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Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol in December 2022. A lower-than-expected revenue forecast is raising questions about what the state's spending plan will ultimately look like. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

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Lower revenue forecast increases budget woes for state lawmakers

Coming up with a spending plan for next year and beyond will be a complex series of negotiations.

Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, center, discusses details of the proposed state budget for next year as modified by the House Finance Committee she co-chairs with Reps. Neil Foster, D-Nome, left, and Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham. Assisting Johnson is her chief of staff Remond Henderson. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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House budget’s biggest change is a smaller PFD

Large deficit in governor’s budget drives dividend lower, poor oil price forecast may mean other cuts

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol, where lawmakers are mulling several bills related to discussion of sex and gender in public schools. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Bills focused on sex and gender in education bring ‘the beginning of the culture wars’ to Alaska

Competing legislation brings national fracas to the Capitol.

Alaska’s state legislators are slated to get the equivalent of 6,720 additional $5 bills in their salary next year via a $33,600 raise to a total of $84,000 due to a veto Monday by Gov. Mike Dunleavy of bill rejecting raises for legislative and executive branch employees. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

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Veto negates rejection of pay hikes for governor, legislators

Dunleavy clears way for 67% hike in legislative pay, 20% in his to take effect in coming months

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, asks Randy Bates, director of the Division of Water for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, about state water quality regulations some fish hatcheries are calling harmful during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Friday. The meeting was to review the DEC’s proposal to take over responsibility for many federal Clean Water Act permits, claiming it will be more responsible and efficient for development projects. Some of the senators questioned both the cost of the state taking over a process currently funded by the federal government, as well as the state’s ability to properly due to the job within the guidelines for such a takeover.

News

Wading into rule change proposals affecting clean water

National PFAS limits, state takeover of wetlands permits raise doubts about who should take charge

Snow blankets the courtyard outside the Juneau - State Courthouse, where a sit-in starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday was announced by people protesting what they called unconstitutional restrictions recently placed on grand juries. Only one protester said she came by shortly before noon, but didn’t stay long because no other people were there. Similar (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Cold case for grand jury protesters

Participants gather in wintry weather to air claims of unconstitutional restrictions on process

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Rep. Sara Hannan, a Juneau Democrat, speaks to the state House Health and Social Services Committee Thursday afternoon in support of a bill she sponsors that would ban licensed practitioners from providing conversion treatment to minors or vulnerable adults in the state of Alaska.

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Conversion therapy survivors advocate for banning practice in Alaska

Invited testimony given for Rep. Sara Hannan’s bill.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence for the state’s education department, testifies about two bills during a House Education Committee meeting on Monday. McKenzie, scheduled to become commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development on April 1, announced Wednesday she has decided not to accept the job for personal reasons.

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Education commissioner designee changes mind, rejects job

Susan McKenzie cites personal reasons in withdrawing only a few weeks after accepting appointment

An employee leaves the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, where the 60 members of the Alaska State Legislature are slated to get a 67% pay increase to $84,000 annually following the unanimous vote by the five new members of the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, who were appointed during the past week to replace commission members whose majority voted to rejected the raises. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Sudden 67% pay hike OK’d for legislators

Salary commission that rejected raises is replaced by new members who recommend salaries of $84K.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Dozens of Juneau teachers, students and residents gather at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 23 in advocacy of an increase in the state’s per-student funding formula, which hasn’t increased sizeably since 2017 and has failed to keep pace with inflation during the past decade. Dozens of Juneau teachers, students and residents gather at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 23 in advocacy of an increase in the state’s per-student funding formula, which hasn’t increased sizeably since 2017 and has failed to keep pace with inflation during the past decade. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Studies give teacher retention bonuses a mixed report card

Year-end bonuses sought by governor most effective for top-performing employees, specific subjects.

Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence, foreground, and Deb Riddle, division operations manager for the state Department of Education and Early Development, explain details of bills to restrict mentioning sex/gender in schools and give teachers year-end retention bonuses during a House Education Committee meeting Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Bill limiting sex, gender talk in schools gets first public hearing

Testimony limited to supporters who refer to indoctrination, religion in arguing parents know best.

State Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, testifies about his proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Permanent Fund earnings are allocated during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Saturday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee spent two hours taking testimony almost entirely by phone from residents statewide about five proposals related to the Permanent Fund and dividends, which continued the long historical pattern of strongly divided feelings about how much money to use for dividends vs. state government programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

PFD proposals polarize and puzzle

Residents all over Alaska’s map are also all over the policy map during hearing on various proposals

The sun beams down on a clock and nearby melting snow. A bill that calls for Alaska to choose to remain in Daylight Saving Time for the entirety of the year and say farewell to the switch to Standard Time has been reintroduced to the Alaska Legislature this session. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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It’s about time: With the switch to Daylight Saving Time on the horizon, Alaska lawmakers push to make the change permanent

It’s a time sensitive issue…

A by-mail general ballot is sent to an Alaska voter in October of 2020. Concern is being expressed by some state lawmakers about such ballots frequently being received and used by people who became residents of other states many years ago. Officials with the state Division of Elections said keeping such people on voter rolls is based on an intention to return to Alaska, which often cannot be definitely determined. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

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State may end membership in voter anti-fraud organization

Group falsely attacked by Trump is costly, better options may exist, new elections director says

A sign in 2019 urges Alaska lawmakers to fund a “full” Permanent Fund Dividend — or else. Some legislators this year are hoping tough times since then due to the COVID.19 pandemic and other events will make residents willing to accept proposals that result in lower dividends so some of the money can be used for purposes such as increasing education spending. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, file)

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PFD plans poised for public pontificating

Five proposals to be subject of Saturday hearing.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, reads an announcement during the Senate floor session Wednesday. Tobin, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, emerged as a potential road block to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s “parental rights” bill by declaring it would not get a hearing if referred to her committee. The bill was subsequently referred to two other committees, with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, stating it will get a public hearing.

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Bill limiting sex, gender discussion in education will get public hearing, senate president says

However, lawmakers say it will not be a main focus.

Legislators are about 50 days through the statutory 90-day limit for the session at the Alaska State Capitol, although in reality they are expected to meet for the 121 days allowed in Alaska’s Constitution. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Legislature rejects raises for executive branch officials

House joins senate in unanimously rejecting increases.

Screenshot from official livestream Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils proposals to offer public school teachers annual retention bonuses and enact policies similar so-called “don’t say gay” laws in states such as Florida during a press conference in Anchorage on Tuesday.

News

Governor proposes ‘don’t say gay’-style law, year-end teacher bonuses

Dunleavy says bill is “pro-parent,” not anti-LGBTQ+.

A unanimous vote by the state House on Monday made a bill by state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, the first potential new law to pass both chambers of the Legislature. The bill which giving disabled veterans lifetime trapping licenses officially would cost the state nothing, and essentially is a corrective measure to existing law that give such veterans free hunting and fishing licenses. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Free trapping licenses for vets is first bill to pass full Legislature

No-cost measure passed unanimously would be Juneau Sen. Jesse Kiehl’s third bill to become law

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol where lawmakers have been briefed on a plan state regulators say will allow more flexibility that benefits both businesses and the environment in “Alaska’s unique conditions.” However, some senators expressed skepticism over efforts to take over what are known as “Clean Water Act Section 404” permits. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Alaska seeking a 404 redirect for wetlands development

State wants to take over permitting control from feds, but costs and murky legal questions linger.