[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6253524,"mediaKeyId","3181362-87890102ae2f58ea4cac14b3b07f3f65","parentId",3181362,"title","First hearing on HB16: lawmakers consider reinstating campaign contribution limits, indexing to inflation","audioSeconds",2632,"startMs",3048000,"endMs",5680000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181362-87890102ae2f58ea4cac14b3b07f3f65&start=3048&end=5680","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181362-87890102ae2f58ea4cac14b3b07f3f65/thumbnail_3048000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253524/Alaska/First-hearing-on-HB16-lawmakers-consider-reinstating-campaign-contribution-limits-indexing-to-inflation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253524-90de09fb8b992dd18c5e68c24d058f41/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180131&Signature=bTccfOqLrTRtSDjG5fyWe0S4QMTc0ygGBGCrrFUQkHM0301bhXYuoBOF7YAc8um2TNT-hYE4H5D3jEdxHauSc4iaxpP2aCFwsp10Lu6qgH1E~z4rwv3DkY-7JNVZqNL4u58WwL-ap0cNtLlupKph5fOrK8IauLj~ru-rlWMLQ3lVwynDilTiv47YqocFEZEKwWQegBi~bMURJWujkutn8hSel1ERQh1nGDDNfTHat17miR32sRxCKbs3qGuB5mdy9zWo~JXmRAYa7MTfr0T0UpJ85cGmRRlVwm~c0BXrK-tO93-PFj1QZRIrqEMLvn-NNQp6qhvpUi5GQA7aM-ZHnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Calvin Schrage introduced House Bill 16 on May 1 to reestablish state campaign contribution limits after a federal appeals court decision voided Alaska’s prior statutory caps in 2021.

Representative Calvin Schrage told the Senate Finance Committee that HB16 would move Alaska’s limits from a per-year basis to per-election-cycle, raise the individual-to-candidate limit to $2,000 per election and require the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) to adjust contribution limits every 10 years for inflation. Schrage said the bill is designed to address the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ concerns about Alaska’s previous $500 limit and hit constitutional thresholds used by courts while preserving voter intent reflected in past ballot initiatives.

Members of the committee questioned historical context and legal constraints. Senator Stedman and others asked why the Legislature would act now rather than letting a certified citizen initiative appear on the 2026 ballot. Representative Schrage and supporters said legislative action could place limits in law in time for upcoming election cycles and fulfills a constitutional mechanism that allows the Legislature to adopt substantially similar measures to ballot initiatives.

The hearing included invited and public testimony from several witnesses. Bruce Patello, co-chair of Citizens Against Money in Politics, said the ballot initiative effort that led to a certified measure gathered approximately 33,000 signatures and widespread statewide support in polling. Nathia Theroux of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group and representatives from other advocacy organizations also testified in support. Opponents included a public caller who argued limits would infringe on First Amendment rights and characterized the bill as inconsistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

Representative Schrage and witnesses discussed legal limits on the Legislature’s powers to restrict out-of-state contributions and independent-expenditure groups; the transcript records counsel’s reference to a Ninth Circuit decision (including Thompson v. Hebdon in the discussion) and prior Supreme Court precedent such as Buckley v. Valeo. Committee members asked how HB16 would treat party contributions and independent expenditure groups; Schrage said limits on individuals would be uniform regardless of residency, group-to-candidate limits would change (for example, group limits described in testimony would move from $1,000 per year to $4,000 per campaign), and existing statutory limits for political parties remain in place (testimony cited party-to-candidate limits such as $10,000 for a House candidate, $15,000 for a Senate candidate and $100,000 for a joint gubernatorial ticket).

No committee vote was taken. The Alaska Public Offices Commission provided a fiscal note recorded as zero net cost; the committee set the bill aside for additional consideration and discussion through the end of the legislative session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/01/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 16 would reinstate statutory campaign contribution limits in Alaska — raising an individual-to-candidate cap to $2,000 per election and indexing limits every 10 years — to replace limits struck down by courts in 2021; the committee held extensive testimony and reserved further action.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6253529,"Senate Finance Committee hears testimony on bill to allow AIDEA to finance workforce housing projects",1831,1224000,3055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181362-87890102ae2f58ea4cac14b3b07f3f65&start=1224&end=3055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181362-87890102ae2f58ea4cac14b3b07f3f65/thumbnail_1224000.jpg","/articles/6253529/Alaska/Senate-Finance-Committee-hears-testimony-on-bill-to-allow-AIDEA-to-finance-workforce-housing-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253529-c1165a6d968fa764dbbf5e39e3d201bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180131&Signature=nq8qZSbeq6aNH3g0gMsOfknmdAsqRGq9t4u71BLmm-sFBBod9VccqkqsL6~yvkRDyMrF3iFHDzqKJSLII9LpHJuLNvy8Lymh0njgvbdH5lwGctSo98fGkkzfVp1U56KfMfrGIjd0qhuoNKOxqSiddPx4~XiVqzimrylbUNPrjkh8jwJScukqoOcZNQUbvHoPw4MXIOEFQYMs~5yMtlDh3TewFgCOi44~AIARnBYAqu2dzeQUB4V~uzQPkZPJk0TE2FsLuF1SLUyRmHVLzmAFgLW8GT3q~yUswCohprF9rhNsxCl-uOsVtsUJEuW~DPNRykYaUsMWjIuaDODWfdHzNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 14, introduced May 1 by Senator Forrest Dunbar, would add workforce housing to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority’s (AIDEA) mission and allow AIDEA to use its lending tools to finance construction of workforce housing projects containing five or more dwelling units.

Senator Forrest Dunbar, prime sponsor, said the bill is designed to address Alaska’s housing shortage by authorizing AIDEA to deploy creative financing tools — including loan participation and other mechanisms — to help local governments and private developers build multifamily and other workforce housing. The bill defines “workforce housing” using an affordability standard based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s median-income calculations.

Michelle Brown, representing Housing Alaskan Public Private Partnership, gave invited testimony in support and told the committee that state-level financing tools can “stimulate the development of affordable housing” by offering lower interest rates, longer terms and mezzanine finance options. Brown said clarifying AIDEA’s authority would allow it to explore proven financing structures that partner public and private dollars to reduce risk and lower upfront and long-term development costs.

Committee members pressed sponsors and agency representatives on how AIDEA would structure financing and whether the authority would compete with or undercut private lenders or Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC).

Brandon Brevinsky, Deputy Director at the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, and Mark Davis, AIDEA special counsel, said AIDEA’s loan participation program is typically used in consortium-lender arrangements rather than as a standalone direct lender. Brevinsky and Davis told the committee AIDEA generally participates alongside commercial lenders; a deputy director characterized the loan participation portfolio at roughly $400 million with no delinquencies reported during the hearing. AIDEA staff said participation can take the form of assuming a portion of a commercial loan (reported participation up to 90% of a loan in examples discussed) for terms the authority negotiates after due diligence.

Public testimony included comments from Nathia Theroux of Alaska Public Interest Research Group and Jason Norris, a resident with background in housing finance; both supported SB14. Theroux and other invited witnesses said state-level financing and AIDEA participation could help bridge gaps that private-sector and AHFC financing currently do not fill.

Committee members raised concerns about drafting that gives AIDEA broad discretion on financing methods and urged future engagement with banking institutions and AHFC to clarify whether AIDEA’s role would be direct lending, loan participation, guarantees or other risk-mitigation products.

Senators asked AIDEA to participate in future hearings; committee staff reported a single fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development indicating the department could implement the bill within existing authority (fiscal note recorded as zero net cost). The committee set SB14 aside for further consideration and planned to summon additional agency witnesses in subsequent hearings.","Senate Bill 14 would add workforce housing to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority’s financing objectives, enabling AIDEA to support construction of multifamily workforce housing using loan participation and other financing tools; the committee held invited testimony and set the bill aside for further consideration.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6253532,"Senate Finance Committee advances reintroduced child care bills and a big-game permit measure to Rules",346,754000,1100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181362-87890102ae2f58ea4cac14b3b07f3f65&start=754&end=1100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181362-87890102ae2f58ea4cac14b3b07f3f65/thumbnail_754000.jpg","/articles/6253532/Alaska/Senate-Finance-Committee-advances-reintroduced-child-care-bills-and-a-big-game-permit-measure-to-Rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253532-7775a4af33ae91e4d393ab87e297c695/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180131&Signature=MnTsnF~ee4q6n0lAzIWTi9ahAS6U4INqZUp3n9KlPhmxlURFp32Nhri84cALEtb7ZaYYWy1z4P1acpWB-eeF-68KL86P1E7eb6HVXkD-Um3Il6eAkNl-MAhNqgOU9CXV4H0yJNC0Tfa-E-FQaaR~Mwah0iSw-tadtYcc5qVzhcy18g5nhNfPgDGmfMfzTNDj3~Q-lVaaSJ2zMo3SSmqAqTB5eRjCxdg1GcjMFGVyfu-kUkinrgToKlA-3NiJmeb5P2lJog-hed5qB9tlR~chkL2vgvmlkJO3Q0Au-cabOCz~4ZB4agqOohO8SB63m8n5tMMXLkeZfrImEzUV5VxPbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee on May 1 voted to move three bills from its agenda to the next committee of referral, the Rules Committee, after sponsors reintroduced each measure and staff summarized the background.

Senate Bill 95, reintroduced by Senator Forrest Dunbar, would reenact provisions tied to a child care assistance program and a child care grant program that are already law but are the subject of ongoing litigation over Alaska's single-subject rule. Senator Dunbar said the reintroduction is intended to provide “an independent legal basis” that counsel believes could moot the pending lawsuit.

Senate Bill 96, presented by Sonia Kawasaki, Senate majority legal counsel, would reenact tax-credit provisions from 2024’s SB 189 to preserve tax credits for child care and related revenue streams while litigation continues. Kawasaki told the committee the bill specifically reenacts tax-credit eligibility for seven categories of taxpayers, including those paying insurance tax, corporate income tax, oil and gas production tax, property tax, mining business tax, fisheries business tax and fisheries resource landing tax.

Senate Bill 97, reintroduced by Senator Kathy Giesel, would create a guide concession-area program that limits the number of guides in certain hunting areas; Giesel described it as a conservation measure designed to reduce pressure in hunting areas and said it would replicate a federal model. She noted that Diana Lineberger of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources was available online to answer technical questions.

Each of the three bills was moved out of committee without objection; committee members signed and filed committee reports before the committee continued its agenda.

No roll-call vote was recorded in the hearing transcript. Committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions during this afternoon’s reintroductions beyond the sponsors’ remarks and the technical clarifications invited from agency staff.

The committee’s action advances the measures to the Rules Committee for further consideration.","The Senate Finance Committee on May 1 advanced three bills — two tied to child care programs and one creating a guide-concession big-game permit program — sending each to the next committee of referral with no recorded objections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

First hearing on HB16: lawmakers consider reinstating campaign contribution limits, indexing to inflation

Senate Finance Committee hears testimony on bill to allow AIDEA to finance workforce housing projects

Senate Finance Committee advances reintroduced child care bills and a big-game permit measure to Rules