JUNEAU – On Wednesday, Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) introduced Senate Bill 89, which seeks to increase the minimum age to buy, sell, and possess tobacco and E-cigarettes from 19 to 21 years old, and also places a point-of-sale (retail sales) tax on electronic smoking products (ESPs). The tax would apply to closed-system ESPs when […]
The Statewide Suicide Prevention Council has released its new 5-year State Suicide Prevention Plan, “Messages of Hope: Promoting Wellness to Prevent Suicide in Alaska, 2023-2027.” The Council is statutorily obligated to release a 5-year plan. The Council decided to build on the benchmarks achieved from the previous plan, “Recasting the Net: Promoting Wellness to Prevent […]
JUNEAU – Wednesday, Senator Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) introduced Senate Bill 88 to establish a new retirement system for public employees and teachers. Upon introduction, the bill received 9 co-sponsors. The legislation would create a new defined benefit system for public employees and teachers and provide an option for current Tier IV employees to convert their […]
JUNEAU – Monday, the Alaska Senate unanimously passed House Joint Resolution 6, sponsored by Representative Josiah Patkotak (I-Utqiaġvik), urging President Biden and the United States Department of the Interior to approve the Willow Project by selecting the preferred Alternative E plan. This plan allows for three drilling sites, which helps the project remain profitable. “For […]