Nearly 130 bills and resolutions were formally introduced on the first real work day this session for the Alaska State Legislature, including a proposal by Gov. Dunleavy establishing tribally operated public schools and a Juneau lawmaker seeking to make guessing snow accumulation a form of charitable gaming statewide.
The first day always involves more pomp and circumstance than legislating, and this time was no exception — but senators offered some clues about the road ahead.
The 1.6% rejection rate in the November 2024 election is significantly lower than in the 2022 special primary, when high rejection rates in mostly-Native districts led to civil rights lawsuits.
The Alaska House and Senate on Tuesday convened the two-year session with bipartisan majorities governing both legislative chambers. Leaders of the Democrat-dominated House and Senate majorities said their priorities include a permanent increase to education funding,
Alaska legislators on Friday unveiled a second batch of measures that were prefiled ahead of Tuesday's start to the legislative session. Eighty-one measures were announced last week. A further 20 bills were unveiled Friday — 10 are set to be introduced in the state Senate and 10 in the House.
Alaska election workers rejected 1,303 absentee ballots in the November election, in many cases because they were missing a witness signature, according to data obtained by the Anchorage Daily News. Election workers rejected 512 ballots because of “improper or insufficient witnessing” — a requirement that some lawmakers say is unnecessary.
Money’s going to be tight, but a permanent education funding increase rather than another one-time increase is among the essential achievements needed this session, state Senate leaders said as the 34th Alaska State Legislature gaveled in Tuesday.
In 2015, the name of the peak was changed during the Obama administration to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives and preference of many Alaskans.
Trump targets Alaska's oil and other resources as environmentalists gear up for a fight - Alaska's political leaders are cheering an expansive executive order signed by President Donald Trump that aims to boost oil and gas drilling,
The Senate reelected Kodiak Republican Sen. Gary Stevens to serve as president of the Senate and leader of a bipartisan majority. Meanwhile, the Alaska House swung from a Republican-dominated majority to a bipartisan majority with the election of Dillingham independent Rep. Bryce Edgmon as speaker in a 21-19 vote.
With the usual ceremony and an unusual lack of leadership battles the 34th Alaska Legislature gaveled in on Tuesday for the start of a two-year session expected to be lean in terms of revenue available,