Alaska Beacon state and legislative daybook for the week of Jan. 19, 2026

Alaska Beacon
1 day ago
3 min read

By James Brooks

Alaska Beacon

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.

Known unknowns

When will the governor release his fiscal plan and hold a news conference? (Might he use the State of the State as a launchpad?)
When will the House/Senate hold a joint session to consider overriding the online tax bill? (It needs to be done during the first five days of the regular session.)
When will the Committee on Committees meet to confirm assignments for new legislators and shifts for new ones? Will there be any unexpected changes?

Tuesday, Jan. 20

9 a.m. – state agriculture board meeting
The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee meets at 10 a.m. to consider a sole-source contract with Pegasus-Global to analyze the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline and provide advice. (They’re almost certainly going to approve it; they’ve already scheduled hearings with the firm.)
At 1 p.m., the 34th Legislature convenes for its second year.
At 3:30 p.m., Senate State Affairs discusses Sen. Matt Claman’s constitutional amendment to lower the budget veto override threshhold.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

Morning House/Senate floor sessions, watch for bills to be introduced
10 a.m. – Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority holds a board meeting
11 a.m. – Alaska Supreme Court hears oral arguments about the taxation of partially religious properties by municipalities. Fairbanks, Kenai, Mat-Su and Juneau boroughs are all involved.
1 p.m. – House Resources talks AKLNG possibilities
1:30 p.m. – House Finance looks at oil production forecast
1:30 p.m. – Alaska Supreme Court hears oral arguments in lawsuit between regional Alaska Native corporations over proceeds from carbon credits
TBD: When will the State of the State address be?

Thursday, Jan. 22

9 a.m. – Senate Finance looks at oil production forecast
12 p.m. – Permanent Fund dividend education raffle drawing in Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom’s office
1 p.m. – House Transportation hears from DOT&PF about the number of pedestrians being killed on Alaska roads
1:30 p.m. – Senate Finance looks at state revenue forecast
1:30 p.m. Senate Transportation looks at the impact of budget vetoes on transportation projects, commission scheduled to testify
3:15 p.m. – House Health and Social Services hears bill changing the age of consent for minors to get mental health care
3:15 p.m. – House State Affairs takes first look at new bill restructuring the management of AIDEA

Friday, Jan. 23

Morning House/Senate floor sessions; watch for more bill introductions
9 a.m. – Senate Finance looks at state revenue forecast
1 p.m. – House Resources takes a broad look at oil and gas with Department of Natural Resources commissioner-designee
1:30 p.m. – House Finance takes first look at governor’s budget
1:30 p.m. – Senate Finance looks at public employee pension bill
1:30 p.m. – Senate Judiciary looks at bill that would require financial transactions for guns to be treated the same as other financial transactions
3:30 p.m. – Senate Resources takes a look at AKLNG issues with its new consultants and Gaffney Cline

Saturday, Jan. 24

12 p.m. – 350 Juneau, a group opposing climate change, holds a rally on the Capitol steps; 4th Street will be closed to traffic

• James Brooks is a longtime Alaska reporter, having previously worked at the Anchorage Daily News, Juneau Empire, Kodiak Mirror and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.