Press

NEWS: Senate Leadership Emphasize Priorities After Governor Dunleavy Releases FY25 Budget Proposal

Anchorage, AK – Earlier this afternoon, Governor Mike Dunleavy released his proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget, which must be submitted to the legislature by December 15 each year. The legislature will convene on January 16, 2024, to consider the proposed budget and other legislative priorities. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and members of Senate leadership […]

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NEWS: Senate President Stevens Mourns the Loss of Father Michael Oleksa

KODIAK, AK – Earlier this week, Father Michael Oleksa of the village of Nanwalek passed away from a stroke at the age of 75. Father Oleksa was part of the Russian Orthodox church and a well-known, respected, and beloved figure throughout the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island. He was a cultural ambassador who fostered community

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NEWS: In the wake of Veterans’ Day, Senator Dunbar and Representative Stapp Prefile Legislation Establishing Veterans’ Poppy Day in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, AK – To show support for our nation’s veterans, Senator Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, and Representative Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, will introduce legislation to establish the Friday before Memorial Day as “Veterans’ Poppy Day.” This initiative, inspired by historical traditions and the desire to honor and support American soldiers who died in battle, recognizes the ultimate

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NEWS: Senate Leaders Mourn the Loss of Former Colleague Representative Kurt Olson

NIKISKI, AK – Today, members of the Alaska State Senate learned that former Representative Kurt Olson, R-Soldotna, passed away from a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Representative Kurt Olson served the Central Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2005 through 2016. Members of the Alaska Senate Majority issued the following statements:

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NEWS: Bipartisan Group of Alaska Lawmakers Urge Federal Trade Commission to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger

ANCHORAGE – On Monday, twenty-four members of the Alaska State Legislature wrote to Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, urging the federal government to block the Kroger-Albertsons grocery store merger.

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NEWS: Senator Bjorkman’s Local Lumber Grading Bill Signed into Law

(Big Lake, AK) – Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Senator Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), was signed into law today. The bill creates a local lumber grading program for Alaska sawmill operators to become certified to grade and sell certain types of dimensional lumber that they have produced for residential construction.

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NEWS: Senator Jesse Kiehl Expresses Disappointment in Governor Dunleavy’s Veto of a Ban on PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

JUNEAU – Saturday, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed House Bill 51 by Rep. Stanley Wright (R-Anchorage). The bill contained provisions from a bill by Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) preventing future spills of per- and polyflouroalkyl substances, added on the Senate Floor by agreement with the bill sponsor.

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NEWS: Senator Gray-Jackson Attends the White House States Convening on Child Care

ANCHORAGE – Yesterday, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage) attended the White House States Convening on Child Care to discuss child care policies throughout the nation. The meeting will helped support legislators’ work to make child care more affordable and accessible for working families, increase child care employment, and improve job quality for child care workers.

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NEWS: Senate Passes a Balanced Budget with an $84.2 Million Surplus

JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska Senate passed House Bill 39, Fiscal Year 2024 operating and capital budgets. The Senate’s version of the budget increases education funding outside the formula by $174.9 million – the single largest increase in state history, provides Alaskans with a $1,300 permanent fund dividend, and leaves the state with a $84.2

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