Legislative Session
Read about the work that Alaska Conservation Voters does during the Alaska Legislative Session to turn conservation values into state priorities.
The 2nd year of the 27th Legislative Session will began on January 19th. Read our 2011 session-recap Conservation Watch. For updates, subscribe to our weekly 'Conservation Watch' email. _____________________________________________________
In addition to advancing a proactive strategy for success on priority issues - Alaska Conservation Voters weighs in on a host of conservation issues that emerge during the Legislative session.
To keep up-to-date on Voters actions as well as what's happening in Juneau sign up to get Conservation Watch delivered directly to your inbox!
You can rely on Alaska Conservation Voters to:
- Publish a weekly Conservation Watch email reporting on conservation-related legislation and hearings during the session.
- Promote Voters' Priority Issues.
- Testify and write letters of support for other pro-conservation bills.
- Maintain an office just blocks from the Capitol Building and support the state's only paid conservation lobbyist.
Conservation Watch- Legislature Adjourns, Governor Calls Special Session
The legislature adjourned shortly after midnight Monday morning after a chaotic final few days. The Senate and House spent most of the final day in floor session making the final maneuvers to pass priority bills. Major issues resolved included extending film tax incentives, requiring autism insurance coverage, and establishing oil and gas tax incentives for areas outside the North Slope and Cook Inlet. Final agreement on the operating and capital budgets was also reached on Sunday.
Conservation Watch- Session Set to End Sunday
Two days remain in the legislative session, and legislators are making their final moves to pass priority legislation. Negotiations appear to be on track to finalize work on the operating and capital budget by Sunday. Oil tax legislation hit a snag as key Senators are working to build a critical mass of support to pass the bill. In-state gas line legislation, a priority of the House majority caucus, has yet to gain traction in the Senate. Many committees are holding their final hearings, moving bills in an attempt to have them pass in final days. All these issues will be considered in this final weekend of the session. This Conservation Watch will cover some of the remaining issues to be resolved.
Conservation Watch- Final Days of Session Ahead
The legislative session is nine short days away from its scheduled ending. Despite the tight timeframe, major business remains to be finished, causing some to wonder whether session will go into overtime. An operating and capital budget must be passed. In-state gas line and oil tax legislation remains unresolved. Increases for education and scholarship funding are also in the mix.
Conservation Watch- In-State Gasline Bill Clears House
It took a marathon session on the House floor, beginning Tuesday night at 5pm and ending early Wednesday morning, to send HB 9, the House Majority in-state gasline bill, to the Senate. The eight-hour floor session was the high point of the action in Juneau this week.
Conservation Watch- Late Nights in Finance Mark Week
The pressure builds with only twenty-three days remaining in the legislative session slated to end April 15th. Legislators are positioning priority bills to pass before adjournment. Both the Senate and House Finance committees heard public testimony on major bills until late Wednesday night, the first of what is sure to be many long days in the waning session. The Senate took testimony on the capital budget while the House spent its night on in-state gasline legislation. Also, a bill that would impede Alaskans from challenging flawed state permits or illegal industry operations remains in play, and the Susitna state forest bill is moving. This edition of the Conservation Watch will cover all this and get you ready for key hearings next week.
Conservation Watch- Final Days of Session Begin with Supreme Court Rejecting Redistricting Plan
Legislators and staff returned to the capitol building Monday after taking a long weekend to allow a contingent of legislators to attend Energy Council in D.C. Everyone returned to packed committee schedules and operating budget hearings on the House side. While committee remain busy, fewer issues are being discussed as time in the session runs short. Renewable energy legislation cleared another hurdle and the new coastal management bill was heard for the first time. Meanwhile, all of the legislative action may be eclipsed in importance by the Supreme Court decision overturning the redistricting board’s proposed plan.
Conservation Watch- Energy Break Slows Legislative Business
Energy break shut down the Capitol building the second half of this week as twelve legislators travelled to D.C. for meetings, while most other legislators returned to their home district. The four-day break in the middle of session lets Alaskan legislators meet with other officials from energy producing states in the nation’s capitol. Some also may take the opportunity to meet with the Obama Administration to discuss Alaska issues.
Conservation Watch- Senate Takes First Look at Capital Budget
The highlight of legislative activity in Juneau this week was a dust-up on the House floor late Wednesday night. A bill that would provide tax credits for oil research and development caught some legislators off-guard, when they learned that major oil corporations, which are currently receiving other tax breaks, will also be eligible for the new benefit.
Conservation Watch- Conservation and Energy Bills Begin to Move
Committee schedules were packed this week but major legislation on oil taxes and coastal management sat in committee. Senate Resources focused on oil taxes and House members from coastal districts introduced a bill to re-establish the coastal management program. Those high profile issues continue to attract much of the attention in the building while bills that would establish a permanent funding source for energy projects and ban growing genetically modified fish in Alaska began moving through the process.
Conservation Watch- Oil Tax Fight Flares Up
Debate on oil taxes ratcheted up a notch this week as Senate Resources continued serious discussion on a new piece of legislation, while the Governor weighed in, supporting his old plan mid-week. Gov. Parnell fell back and continued to support his own oil tax reduction legislation, which would give industry approximately $2 billion a year in tax breaks. His legislation, HB 110, is generally considered dead in the Senate. The new Senate legislation is a work in progress, seeking a compromise.
Conservation Watch- Coastal Management Initiative Hits Critical Milestone
The Alaska Sea Party’s efforts to re-instate the coastal management program cleared the first hurdle this week as Lt. Gov. Treadwell certified the initiative for the ballot this coming fall. While coastal management dominated the headlines coming out of Juneau this week, other major news included the legislative unveiling of the Southeast energy plan and a resolution asking the Bureau of Land Management to clean up historic drilling sites on the North Slope. This edition of the Conservation Watch will cover all these issues and highlight what to expect next week.
Conservation Watch- Business Picks Up Pace
Bills are beginning to move in Juneau and operating budget work is beginning in the House. The action included significant renewable energy legislation moving through its first step in the legislative process, conversations about protecting salmon streams, and, of course, oil and gas taxes. This week’s Conservation Watch will review all this and prepare you for more action in the busy week to come.
Conservation Watch- Gasline Plans Dominate Quiet Week
The second week of the legislative session is winding down. Many are saying the pace at the Capitol is quicker than last year but committees are mainly hearing informational and department presentations.
Conservation Watch-2012 Session Kicks Off
The second year of the legislative session started on Tuesday. Legislators and staff have completed the move to Juneau and are back in the Capitol building. The Senate and House held the first, mostly ceremonial floor sessions earlier this week. Committees are starting to hold hearings but major issues have yet to be addressed. As the legislature prepares for the serious discussions later in session, we’ll take the moment to catch you up on the coastal management initiative, our legislative priorities, and the Governor’s State of the State address.
Conservation Watch 2011 Special Edition: Budget Vetoes and the Alaska Coastal Management Program
Special Edition: Read about the $400 million budget vetoes and see how this affects clean energy and energy efficiency in Alaska.
Conservation Watch 2011 #16: Special Session Ends Amidst Controversy
2011 #16: Special Session ends amidst controversy over the Alaska Coastal Management Program and the capital budget.
Conservation Watch 2011 #15: No End in Sight for Special Session
2011 #15: Check out this week's edition for the latest on the special session, the Susitna hydro project permitting and more!
Conservation Watch 2011 #14-Legislative Impasse Continues on First Day of Special Session
2011 #14: Legislative Impasse continues on the first day of special session. Read this edition for more details on the Alaska Coastal Management Program bill just passed in the House and updates on energy projects in the proposed budget.
Conservation Watch 2011 #13- Last Days to Resolve Major Legislation
2011 #13- Only six days remaining in this legislative session. Inside this edition find updates on oil taxes, the PBDE phase out bill, and the Alaska Coastal Management Program.
Conservation Watch 2011 #12- Heavy Workload Remains for Legislature
2011 #12: Less than 2 weeks left in this session. In this issue- the Legislature locking horns, a new energy efficiency report from the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, and movement of the Energy Efficiency bill.
