under a bill that became law this week, PFAS-containing firefighting foams that used to be common at airports will no longer be allowed in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Bill by Sen. Jesse Kiehl mandating end to use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams becomes law

Law takes effect without governor’s signature, requires switch to PFAS-free foams by Jan. 1

Waters of Anchorage’s Lake Hood and, beyond it, Lake Spenard are seen on Wednesday behind a parked seaplane. The connected lakes, located at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, comprise a busy seaplane center. A study by Alaska Community Action on Toxics published last year found that the two lakes had, by far, the highest levels of PFAS contamination of several Anchorage- and Fairbanks-area waterways the organization tested. Under a bill that became law this week, PFAS-containing firefighting foams that used to be common at airports will no longer be allowed in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up the omnibus crime bill, House Bill 66, after signing it at a ceremony Thursday at the Department of Public Safety’s aircraft hangar at Lake Hood in Anchorage. At his side are Sandy Snodgrass, whose 22-year-old son died in 2021 from a fentanyl overdose, and Angela Harris, who was stabbed in 2022 by a mentally disturbed man at the public library in Anchorage and injured so badly that she now uses a wheelchair. Snodgrass and Harris advocated for provisions in the bill.Behind them are legislators, law enforcement officers and others. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Goals for new Alaska crime law range from harsher penalties for drug dealers to reducing recidivism

Some celebrate major progress on state’s thorniest crime issues while others criticize the methods.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up the omnibus crime bill, House Bill 66, after signing it at a ceremony Thursday at the Department of Public Safety’s aircraft hangar at Lake Hood in Anchorage. At his side are Sandy Snodgrass, whose 22-year-old son died in 2021 from a fentanyl overdose, and Angela Harris, who was stabbed in 2022 by a mentally disturbed man at the public library in Anchorage and injured so badly that she now uses a wheelchair. Snodgrass and Harris advocated for provisions in the bill.Behind them are legislators, law enforcement officers and others. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
University of Alaska Anchorage students walking outside UAA Student Union on Feb. 7, 2023. The Alaska Performance Scholarship funds high-achieving students to attend secondary education in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska lawmakers aim to expand eligibility for scholarships

Merit-based Alaska Performance Scholarships intended to keep high-achieving students in the state.

University of Alaska Anchorage students walking outside UAA Student Union on Feb. 7, 2023. The Alaska Performance Scholarship funds high-achieving students to attend secondary education in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy hands out pens he used to sign the budget bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to state lawmakers during a private ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday. (Official photo from The Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy signs state budget with $680 BSA increase, vetoes tens of millions in other education spending

Broadband for rural schools, K-3 reading assistance, disaster aid, ferry system among other vetoes.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy hands out pens he used to sign the budget bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to state lawmakers during a private ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday. (Official photo from The Office of the Governor)
Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, cuts a cake at an event at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office on Thursday to celebrate Juneteenth’s new status as an official state holiday. The celebration followed a bill-signing ceremony at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Anchorage office. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy signs bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday in Alaska

On Thursday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill to make Juneteenth a legal holiday in the state. “Juneteenth is a day to celebrate a milestone… Continue reading

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, cuts a cake at an event at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office on Thursday to celebrate Juneteenth’s new status as an official state holiday. The celebration followed a bill-signing ceremony at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Anchorage office. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A cartoon sketch is seen on a cubicle in the offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. during an open house on Friday, Feb. 16. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

After email leak, some Alaska legislators say they’re skeptical of Permanent Fund’s direction

Members of the Alaska Legislature questioned the direction of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. on Monday in a hearing of the Legislative Budget and Audit… Continue reading

A cartoon sketch is seen on a cubicle in the offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. during an open house on Friday, Feb. 16. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, speaks on the Senate floor on March 6. Gray-Jackson was the sponsor of a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

On Juneteenth, Gov. Dunleavy weighs adding a new legal holiday for Alaska

If the governor signs recently passed bill, Juneteenth would be observed as a state holiday in 2025.

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, speaks on the Senate floor on March 6. Gray-Jackson was the sponsor of a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Bill Thomas, a former Republican state representative from Haines, announced Friday he is dropping out of the race for the District 3 House seat this fall. (U.S. Sustainability Alliance photo)

Bill Thomas drops out of District 3 House race, says there isn’t time for fishing and campaigning

Haines Republican cites rough start to commercial season; incumbent Andi Story now unopposed.

Bill Thomas, a former Republican state representative from Haines, announced Friday he is dropping out of the race for the District 3 House seat this fall. (U.S. Sustainability Alliance photo)
Akis Gialopsos (left), deputy executive director of the Alaska Housing Finance Corp., and Bryan Butcher (right), the corporation’s CEO/executive director, testify in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Feb. 8. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

With bills and budget boost, Alaska lawmakers use state-run corporation to tackle housing shortage

Legislature directed millions toward housing projects next year; Gov. Dunleavy will soon have a say.

Akis Gialopsos (left), deputy executive director of the Alaska Housing Finance Corp., and Bryan Butcher (right), the corporation’s CEO/executive director, testify in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Feb. 8. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
State Rep. Andi Story (left), D-Juneau, will face former Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, for the Alaska Legislature’s District 3 House seat in this year’s election. (Official photos from Rep. Andi Story and the Alaska State Legislature)

Rep. Andi Story and former Rep. Bill Thomas will face off in only locally contested legislative race

Juneau’s Rep. Sara Hannan and Sen. Jesse Kiehl among eight unopposed candidates in 50 races.

State Rep. Andi Story (left), D-Juneau, will face former Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, for the Alaska Legislature’s District 3 House seat in this year’s election. (Official photos from Rep. Andi Story and the Alaska State Legislature)
Bill Thomas, a lifelong Chilkat resident and former state lawmaker, has filed as a candidate for the District 3 House seat that includes the northern half of Juneau on Wednesday. (Alaska State Legislature photo)

Former Haines lawmaker Bill Thomas challenging Rep. Andi Story for District 3 House seat

Challenger served in Legislature from 2005-13, been a lobbyist and commercial fisherman for decades.

Bill Thomas, a lifelong Chilkat resident and former state lawmaker, has filed as a candidate for the District 3 House seat that includes the northern half of Juneau on Wednesday. (Alaska State Legislature photo)