Alaska’s second special session adjourned July 15 with lawmakers ending the oil tax credit program.

The Legislature may be called back into another special session soon to deal with the unfinished business of the capital budget and deficit reduction measures.

Gov. Bill Walker said in a press conference he is waiting for legislative leaders to present a compromise on the budget before he will call another costly special session.

Gov. Bill Walker signed a shutdown-averting $8.8 billion state operating budget into law; however, the Alaska Legislature remains in session to address oil and gas tax credits.

The 30-day special session ends July 16.

Lawmakers have set a record this year in Juneau for the longest time spent consecutively in session.

The Alaska Legislature’s first special session ran out of time on June 16 without lawmakers passing a budget bill to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit.

Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a second special session convening that same day to address the budget.

Alaska faces a government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by July 1.

The Alaska Legislature is still at work trying to pass a budget bill to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit.

Alaska faces a government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by July 1, and the governor’s administration already sent 30-day layoff warnings to state employees.

Because the legislative session is extending into the month of June, an additional monthly expenditure report for registered legislative lobbyists will be due on July 31, 2017.

Gov. Bill Walker ordered Alaska legislators into a special session just minutes after the regular session adjourned.

Lawmakers have been unable to agree on how to resolve the state’s annual $2.7 billion deficit. Majority House Democrats proposed a state income tax as well as cuts to oil and gas subsidies, while Republicans in the Senate Majority favored budget cuts and spending from the Permanent Fund’s investment earnings.

Alaska’s fiscal year begins July 1, giving lawmakers just over a month to make a deal.

The Alaska Legislature will remain in session despite its April 17 deadline, with lawmakers still working to pass a budget bill and other deficit reduction measures.

A voter initiative passed in 2006 limits the legislative session to 90 days, but legislators often continue after the deadline and follow the constitutional deadline of 121 days.

If more time is needed after the constitutional deadline, a special session would need to be convened.

House Bill 91 was introduced yesterday to require Alaska’s legislative lobbyists to pay a 2.5 percent tax on income earned from lobbying activities.

As introduced, the proceeds from the tax would be appropriated to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, which is the state agency tasked with regulating lobbyists. If passed, House Bill 91 would take effect January 1, 2018.

Last week, a federal judge upheld Alaska’s strict limits on several types of state-level campaign contributions, ruling that they don’t violate the free speech or equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution.

The suit was brought by three individuals and District 18 of the Alaska Republican Party against the Alaska Public Offices Commission. The lawsuit challenged state law that prohibits an individual from donating more than $500 annually to a candidate. The lawsuit also sought to overturn state law that sets limits on the amount a candidate can accept from nonresidents and the amount a political party may contribute to a candidate.

All of the challenged provisions of Alaska’s campaign finance laws were upheld as constitutional.

The head of the Alaska Public Offices Commission, Paul Dauphinais, has resigned. Dauphinais did not give a reason for the departure.

Heather Hebdon, campaign disclosure coordinator, will act as the interim executive director until a permanent replacement is selected.

On July 18, the Alaska Legislature adjourned its fifth special session.

The Legislature failed to pass any deficit reduction measures the special session was called to address.

Following the unsuccessful eight day session, it is expected that further work towards budget reforms will wait until after the November election.

Photo of the Alaska State Capitol by Jay Galvin on Wikimedia Commons.

Alaskan lawmakers have been busy strategizing how to continue campaign fundraising ahead of the July 11 special session.

State statute bans lawmakers from soliciting or accepting contributions in the capital city or any municipality where the Legislature is convened.

Despite calls by some lawmakers to hold the session in Anchorage due to a lodging shortage in Juneau, the formal legislative session will remain in Juneau allowing political fundraising to continue in Anchorage.

Photo of the chamber of the Alaska House of Representatives by L’Aquatique on Wikimedia Commons.

On June 19, the Alaska Legislature adjourned its fourth special session.

The Legislature failed to pass revenue measures the special session was called to address. Gov. Bill Walker immediately issued a proclamation calling another special session to convene on July 11.

The Alaska Legislature reached a bipartisan budget deal Tuesday, May 31.

The bill was approved nine days into the special session that was called when lawmakers could not produce a budget during the 121-day regular extended session.

It is unclear whether Gov. Bill Walker will sign the bill. Alaska faces a government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by July 1, and lawmakers were feeling the pressure to approve a budget before June 1 to stop the governor’s administration from sending 30-day layoff warnings to state employees.

On May 18, the Alaska Legislature hit the constitutional limit on session length of 121 days in session without reaching a budget deal. Gov. Bill Walker immediately called a special session scheduled to begin May 23.

In addition to the budget, the issue of oil and gas tax credits will also be addressed in the special session.