Several lawmakers said this week that Alaska Gov. Bill Walker may schedule a special legislative session in late October to deal with the development of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope.
"It looks like the governor may be interested in calling a special session around the 20th of October," Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said in an interview.
Walker has floated the idea of an autumn special session for months, though without specifying a date. He described it as a "really special" special session because it would be about a gas line, something he has been promoting for decades.
Several legislators and aides this week said they'd heard Walker was eyeing Oct. 20, adding that administration officials had mentioned it in recent meetings and correspondence.
A spokeswoman for Walker, Katie Marquette, said multiple dates have been under discussion with lawmakers.
"The governor is still exploring his options as far as a date and location — nothing has been finalized," she said.
If Walker wants a special session in October — before Halloween — he'll have to notify lawmakers in September due to a law that requires him to give 30 days notice.
The law also allows Walker to choose a location for a special session. Marquette said the governor was still exploring his options; the Capitol in Juneau has been undergoing renovations this summer.
Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, said in a phone interview the last time he talked to Walker, "he was going to call it for Juneau."
"And we can handle it," Egan said.