Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

January 15, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Next week, on Tuesday, January 20th, the Legislature will convene and gavel into the 2nd legislative session of the 35th Legislature.

Read below about tools to stay informed, recent happenings in Anchorage, and more!

Tools to Stay Informed

We understand that a lot happens in the Capitol when the Legislature meets in Juneau. As always, our office is happy to assist with any questions or concerns. Below are additional resources to help you track Legislative updates.

Keep Track of Bills – Interested in tracking bills through the legislative process? You can follow along on BASIS. Just type in a bill number in the search bar (ex: SJR 2) at the top of the page.

Bill Tracking Management Facility (BTMF) – Track the status of bills as they pass through the legislative process. BTMF will display the status of bills you are interested in and can also send you email updates as the bill's status changes. BTMF is a free service and only requires you to set up an account.
SMS Bill Tracking – Text a bill number (ex: SJR 2) to 559-245-2529 to enroll in text alerts. You will receive an enrollment confirmation and instructions on how to stop receiving the alerts.

Watch Committee Meetings – Most committee hearings are broadcast on Gavel Alaska or through the Live Now tab on the BASIS home page. House and Senate floor sessions are also available on Gavel Alaska.

Access Budget Materials – The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget website has helpful tools and presentations relating to the budget.

Use Your Legislative Information Office (LIO) – LIOs are a great local resource. The staff at the LIO can help you research bills and issues, navigate the state computer system, and participate in hearings by providing public testimony.

Public Testimony Opportunity: SJR 2

Senate Joint Resolution 2 would amend the Alaska Constitution to lower the number of votes needed to override a Governor's veto of a revenue or appropriations item, from three-quarters (45 votes) to two-thirds (40 votes). This bill will receive its first hearing on the first day of session on Tuesday, January 20th at 3:30pm in the Senate State Affairs Committee. To testify in support of the bill, you can call one of the numbers below:

Anchorage: (907) 563-9085

Juneau: (907) 586-9085

Other: (844) 586-9085

You can also send in written testimony to senate.state.affairs@akleg.gov.

→ To read more about polling results on SJR 2, click here.

→ To read more about the history of this constitutional provision, click here.

→ To read more about other states' override requirements, click here.

Anchorage Public Safety

Mobile Crisis Units

Earlier this month, our office conducted a ride-along with Anchorage's Fire Department Mobile Crisis Team. The Mobile Crisis Team provides specialized, interdisciplinary response for behavioral health emergencies. Their mission is to provide the right response at the right time. Each unit pairs a clinician with a firefighter EMT or paramedic to provide behavioral health and a medical assessment. They operate 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week and 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM six days a week.

The Mobile Crisis Team represents a critical part of our public safety infrastructure. Often, it is inappropriate to send people experiencing a behavioral health crisis to the emergency room or to a correctional facility. The Mobile Crisis Team can de-escalate situations and provide treatment to people in need.

For more information, click here.

Real-Time Crime Center

Earlier this month, our office heard from the Anchorage Police Department (APD) about recent public safety efforts, including a tour of their Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC).

APD's 2025 priority for the RTCC is to enhance public safety through technology, such as drones. They showed examples of how they use technology to help with investigations into retail theft, drug related crimes, and crimes involving vehicles and traffic.

As the Legislature returns to Juneau, public safety remains one of our highest priorities.

Anchorage Rotary Club Legislative Update

Each January, I present a Legislative Update to the Anchorage Rotary Club. This year's update covered what to expect from the Legislature and what issues we are facing in Alaska, including public safety, public education, revenue, energy, and the budget.

Community Information

→ Apply for your Permanent Fund Dividend

The 2026 dividend application filing season is now open! The online application is available from 9:00 AM on January 1, 2026, through 11:59 PM on March 31, 2026. For more information and to file online, click here.

Community Events

Alaska Bar Association Free Legal Help

When: Monday, January 19 from 12:00 to 4:00 PM

Where: Mountain View Community Center (315 Price St)

Join the Alaska Bar Association for the MLK Day Free Legal Help event on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Mountain View Community Center from 12 PM to 4 PM. Volunteer attorneys will provide free legal advice to low-income individuals facing civil (non-criminal) legal issues like family law, disaster assistance, housing, and public benefits.

Free shuttles will run between the event and the 56th Avenue Shelter and Brother Francis Shelter from 12 PM to 4 PM.

Learn more: https://alaskabar.org/mlk

Mayor's City-Wide Job Fair

When: Thursday, January 22 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Where: Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center (600 W 7th Ave, Anchorage AK 99501)

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance invites all community members seeking employment opportunities to the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the Mayor's Citywide Job Fair. The fair is free and open to all.

Thanks to support from partners at EasyPark, vendors and job seekers can park for free on the day of the fair at the garages at 700 West 6th Avenue and 414 West 6th Avenue. See flyer above for details.