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Giessel-Press

NEWS: Legislature Passes Modest Defined Benefit Pension Plan for Public Employees

Giessel-Press, Kiehl-Press, Press, Wielechowski-Press /

JUNEAU, AK – Yesterday, the Senate passed House Bill 78, reestablishing a defined benefit retirement plan for teachers, public safety officers, and public employees, by a vote of 12-8. Today, the House of Representatives concurred with the Senate version. House Bill 78, sponsored by the House Finance Committee, is a fiscally responsible path to recruit […]

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NEWS: Work to Continue on Legislation Creating a Department of Agriculture

Giessel-Press, Press /

Anchorage, AK – Last session, Governor Dunleavy introduced Executive Order 136 to create a new Department of Agriculture. The order received hearings in both the Senate Resources and Senate Finance Committees, where members of the public provided thoughtful testimony. Many good ideas were raised, but due to the nature of executive orders, none of those

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NEWS: Governor Dunleavy Cuts Historic BSA Funding with Budget Line-Item Vetoes

Giessel-Press, Press, Stevens, Tobin-Press, Wielechowski-Press /

ANCHORAGE, AK – This evening, Governor Mike Dunleavy announced his line-item vetoes to the FY 2026 Operating Budget, which included a $200 targeted reduction per student to the Base Student Allocation (BSA), an action no other Alaska Governor has done in state history. Earlier this year, through bipartisanship of both the House and the Senate,

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NEWS: Alaska Senate Majority Unveils New Education Funding and Policy Legislation

Giessel-Press, Hoffman-Press, Press, Stevens, Tobin-Press /

Juneau, AK – Today, the Senate Finance Committee advanced a new version of House Bill 57 to increase education funding and pupil transportation. Increasing the BSA improves every form of public education in Alaska, including correspondence programs, which serve Alaska’s growing homeschool student population. The bill would also incorporate policy initiatives to support Alaska’s charter

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NEWS: Alaska Senate Gavels in the 34th Alaska State Legislature

Bjorkman-Press, Giessel-Press, Gray-Jackson-Press, Hoffman-Press, Merrick-Press, Olson-Press, Press, Stedman-Press, Stevens, Wielechowski-Press /

JUNEAU – Today at 1:00 p.m., the Alaska Senate gaveled in the 34th Alaska State Legislature. Senator Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, was officially elected as Senate President by his colleagues. Senator Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, will serve as Majority Leader, and Senator Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, will serve as Rules Chair. To complete the Majority’s leadership team, Senator

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NEWS: Alaska’s Seafood Industry Task Force Continues Discussion with Stakeholders on Industry Challenges and Opportunities During Fourth Round of Meetings

Bjorkman-Press, Claman-Press, Dunbar-Press, Giessel-Press, Gray-Jackson-Press, Hoffman-Press, Kawasaki-Press, Kiehl-Press, Merrick-Press, Olson-Press, Press, Stedman-Press, Stevens, Tobin-Press, Wielechowski-Press /

ANCHORAGE, AK – Last week, the Joint Legislative Task Force on Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry held its fourth round of meetings to continue discussing issues affecting the state’s seafood industry. The task force was created through Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 during the prior legislative session and has previously met over two-day sessions in September, October,

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NEWS: Senate President Gary Stevens Issues Statement on Governor Dunleavy’s Proposed FY2026 Budget

2025, Bjorkman-Press, Claman-Press, Dunbar-Press, Giessel-Press, Gray-Jackson-Press, Hoffman-Press, Kawasaki-Press, Kiehl-Press, Merrick-Press, Olson-Press, Press, Stedman-Press, Stevens, Tobin-Press, Wielechowski-Press /

Anchorage, AK – Earlier this afternoon, Governor Mike Dunleavy released his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which must be submitted to the legislature by December 15 each year. The legislature will convene on January 21, 2025, to consider the proposed budget and other legislative priorities. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, issued the following statement:

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NEWS: Senate Majority Announces Committee Chairs and Priorities for the 34th Alaska State Legislature

2025, Bjorkman-Press, Claman-Press, Dunbar-Press, Giessel-Press, Gray-Jackson-Press, Hoffman-Press, Kawasaki-Press, Kiehl-Press, Merrick-Press, Olson-Press, Press, Stedman-Press, Stevens, Tobin-Press, Wielechowski-Press /

ANCHORAGE – Today, the Alaska Senate Majority announced committee chairs for the 34th Alaska State Legislature. In November, the Senate Majority announced their leadership structure with Senator Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) as Senate President, Senator Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) as Majority Leader, Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) as Rules Chair, Senator Kelly Merrick (R-Eagle River) as Majority Whip,

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NEWS: Senate Continues Bipartisan Coalition and Announces Leadership Positions

2025, Giessel-Press, Press, Stevens, Wielechowski-Press /

ANCHORAGE, AK – Today, Senate President Gary Stevens announced the continuation of the Alaska State Senate Bipartisan Coalition for the 34th Alaska State Legislature. The coalition was originally established in November of 2022 with eight Republicans and nine Democrats. As many races have outstanding ballots and still need to go through the ranked-choice voting tabulation,

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NEWS: Legislation Becomes Law to Expand Access to SNAP Benefits

Giessel-Press, Press, Tobin-Press /

Anchorage—On August 30, House Bill 344 became law without the Governor’s signature. Governor Dunleavy sponsored the bill, which allows the Alaska Department of Health to apply for a waiver from the federal government to establish a demonstration project that uses Medicaid funding in unique ways, including supporting workforce development and food security. 

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