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Latest Alaska Legislature

The Alaska State Capitol building stands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)

News

Rep. Story introduces bill aiming to stabilize education funding

House Bill 261 would change how schools rely on student counts.

Juneau state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, standing, addresses a town hall audience Jan. 11 at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School as Juneau state Reps. Sarah Hannan, far left, and Andi Story wait their turn to discuss their priorities during the 2023 legislative session.(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file file)

News

Budgets, bills the PFD: Juneau legislators speak on their expectations for the 2026 Legislature

The state Legislature starts on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska Legislature gavels in and out, taking no further action in special session

Legislative leaders say they’ve already accomplished their priorities

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

News

Special session continues in almost-empty Alaska Capitol building

Most state legislators have left Juneau and aren’t scheduled to meet again until Aug. 19 due to differences…

The Alaska Legislature’s vote tally shows 45-14 in favor of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of education funding in the state budget during a joint session in Juneau, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)

News

Legislature narrowly votes to override education funding veto

The override was approved with no floor discussion

Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, left, talks with House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham independent, before Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State speech on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

News

Legislature overrides veto of bill aimed at increased legislative oversight of state oil tax revenue

Lawmakers have said the somewhat obscure policy is significant in the face of missing oil tax information.

The joint House and Senate majorities of the Alaska Legislature hold a press availability after the adjournment of the Legislature’s special session in Juneau, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)

News

Alaska Legislature adjourns after overriding governor vetoes

Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he would “possibly” call another special session before January

Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference March 16, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

Opinion: Legislature has a constitutional duty to address Dunleavy vetoes

If we do not act during this special session, the vetoes will become permanent

Rep. Bill Elam speaks during a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion

Opinion: Education accountability starts at home — not just in Juneau

Hyper-partisan politics don’t belong in classrooms.

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. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Dunleavy outlines priorities for special session

The Senate and House majority say the Legislature plans to consider two veto overrides.

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska state senator, key vote on possible budget veto override, gets waiver from US Army

Forrest Dunbar, a Democrat from Anchorage, is deployed in Poland with the Alaska National Guard

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks at a town hall meeting in the Moose Pass Sportsman’s Club in Moose Pass, Alaska, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Insurance authorization bill becomes law

The bill requires insurance companies and health care providers to meet new deadlines for authorizing requests for care.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Dunleavy calls special session for August

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they were surprised by the move.

Then-Rep. Grier Hopkins, D-Fairbanks, speaks on the floor of the Alaska House, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Hopkins is now the mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Officials warn of possible lawsuit in wake of Alaska governor’s education funding veto

Among issues are if veto violates Alaska’s constitutional guarantee of adequately funded public schools.

The entrance to the Anchorage Correctional Complex is seen on Aug. 29, 2022. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska House Judiciary Committee to hold a fact-finding hearing on ICE detention in state prisons

The Alaska House Judiciary Committee plans to hold a hearing June 20 on the use of Alaska Department…

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about his decision to veto House Bill 57 during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Dunleavy vetoes $200 of $700 BSA increase as he signs state budget for coming year

Governor cites low oil prices for $122 million in total cuts to budget approved by Legislature.

Juneau state Rep. Andi Story (left) and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl (standing) participate in a legislative town hall at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Monday, June 9, 2025. Both are among the six legislators named to an education task force on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Legislature forms six-member education task force, including two from Juneau, to study funding and policy

School accountability, absenteeism and open enrollment among issues members will consider.

Tulio Fontanella, a first-year production technician with Gavel, controls the cameras at a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Feb. 13, 2025. (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

News

Behind the cameras: Gavel Alaska broadcasts the business of state government to Alaskans

KTOO’s public service program works closely with state offices to ensure real-time coverage.

State Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) addresses children’s programs advocates during a rally on April 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

From education wins to financial losses, mood swings were many at the Capitol, local delegation says

Juneau’s three Democratic state lawmakers each saw priorities advance, but wary of state’s ill fortunes.

A payday advance neon sign is seen in this undated photo. (EHStock/Getty Images)

News

Alaska Legislature votes to limit high interest rates and fees for payday loan lenders

On the 120th and last day of Alaska’s annual legislative session, the state House passed a bill that…