LobbyComply Blog

The Legislature’s debate on tax breaks for the Alaska LNG project will continue following Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s call for another special session. The previous special session ended July 16 without making any meaningful progress on the issue.  The next special session is set to begin July 27. This does affect lobbying reporting. If the special session extends into August, a lobbyist report will be due September 30 covering activity for the month of August.

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Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed House Bill 16 yesterday, which would have reimposed campaign contribution limits on state elections. HB 16 would have limited individual contributions to each candidate at $2,000 per election cycle. Political parties and other groups could contribute up to $4,000 to a candidate each election cycle. Contributions to gubernatorial elections would be limited to $4,000 for individuals and $8,000 for groups. The bill’s purpose was to reduce the influence of wealthy donors. Dunleavy explained he did not feel the bill went far enough in limiting wealthier candidates from funding themselves. With HB 16 being vetoed, a similar ballot measure will be presented to voters at the primary election on August 18. If the bill had passed, the ballot measure would have been cancelled.

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The second special session ended last week on June 19. However, lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement on a bill offering tax relief to the Alaska LNG gas line project. Gov. Mike Dunleavy then called for a third special session beginning on June 20. Dunleavy’s executive proclamation does not give a general timeline for the session, but House Speaker Bryce Edgmon stated the Legislature’s intent is to meet over the next 10 days with a vote on the new version of the bill set for July 1. This will affect lobbying reporting. If the special session extends into July, a lobbyist report will be due August 31 covering activity for the month of July.

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ALAKSA: The 2026 legislative session ended yesterday evening. Lawmakers passed House Bill 16 which makes various changes to the state’s campaign finance laws. New contribution limits will be imposed. Individuals may contribute up to $2,000 each election cycle to a nongroup entity or candidate. Individuals will be able to contribute $5,000 each per year to a political party or group entity. A group that is not a political party may contribute not more than $4,000 each election cycle to a candidate or $5,000 each year to another group entity, or to a political party. A nongroup entity may not contribute more than $4,000 each election cycle to another nongroup entity or $5,000 to a political party or group. When contributions are being made to a joint campaign for governor and lieutenant governor an individual may not contribute more than $4,000 each election cycle, while a group may not contribute more than $8,000 each election cycle. House Bill 16 is waiting the governor’s approval. The bill will take effect 90 days from when it is enacted. The new limits would be in place for the upcoming 2028 elections. Lawmakers will also return to a special session today, May 21. The special session has been called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to address legislation relating to the taxation of certain natural gas pipeline property, amongst other issues. No hard deadline to the end of the session was given and it will continue for as long as necessary. This may affect lobbying reporting dates if the special session continues into June.

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Gov. Mike Dunleavy called for special session to address education reform and the creation of a cabinet-level state Department of Agriculture. Both topics were left unfinished at the end of the regular session earlier this year. The special session will begin August 2 and is scheduled to last for 30 days. This affects lobbyist reporting. A monthly legislative lobbyist activity report will now be due September 30.

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The 34^th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20. Lawmakers ended the session without completing work on campaign finance and election bills. House Bill 16 limits contributions from individuals to $2,000 in donations per candidate in each two-year election cycle, while the Senate Bill 64 makes various changes to absentee voting. Both bills are expected to rollover to next year’s legislative session. This does affect lobbying reporting. The final monthly legislative lobbyist report is due June 30.

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A voter-backed measure, known as Ballot Measure 2, was recently upheld when the Ninth Circuit affirmed a federal judge’s denial of a preliminary injunction blocking it.

The measure requires immediate disclosure of contributions aggregating to more than $2,000 per year.

The decision stems from a previous injunction that was filed back in 2022, by political donors against enforcement of the measure, claiming the initiative’s burdensome disclosure rules would lead to retaliation against them for their political activity.

Chief Judge Mary H. Murguia held the district correctly concluded the plaintiffs argument of first amendment issues was likely to fail and affirmed the lower courts decision.

A newly filed ballot measure has been introduced to reestablish campaign contribution limits in Alaska.

In 2021, a federal appeals court struck down most of Alaska contribution limits on First Amendment grounds.

The ballot measure would cap contributions at $2,000 per election, with limits being adjusted for inflation every 10 years.

The new initiative will appear on the 2024 ballot if it is certified by the lieutenant governor and collects the requisite number of signatures.

The Alaska Legislature adjourned sin die on May 17 after a dispute between the House and Senate over the state budget. The main division between the two chambers is the size of the Permanent Fund dividend. The lack of a budget has forced Gov. Mike Dunleavy to announce a special session, starting the following day, May 18. The special session can last up to 30 days. This will affect lobbying reporting if the special session lasts until June.

The Alaska Legislature adjourned sin die late Wednesday after finally coming to an agreement on the state’s budget bill.

Lawmakers set this year’s dividend for each resident at $3,200 from Alaska’s Permanent Fund, a fund derived from the state’s oil and gas reserves.

The Legislature failed to pass new campaign contribution limits to replace the ones found to be unconstitutional earlier this year.

Alaska’s regulatory body, the Alaska Public Offices Commission, punted the responsibility to lawmakers after refusing to resurrect old contribution limits.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A lobbyist monthly report will be due June 30, covering May 1 through May 31.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy called a special election to replace U.S. Rep. Don Young, who died on March 18.

The special all-party primary election will be held on June 11. The top four candidates will advance to the August 16 general election.

The election marks the first time Alaska’s new ranked-choice voting system will be used, meaning voters will be able to rank their preferred candidates.

Additionally, August 16 is the open-primary election for the next two-year term, in which the top four candidates from this election will be able to move onto the November 8 general election.

Candidates are eligible to run in both elections.

Alaska’s fourth special session adjourned under little fanfare.

Governor Dunleavy tasked members of the Alaskan Legislature to fund another permanent fund dividend payment, a request met with legislative apathy.

The Senate held only one floor session while the house met only twice, with both houses holding relatively few committee meetings.

The Legislative leaders expressed concerns over a second payout from the permanent fund without a long-term budget plan.

Dunleavy stated he does not plan to call a fifth special session.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

The fourth session adjourning in November triggers a monthly report covering November 1 to November 30, due December 31.

The quarterly legislative lobbyist report due on January 31 will only cover the month of December.

Members of the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) have released an advisory opinion, proposing new limits on contributions to political campaigns.

Under the new restrictions, an individual would be limited to $1,500 in donations per candidate or group per year and groups would be limited to $3,000 in donations per candidate or group per year.

After Thompson v. Hebdon found Alaska’s limitations on contributions made by individuals and groups unconstitutional, the APOC adjusted the limits set in 2003 for inflation.

These new limits follow the Supreme Court’s guidance for contribution limits and fall in line with the limits that have been upheld in other states.

The new limits are subject to approval of the five-member commission, scheduled to meet in January.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued an amended Executive Proclamation convening the Legislature into a fourth special session October 4, 2021.

The Legislature is tasked to create a supplemental appropriation for the 2021 Permanent Fund Dividend, consider acts relating to the Permanent Fund Dividend, and propose amendments to the Alaskan State Constitution relating to Alaska Permanent Fund.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

A monthly activity report for October will be due November 30.

The quarterly legislative lobby activity report due January 31, 2022 will only cover the months of November and December.