Alaska Beacon state and legislative daybook for the week of April 5, 2026
- Alaska Beacon
- Apr 6
- 6 min read
Here’s what’s happening in the Alaska Capitol and elsewhere across the state
By Alaska Beacon staff
At the Alaska Beacon, we’re constantly trying to figure out where we should put our attention. There’s always more news than there are people to report it.
Every Thursday, the Alaska Legislature publishes its committee schedule for the coming week. Public notices alert us to meetings and events. The governor’s office occasionally lets us know ahead of time that something’s coming down the pike, too.
Here’s what we know about for the coming week. If you know of something that’s coming up that you should think we should pay attention to, email us at info@alaskabeacon.com.
We can’t cover everything on this list, but we’re interested in them and we think you should know about them in case you’re interested in them, too.
This list is ripped from our notebooks, and it is likely to change over the course of the week. We’ll update it when we can.
Are you trying to keep track of when to testify on a bill? The Legislature has a website for that.
Monday, April 6
No legislative committee meetings as lawmakers are away for the Easter holiday.
Alaska Miners Association trade show opens in Fairbanks.
Tuesday, April 7
Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference takes place in Bethel.
Alaska Municipal League infrastructure conference takes place in Anchorage.
Alaska infrastructure development symposium opens in Anchorage.
Governor’s health and safety conference opens in Anchorage.
Alaska Sea Grant 2026 Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference Apr. 7-9 at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, UAF Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel, Alaska, see event info here.
8 a.m. – House Community and Regional Affairs will consider a governor’s appointee to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska: Julie Vogler and hear bills related to birth certificates and identification for unhoused young adults and retirement benefits for emergency dispatchers
10 a.m. – House Fisheries considers a bill related to a new administrative area in Cook Inlet for certain commercial set net fishing entry permits
12 p.m. – Lunch & Learn presentation on postsecondary education opportunities
1 p.m. – House Transportation hears an update on rural aviation and public testimony on a bill related to the maintenance of transportation facilities in wildland urban interface zones
1:30 p.m. – Senate Community and Regional Affairs hears a bill related to criminal penalties for hit-and-runs and a bill related to data centers
1:30 p.m. – House Finance hears a bill related to pharmacists’ prescription authority and a bill to add one more superior court judge in the state
3:15 p.m. – House State Affairs considers a governor’s appointee to the Board of Parole: Steve Meyer and the Alaska Police Standards Council: Veronica Lambertsen. It will consider a bill related to reduced interest on certain loans and a bill related to municipalities charging for public records
3:30 p.m. – Senate Health and Social Services Committee will hear a resolution related to the Rural Health Transformation Fund; a bill related to banning food dyes in school meals and a bill to establish a Citizen’s Review Panel for all cases of children taken into foster care
Wednesday, April 8
Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference takes place in Bethel.
Alaska Municipal League infrastructure conference takes place in Anchorage.
Community Advisory Board Meeting about programming and services at Alaska Public Media takes place at 6 p.m. in Anchorage and online.
House/Senate floor sessions in the morning
8 a.m. – House Education hears a bill related to funding school meals; and a bill related to establishing CPR training in all schools
9 a.m. – Board of veterinary examiners regular meeting
9 a.m. – Board of optometry examiners regular quarterly meeting
9 a.m. – Alaska Supreme Court hearing, Orutsararmiut Native Council v. Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Donlin Gold. Boney Courthouse, Anchorage.
9 a.m. – House Finance hears a bill related to funding special education
9 a.m. – Senate Finance hears a bill proposed by the governor to create a seasonal sales tax, and an increased tax on oil and gas in part to fund a bigger PFD
11 a.m. – Alaska Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Donlin Gold lawsuit
12 p.m. – Lunch & Learn on the Arctic Winter Games
12 p.m. – Lunch & Learn on Life Center West and organ donation
1-2 p.m. – Alaska Commission on Aging monthly meeting
1 p.m. – House Resources considers a governor’s appointee to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska: Julie Vogler; and a bill related to the governor’s tax break proposal for the Alaska LNG gas line
1:30 p.m. – House Finance considers a bill related to paid parental leave
1:30 p.m. – Senate Labor and Commerce hears a bill related to expanding the number of seats and adds criteria for membership on the Board of Parole; and a bill related to disclosure of wage information
1:45 p.m. – Senate Judiciary will hear a bill related to increasing criminal penalties for hit-and-runs
3:15 p.m. House Labor and Commerce will hear a bill related to reimbursement rates for telehealth services
3:30 p.m. – Senate Education will hear a bill related to a student loan forgiveness program, a bill related to local contributions to school districts and a bill related to University of Alaska fees
3:30 p.m. – Senate Resources will consider Julie Vogler as a governor’s appointee to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and a resolution to support the proposed Alaska LNG gas line project
Thursday, April 9
Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference takes place in Bethel.
Alaska Municipal League infrastructure conference takes place in Anchorage.
Alaska Young Professionals summit opens in Anchorage.
Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council spring meeting, Fairbanks.
8 a.m. – House Tribal Affairs hears an update on the Alaska Council of Native Languages
9 a.m. – House Finance hears a bill related to how the state pays its contracts
9 a.m. – Senate Finance debates the capital budget
10 a.m. – The State of Alaska, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA), invites representatives from all 229 federally recognized tribes to a listening session. They want to hear your direct input on issues related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. See info on public testimony here.
12 p.m. Lunch & Learn presentation on the Port of Alaska
1:30 p.m. Senate Community and Regional Affairs hears two bills related to child sexual abuse material
1:30 p.m. House Finance considers the capital budget and hears a presentation on Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee by the Department of Education and Early Development
1:30 p.m. – Senate Finance hears a bill related to a state defined benefit retirement system
3 p.m. – Pioneer Homes advisory board meeting
3:15 p.m. – House State Affairs hears a bill related to regulating PFAS chemicals, remediation and water testing
3:30 p.m. Senate Health and Social Services hears a bill related to health compacts and the Rural Health Transformation Fund
Friday, April 10
Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council spring meeting, Fairbanks.
8 a.m. House Education hears a bill related to retaining teachers; and a bill related to school maintenance positions
9 a.m. – House Finance hears a bill related to expanding the number of state judges
12 p.m. – Lunch & Learn presentation on the history of the global perspective on oil and gas
1 p.m. – House Judiciary considers a resolution passed by the Senate to lower the votes needed for a veto override
1 p.m. – House Resources considers a bill related to the governor’s proposed tax breaks for the Alaska LNG pipeline
1:30 p.m. – House Finance hears a bill related to peace officer or firefighters disability benefits
1:30 p.m. – Senate Labor and Commerce hears a bill related to employer contributions and a bill related to social worker licensure compact
3:15 p.m. House Labor and Commerce hears a bill related to emergency planning for pets and a bill related to corporate income tax
3:30 p.m. – Task Force on Education Funding hears a presentation on required local contributions and federal funding toward schools
• Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
