Alaska Legislature

A maintenance worker cleans the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska schools could buckle down on civics

Legislative proposal seeks to increase civic engagement

A maintenance worker cleans the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
An outdoor basketball hoop is seen in Bethel in October 2022. A bill advanced in the House Education Committee on Wednesday would expand limitations for trans girls on sports teams. (Claire Stremple / Alaska Beacon)

Bills targeting trans people are on the rise nationwide and in Alaska — most focus on children

“I guess we’ll have to go do this again,” Starla Miller said as the committee room cleared. She was one of dozens of Alaskans who… Continue reading

An outdoor basketball hoop is seen in Bethel in October 2022. A bill advanced in the House Education Committee on Wednesday would expand limitations for trans girls on sports teams. (Claire Stremple / Alaska Beacon)
Fishing boats are lines up on Oct. 3, 2022, at a dock at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor. Commercial fishing injuries and illnessness are not covered by workers’ compensation, so a state-managed Fishermen’s Fund serves as backstop payor for medical costs. A newly passed bill, if signed by the governor, would increase maximum allowable payments from the fund. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Legislature boosts allowable payments from fund that covers fishers’ crew medical costs

Maximum payouts from a fund that covers medical costs of injured seafood harvesters would be boosted under a bill that won final passage in the… Continue reading

Fishing boats are lines up on Oct. 3, 2022, at a dock at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor. Commercial fishing injuries and illnessness are not covered by workers’ compensation, so a state-managed Fishermen’s Fund serves as backstop payor for medical costs. A newly passed bill, if signed by the governor, would increase maximum allowable payments from the fund. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska Legislature meets in a joint session Jan. 18 in a failed attempt to override a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Republican legislators are surrendering their constitutional power

By Rich Moniak

The Alaska Legislature meets in a joint session Jan. 18 in a failed attempt to override a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The room where the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee holds its meeting sits empty on Tuesday. A presentation about an increase in the number of inmate deaths in state custody was abruptly canceled here. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Republican lawmakers shut down legislative hearing about deaths in Alaska prisons

Former commissioner: “All this will do, is it will continue to inflame passions of advocacy groups.”

The room where the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee holds its meeting sits empty on Tuesday. A presentation about an increase in the number of inmate deaths in state custody was abruptly canceled here. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, before presenting his bill that would increase internet speeds for rural Alaska schools to the Senate Finance Committee on Monday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Lawmakers approve faster internet speeds for Alaska’s rural school districts

The approval comes just days before a deadline to access federal grants

Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, before presenting his bill that would increase internet speeds for rural Alaska schools to the Senate Finance Committee on Monday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, center, discusses budget legislation with her chief of staff, Remond Henderson, standing, and Reps. Neil Foster, D-Nome, left, and Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham on March 20, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Draft House budget includes $2,272 PFD, $680 per-student education increase, $152 million surplus

Plan boosts dividends $444 by abandoning agreement to put half the amount in reserve fund.

Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, center, discusses budget legislation with her chief of staff, Remond Henderson, standing, and Reps. Neil Foster, D-Nome, left, and Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham on March 20, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
House Rules Committee Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, speaks in favor of House Bill 135 on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in the Alaska House. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska House votes to give police warrantless emergency access to cellphone location data

Lawmakers pass other bills, on storage rentals, fireworks rules, telemedicine and federal lands.

House Rules Committee Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, speaks in favor of House Bill 135 on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in the Alaska House. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, gestures with his hands as he talks to Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, about an amendment to raise the state’s age of consent on Friday in the Alaska House of Representatives. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

With handwritten amendment, Alaska House votes to raise state’s age of consent

Decision won’t be final until at least Monday, when House is scheduled to vote on underlying bill.

Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, gestures with his hands as he talks to Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, about an amendment to raise the state’s age of consent on Friday in the Alaska House of Representatives. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A broadband tower on a mountaintop that is part of a network providing service to rural Alaska communities. (Cordova Telecom photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture)

House rushes to pass rural schools internet bill after veto of comprehensive education bill

Legislators work past midnight as school districts face Wednesday application deadline for program.

A broadband tower on a mountaintop that is part of a network providing service to rural Alaska communities. (Cordova Telecom photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, speaks at a Tuesday news conference held by the Senate majority caucus. Claman has proposed a constitutional amendment to lower the threshold needed to override a veto by a governor of a spending bill. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska senators consider constitutional amendment easing some veto override votes

The Alaska Senate is moving closer to approving a state constitutional amendment that would lower the number of votes needed to override a governor’s veto… Continue reading

Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, speaks at a Tuesday news conference held by the Senate majority caucus. Claman has proposed a constitutional amendment to lower the threshold needed to override a veto by a governor of a spending bill. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks on March 28, 2023. He has sponsored a bill to make vandalism of a church a felony. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska House votes to make church vandalism a felony; bill goes to Senate

Juneau Rep. Sara Hannan among dissenters in 35-5 vote, cites issues about property vs. hate crimes.

Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks on March 28, 2023. He has sponsored a bill to make vandalism of a church a felony. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, listens to debate in the Alaska House of Representatives on Thursday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska House votes to remove some obstacles for birth control prescriptions

House Bill 17 allows women to buy up to 12 months’ worth of birth control pills at a time

Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, listens to debate in the Alaska House of Representatives on Thursday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Participants in a climate rally gather in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. The event received a permit from the City and Borough of Juneau allowing the street to be closed to vehicle traffic for 90 minutes, although some participants used the gathering to denounce a bill by Gov. Dunleavy to limit unauthorized public demonstrations. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Rally highlights concerns about global and political climate, including bill restricting protests

Participants at permitted gathering at Capitol denounce proposal aimed at unauthorized gatherings.

Participants in a climate rally gather in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. The event received a permit from the City and Borough of Juneau allowing the street to be closed to vehicle traffic for 90 minutes, although some participants used the gathering to denounce a bill by Gov. Dunleavy to limit unauthorized public demonstrations. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Wednesday, March 7. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Anchorage Democrat alleges governor threatened Republicans before veto vote, prompting denials

Two days after the Alaska Legislature failed to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a wide-ranging education bill, the effects of that failure continued to… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Wednesday, March 7. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Nikiski Republican Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, speaks against the Alaska Legislature’s failure Monday to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a comprehensive education bill during a press conference on Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

‘The ball is now very clearly in their court’

Senate looks to House on next steps for education funding

Nikiski Republican Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, right, speaks against the Alaska Legislature’s failure Monday to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a comprehensive education bill during a press conference on Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau, Alaska, on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Time is running out for legislators to increase internet speeds for Alaska’s rural schools

One week remains until the deadline for federal grants that would make equitable speeds affordable.

An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau, Alaska, on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
Legislators and other guests view a newly unveiled portrait of the late Congressman Don Young on Monday, the second anniversary of his death, to be in the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Portrait of Don Young for Alaska State Capitol unveiled on second anniversary of his death

Painting of late Congressman who served nearly 50 years will be on second floor near House Chambers.

Legislators and other guests view a newly unveiled portrait of the late Congressman Don Young on Monday, the second anniversary of his death, to be in the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A board in the House Chambers at the Alaska State Capitol shows Monday’s vote tally of 39-20 to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of Senate Bill 140, one vote short of the two-thirds necessary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature fails by a single vote of 39-20 to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of education bill

Legislators warn bad blood may hamper other issues as numerous Republicans abandon earlier support.

A board in the House Chambers at the Alaska State Capitol shows Monday’s vote tally of 39-20 to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of Senate Bill 140, one vote short of the two-thirds necessary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference Friday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Veto override vote on education bill expected to have consequences — and no assurance of extra funds

Retaliation by governor, fractured relationships within Legislature on other issues among concerns.

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