The 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down three provisions of Alaska’s campaign finance law.

In Thompson Vs. Hebdon the plaintiffs challenged four of the state’s finance contribution restrictions.

After being remanded back to the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals Court from the United States Supreme Court, the 2-1 panel rejected the $500 per-year limit on the amount of money an Alaskan can contribute to a particular candidate, the $500 per-year limit on contributions to a particular political group, and the $3,000 limit on the amount of money a candidate can accept from all out-of-state donors combined in a given year.

Until the legislature passes a new restriction, individuals may give unlimited amounts to Alaskan politicians.

The Alaska Legislature adjourned a second special session June 28.

Legislators came to an agreement changing the effective date of the state budget, allowing Alaska to avoid a government shutdown.

A third special session will take place some time in August.

The monthly report for legislative lobbying during June is due by July 31.

On June 18, the Alaska Legislature adjourned a special session after failing to alter the effective date of the state budget.

Under the Alaska constitution, bills take effect 90 days after enactment unless two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate approve an earlier date.

The House could not meet this threshold.

Gov. Dunleavy issued a proclamation, calling lawmakers into another special session starting June 23 with the goal of passing a state budget before July 1.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy intends to call two special sessions during the summer on May 20 and August 2.

Dunleavy will task lawmakers with addressing the state budget and the Permanent Fund dividend.

The Legislature’s regular session is scheduled to end May 19 and lawmakers are not on track to finish the state’s budget before then.

During the August session, the Legislature will consider a constitutional amendment to reduce the Permanent Fund and permanently cap the Legislature’s ability to spend from the fund.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has introduced a proposal to borrow $356.4 million for a variety of construction projects across the state.

The proposal calls for a special election this coming spring or summer to allow voters to ratify or reject the plan.

If a borrowing plan passes the Senate and House, it must also be approved by voters statewide.

The governor is also proposing a special election to speed the process.

The election would take place between 90 and 120 days after the Legislature adjourns its regular session.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Capitol is closed to the public.

Members of the Senate can be contacted at http://w3.akleg.gov/senate.php.

Members of the House can be contacted at http://w3.akleg.gov/house.php.

The Alaskan Independence Party and two Anchorage residents are suing the state of Alaska to overturn Ballot Measure 2.

This ballot measure is a sweeping election reform initiative installing ranked-choice voting in Alaska’s general elections.

Additionally, the lawsuit claims the measure would violate the rights to free political association, free speech, petition, due process and other rights guaranteed by the Alaska and U.S. constitutions.

Filed against the state of Alaska and the Alaska Division of Elections, the lawsuit requests the measure be nullified and not be used in future elections.

Originally reported as defeated, Ballot Measure 2 was approved with 50.5% of the vote reported as of November 17.

The measure will make several changes to the election process, including replacing partisan primaries with open top-four primaries for state executive, state legislative, and congressional offices.

Also, the measure establishes ranked-choice voting for general elections, including the presidential election, in which voters can rank the candidates.

Additionally, Ballot Measure 2 requires persons and entities contributing more than $2,000 derived from donations, contributions, dues, or gifts to disclose the true sources (as defined in law) of the political contributions.

The approved system of top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting general elections will be first used in 2022.

This will include the gubernatorial, U.S. House, and a U.S. Senate election in Alaska.

Out of six applicants, three names were forwarded to Gov. Mike Dunleavy to fill the District 30 seat until a new legislator is sworn in in January.

The district currently lacks representation since the untimely passing of Rep. Gary Knopp in a July midair plane collision.

The three chosen by the District 30 committee are Ron Gillham, Derek Leichliter, and Charlene Tautfest.

Gillham is a candidate for the seat and his name is already on the ballot for the primary election.

When a vacancy occurs, the governor typically will choose from the three names the district leaders of the party offer.

In this case, the governor may not appoint a fill-in person, but would need to appoint one if he calls a special session for the purpose of legislative confirmation of his boards and commissions picks.

His choice would have to be ratified by Republicans in the House.

The Alaska Supreme Court unanimously ruled an election reform initiative can appear on the November Ballot.

The court upheld a lower court decision confirming the legality of a proposed ballot measure.

This will be imposing ranked choice voting, nonpartisan primary elections, and tough new rules on campaign finance disclosure.

In August of 2019, Attorney General Kevin Clarkson released an opinion stating the election reform initiative was unconstitutional under the single subject rule.

On his advice, the Division of Elections attempted to block the Better Elections committee from gathering signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

However, Superior Court Judge Yvonne Lamoureux ruled Clarkson’s analysis was incorrect.

Additionally she ordered the state to issue signature booklets and continue the certification process as the state appealed to the Supreme Court.

If approved by voters, the ballot measure would require additional reporting requirements for large donations to political campaigns.

The Alaska Legislature adjourned after approving Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s plan to spend over $1 billion in federal coronavirus funding.

Lawmakers were spurred by a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the plans Gov. Dunleavy submitted to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.

They were submitted through a process allowing a governor to submit plans to accept and spend additional federal or other program funds on a budget item.

In addition, the committee agreed to more than $1 billion in plans despite concerns some of the items fell outside the scope of what can go through the committee process.

Following the vote, the Legislature adjourned the 2020 regular session, though members of the House and Senate have said a special session may be needed later in the year.

On Monday, Alaska became one of the most recent states to alter presidential primary plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Alaska Democratic Party canceled in-person voting in the state scheduled for April 4.

Additionally the party expanded the ability to vote by mail by extending the deadline to mail in ballots from March 24 to April 10.

The Alaska Republican Party also announced its Republican state convention, scheduled for April 2-4 will convene electronically.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a public health disaster emergency in the state.

People are encouraged to practice social distancing and avoid large crowds if possible, especially if they are elderly or have underlying health conditions.

Access to the Capitol is limited to lawmakers, employees of the Legislature, members of the governor’s administration, and credentialed journalists.

Lawmakers voted to approve $4.1 million of funding to respond to the coronavirus.

The regular session will adjourn if five or more legislators contract the virus.

The offices of the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) will be closed to walk-in traffic until further notice.

This comes in recognition of state and federal calls for social distancing and to protect the public and its employees.

APOC offices will remain staffed and continue to serve the public and respond through alternative forms of contact including mail, email, fax, and telephone, during its normal business hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.