Juneau – The Alaska Senate passed Senate Bill 152 unanimously today. Sponsored by Senator Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, this legislation aims to expand options for renewable energy development, reduce electric costs for Alaskan ratepayers, and mitigate natural gas shortages by establishing a virtual net metering program for small-scale renewable energy generation.
JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska State Senate concurred with the House changes to Senate Bill 140, effectively passing the largest increase to school funding in state history with a $680 increase to the Base Student Allocation. Senate Bill 140 will also significantly improve internet connectivity in rural Alaska, provide $10 million in additional funding for
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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
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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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.
ANCHORAGE – Yesterday, Alaska was shocked by the news of the tragic death of Eugene Peltola, Jr., husband of Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola. Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) and Senate Rules Chair Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) issued the following condolences:
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JUNEAU – Today, Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, released the findings of a research report reviewing profit data recently released by ConocoPhillips. The legislature’s non-partisan research division found that in the first quarter of 2023, Alaska was the most profitable geographical area in the world for ConocoPhillips on a per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). ConocoPhillips’
JUNEAU – Senator Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, introduced Senate Bill 135 today establishing the Alaska Work and Save Program to make it easier for small businesses in Alaska to provide Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to their employees. Senate Bill 135 would also allow all Alaskans to invest their permanent fund dividend in their retirement account during
JUNEAU – The Senate Rules Committee introduced legislation today to fix several flaws in Alaska’s oil tax structure. Senate Bill 114 would level the playing field by having all oil producers pay the same corporate income tax rate as corporations at 9.4%. This would only apply after the first $4 million in annual net income.
JUNEAU – Today, Senator Bill Wielechowski(D-Anchorage) introduced Senate Bill 99, which directs school districts to offer a financial literacy course for high school students. School districts will have the flexibility to choose the curriculum approved by the Department of Education and Early Development. Senate Bill 99 requires 14 instructional components, such as budget and money
