Alaska Legislature

Kodiak Rep. Louise Stutes had asked to join the Republican-dominated majority, but she was rebuffed.

A measure to create a new defined benefits pension plan for public safety employees cleared its first of four House committees on Thursday, in a telling step for the legislation’s fate in a divided chamber.

The proposal, with an estimated cost of more than $257 million a year, is intended to address years of stagnant education spending that advocates say has left districts struggling to keep up with rising costs.

A deepening crisis in recruiting and keeping state workers is pushing Alaska lawmakers to consider a new pension plan for public employees. But they are still far from agreeing on the structure of the new plan, or who will benefit.

Education advocates are calling for an increase of at least $860 per student to Alaska’s public school funding formula, but House Republicans have signaled they will consider a boost as small as $250.

The members of the House’s Bush Caucus explain how and why they flipped control of the chamber.

With discussions underway to increase school funding, lawmakers may face challenges in writing the budget with the unpredictability of oil prices.

A complete rundown of committee members and chairs and caucus leaders in the 33rd Alaska Legislature.

Leaders of a House majority made up of 19 Republicans, two Democrats and two independents said they would prioritize fiscal stability but balked at articulating any specifics.

After weeks of negotiations, posturing and rumors about how the House would organize, Tilton said two Democrats and two independents from the Bush Caucus will join the Republican-led majority caucus.

Josiah Patkotak, an Utqiagvik independent, was elected to serve as House speaker pro tempore, but the chamber adjourned on the first day of the legislative session without forming a majority.

This year’s incoming crop of state legislators includes the most freshmen coming to the Capitol since 2003.

With lawmakers set to be sworn in Tuesday, the legislative session heralds a new bipartisan coalition in the Senate, disarray in the House and another chapter in the unshakable debate about how to calculate the Permanent Fund dividend.

Armstrong’s Republican opponent in the race for the Anchorage seat, Liz Vazquez, was among those who’d challenged her eligibility over the state’s residency requirements.

While some policymakers and others see carbon capture and sequestration as an option to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions, others worry it “may encourage continued fossil fuel use” or that CO2 could leak from underground reservoirs.

The Republican who lost an Anchorage House race in November has appealed a judge’s ruling that found Democrat Jennifer “Jennie” Armstrong met residency requirements to take office.

The 33rd Legislature convenes Tuesday, and lawmakers have already begun prefiling items for public consideration.

The first set of 63 pre-filed bills and five proposed constitutional amendments include measures to repeal ranked-choice voting and implement a new pension plan for state workers.

Guidance from Alaska Public Offices Commission staff indicates that donations to Rep. David Eastman, who’s fundraising to pay legal fees, would need to remain below a $250 cap instead of coming in as campaign contributions, which can be unlimited.

Cathy Giessel, the incoming leader of a bipartisan caucus, and Sen. Click Bishop, the incoming majority whip, issued warnings about budget woes and Permanent Fund investment losses.

Randall Kowalke, who challenged the eligibility of Wasilla Republican Rep. David Eastman, said that he would not appeal a judge’s decision allowing Eastman to retain his seat.

Lawmakers said the state-owned Assembly Building will help alleviate a chronic shortage of housing in the capital city during the legislative session.

Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna’s ruling found that “Rep. Eastman is a member of that organization, but that he does not and did not possess a specific intent to further the Oath Keeper’s words or actions aimed at overthrowing the United States government.”