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matt.akmemo.com
Matt Buxton
@matt.akmemo.com
Alaska wonk. Husker. Roller coaster, Magic card and staying in enthusiast. Writes akmemo.com

Hanging out and hanging on.
Pinned
And I'll be at it here throughout session.

Follow my newsletter for even more #akleg wonkery at www.akmemo.com
The Alaska Memo
The What and Why it Matters of Alaska Politics by Matt Acuña Buxton.
www.akmemo.com
Wait, Dunleavy's really not going to talk about the details of his fiscal plan?

#akleg
fry from futurama is shocked with his mouth open
ALT: fry from futurama is shocked with his mouth open
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Gov. Mike Dunleavy's final special session is already underway, with the usual attack on the "special interests." Which, for him, are usually teacher groups. Says they're gonna have a party the day leaves office.

So pretty much what you'd expect.

📺: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...

#akleg

🧵
January 23, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Wednesday was a little quiet, so today's newsletter recaps this morning's override session and how it lines up against the governor's plan to introduce a sales tax:

Day 3: With Dunleavy's sales tax looming, GOP votes down corporate tax bill

#akleg
Day 3: With Dunleavy's sales tax looming, GOP votes down corporate tax bill
The fact that the governor is leading with a broad-based tax that would definitely raise costs for Alaskans was a point many supporters of the bill didn't let slide.
www.akmemo.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:23 AM
In the House Health and Social Services Committee, they're hearing Rep. Gray's HB232, which would lower the age of consent for mental health counseling from 18 to 16.

Right now, Sen. Giessel is talking about her time helping in Anchorage middle schools.

#akleg

Link: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
January 23, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
#akleg In governor Dunleavy's first State of the State he called for a constitutional amendment that would allow "no change in taxes without a vote of the people."
January 22, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Already underway is Senate Transportation on how much Dunleavy and co have screwed up the 2026 construction season with his veto of $60M+ in federal highway matching dollars.

They're asking for the money now, but it's unclear where it'll come from.

Watch: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...

#akleg
January 22, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Meanwhile, there's a new lawsuit today accusing Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox of unlawfully biasing the ballot language for the initiative to repeal open primaries.

His description claims that repealing the dark money provisions "restores" or "brings back campaign finance rules."

#akleg
January 22, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
On a vote of 35-25, the #akleg has FAILED to override Gov. Dunleavy's veto of Senate Bill 113, which would have shifted online corporate tax revenue from other states to Alaska.

It's a caucus-line vote.

Instead, the Republican gov is expected to call for a sales tax tonight.
January 22, 2026 at 7:34 PM
The #akleg joint session to take up Gov. Dunleavy's veto of SB113, the online corporate income tax bill, is getting underway now.

#akleg

Watch: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
January 22, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Glad to see the folks in Juneau get to work. #akleg
January 22, 2026 at 6:07 AM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
tonight, we learned that nearly 100 students have withdrawn from mount edgecumbe high school this year

that’s 1/4 of the entire student body

also, sitka tribe of alaska council just unanimously approved a resolution requesting alaska dept of ed create an ad-hoc committee on student safety at mehs
January 22, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
The Alaska Legislature kicked off its 2026 session on Tuesday with a gloomy outlook thanks to an already-bad fiscal picture, escalating global uncertainty and a litany of headaches caused by lame-duck Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
thealaskacurrent.com/2026/01/21/a...
Alaska Legislature kicks off with a ‘downer’ of an outlook - The Alaska Current
The Alaska Legislature kicked off its 2026 session on Tuesday with a gloomy outlook thanks to an already-bad fiscal picture.
thealaskacurrent.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:30 AM
The House Resources Committee is underway. They're getting a presentation today on legislative and policy options for the Alaska LNG project.

(Dunleavy's ask so far has been a massive cut to local property taxes)

#akleg

Docs: www.akleg.gov/basis/Meetin...
Watch: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
January 21, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Latest newsletter recapping the first day of the #akleg:

'At some point, the dam's gonna break'

The budget is front and center as the 2026 legislative session got underway on Tuesday, and legislators aren't thrilled with Gov. Dunleavy's proposed budget or what it means for the state's future.
Day 2: 'At some point, the dam's gonna break'
The state of the state's budget is front-and-center as the 2026 legislative session got underway on Tuesday, and legislators aren't exactly thrilled with Gov. Mike Dunleavy's proposed budget.
www.akmemo.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Looks like someone's been charged in Alaska federal court for trying to open the cabin door of an international flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo while being drugged or having dementia ... Alaska gets these cases infrequently because it's the place where planes land in emergency situations.
January 21, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Aurora was just ripping tonight. Could even see them downtown with all the light pollution.
January 21, 2026 at 5:42 AM
The Senate State Affairs Committee is already underway with its hearing on two proposed constitutional amendments:

SJR2, lowering the veto override threshold for budgets
SJR13, allowing the gov to bypass the Alaska Judicial Council for selecting judges

#akleg

Link: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
Senate State Affairs Committee
SJR 2 – CONST. AM: VOTES NEEDED FOR VETO OVERRIDE — Invited & Public Testimony — SJR 13 – APPOINTMENT OF STATE JUDGES Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
www.ktoo.org
January 21, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Meanwhile, a long-expected lawsuit challenging the state of Alaska for failing to adequately fund education (the Alaska Constitution requires the state to establish and maintain public education for all students) has been filed, the Coalition for Education Equity announced today.

#akleg
January 20, 2026 at 10:42 PM
The #akleg is officially underway!

The House and Senate are both in and introducing their new members.

www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
January 20, 2026 at 10:14 PM
The Senate Majority is underway with its session opener press availability. Senate President Stevens opens up by calling it a "challenging" session and highlights the experience in the chamber. Says fiscal discipline and core services are the goal.

#akleg

Link: www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/...
January 20, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Today's the day!

The start of the #akleg session, which kicks off with a gloomy combination of an already-bad fiscal picture, escalating global uncertainty and a lame-duck governor with a bad attitude.
Day 1: Lame-duck Dunleavy
Legislators are also increasingly frustrated with the state's languishing public services under the governor, with everything from social safety net programs to business licensing taking a hit due to ...
www.akmemo.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
At UAF, a student chewed up and spit out another student's AI geberated art about AI psychosis.

www.uafsunstar.com/news/student...
Student arrested for eating AI art in UAF gallery protest — The Sun Star - UAF's Student Voice
On Tuesday, January 13, University of Alaska Fairbanks undergraduate student Graham Granger was detained after he had been found “ripping artwork off the walls and eating it in a reported protest,” ac...
www.uafsunstar.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Matt Buxton
Alaska Survey Research was preparing to field our latest survey last week, when it happened. Renee Good was shot and killed.

Our survey shows that Alaskans don’t think her killing was justified.

Alaska Survey Research
February 8-11, 2026
N=2,132 Alaska adults
MOE +/-2.0%
January 16, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Today, an Alaska Superior Court judge struck down the state's restrictions on breweries and wineries hosting live music and entertainment, a long-running fight over the legality of fun in non-bar alcohol-serving places, as a free speech violation.

Ruling: drive.google.com/file/d/1OX8e...

#akleg
January 15, 2026 at 8:12 PM