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Alaska House of Representatives

Coordinates: 58°18′08″N 134°24′38″W / 58.302198°N 134.410467°W / 58.302198; -134.410467
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Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 17, 2023
Leadership
Cathy Tilton (R-C)
since January 18, 2023
Majority Leader
Dan Saddler (R-C)
since January 19, 2023
Minority Leader
Calvin Schrage (I)
since January 18, 2023
Structure
Seats40
Political groups
Majority coalition caucus (23)
  •   Republican (20)
  •   Coalition Independent (1)
  •   Coalition Democrat (2)
Minority caucus (16)
Other (1)
Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle 2, Alaska Constitution
Salary$50,400/year + per diem
Elections
Nonpartisan blanket primary / Instant-runoff voting
(Beginning in 2022)
Last election
November 8, 2022
(40 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(40 seats)
RedistrictingAlaska Redistricting Board
Meeting place
House of Representatives chamber
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska
Website
Alaska House of Representatives
Rules
Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules

The Alaska State House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of approximately 17,756 people per 2010 census figures. Members serve two-year terms without term limits. With 40 representatives, the Alaska House is the smallest state legislative lower chamber in the United States. The House convenes at the State Capitol in Juneau.

Powers and process

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Members of the Alaska House of Representatives are responsible for a portion of the process of making and amending state law. The first step of the legislative process is filing a bill by giving it to the chief clerk of the Alaska House of Representatives.[1] The chief clerk will then assign bills a number.[1]

Bills are introduced and read the first time with the number, sponsor or sponsors, and the title of the bill and then referred to a committee(s).[1] Committee chairs can choose whether or not hear a bill and committees can vote to approve a bill in its original form or make modifications through a committee substitute.[1] Once bills or substitutes are approved, the legislation is referred to the next committee of assignment or to the Rules Committee, which can further amend the bill or assign it to the daily floor calendar.[1]

Once a bill is scheduled on the floor, it appears on the calendar in Second Reading. The bill is again read by number, sponsor or sponsors, and title along with the standing committee reports. A motion is made on the floor to adopt any committee substitutes.[1] Amendments can also be offered and voted on.[1] Third Reading is where the motion is made to vote on the bill.[1]

Senate action

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After final passage in the Alaska House of Representatives, a bill is engrossed and sent to the Alaska Senate to go through the same process of introduction, committee referral and three readings. Likewise, bills that have been approved on Third Reading in the Alaska Senate are engrossed and sent to the Alaska House of Representatives.[1]

Enrollment or conference

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When a bill is not modified in the second house, it can be sent to the governor on Third Reading, through enrollment. If the bill is modified, the house of origin must vote to accept or reject amendments by the opposite house. A Fourth Reading, in the case of acceptance, will send the bill to the governor, through enrollment. If amendments are rejected, the bill can be sent to conference, where members of the Senate and House hash out a final version and send it to a Fourth Reading in both houses.[1]

Governor and veto override

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The governor can choose to sign or veto the legislation. In the case of the veto, a two-thirds majority of a joint session can override the veto. An appropriations bill requires a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session to override a veto. If signed or approved by a veto override, the legislation becomes law.[1]

Membership

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Terms and qualifications

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State representatives must be a qualified voter and resident of Alaska for no less than three years, and a resident of the district from which elected for one year immediately preceding filing for office.[2] A state representative must be 21 years of age at the time the oath of office is taken.[2] The Alaska House of Representatives may expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of the house.[2]

Legislative terms begin on the second Monday in January following a presidential election year and on the third Tuesday in January following a gubernatorial election.[3] State representatives serve for terms of two years.[3]

Leadership

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House of Representatives member directory in the hallway of the Capitol building. Taken in 2009, this shows the House membership during the 26th Legislature.

The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House Resolution. In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. Other House leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.

Position Representative Caucus Party Residence District
Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton Rep-Coalition Rep Wasilla 26
Majority Leader Dan Saddler Rep-Coalition Rep Eagle River 24
Majority Whip George Rauscher Rep-Coalition Rep Sutton 29
Minority Leader Calvin Schrage Dem-Coalition Ind Anchorage 12
Minority Whip Louise Stutes Dem-Coalition Rep Kodiak 5

Current composition

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The 23-member majority caucus consists of 20 Republicans, 1 Independent and 2 Democrats from the Bush Caucus. The 16-member minority caucus consists of 11 Democrats, 4 Independents and 1 Republican. Representative David Eastman is not a member of either caucus. [4]

↓
20 1 2 1 1 4 11
Republican I D R R I Democratic
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Indep. Democratic Vacant
End of 28th Legislature 26 0 4 10 40 0
Begin 29th Legislature (2015) 23 1 4 12 40 0
End of 29th (2016) 1 22
30th Legislature (2017–2018) 18 3 2 17 40 0
Begin 31st Legislature (2019) 15 8 2 15 40 0
End 31st (2020) 16 1 5 39 1
Begin 32nd Legislature (2021) 20 1 4 15 40 0
End 32nd (2022) 17 2 2 4 15
Begin 33rd Legislature (2023)[5] 21 6 13 40 0
January 18, 2023[6] 1 1 19 2 4 2 11
October 10, 2023[7] 1 39 1
November 13, 2023[8] 20 40 0
Latest voting share 2.5% 40% 57.5% 40% 57.5% 40%

Past partisan compositions can be found on Political party strength in Alaska.

Committees

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Current committees include:[9]

  • Judiciary
  • Resources
  • State Affairs
  • Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, and the Arctic
  • Fisheries
  • Committee on Committees
  • Task Force on Sustainable Education
  • Community & Regional Affairs
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Military & Veterans' Affairs
  • Health & Social Services
  • Labor & Commerce
  • Transportation
  • Rules
  • Finance
    • Education & Early Development
    • Governor
    • Labor & Workforce Development
    • Health & Social Services
    • Legislature
    • Military & Veterans' Affairs
    • Natural Resources
    • Public Safety
    • Revenue
    • Transportation & Public Facilities
    • University Of Alaska
    • Administration
    • Commerce, Community & Economic Dev
    • Corrections
    • Court System
    • Environmental Conservation
    • Fish & Game
    • Law
    • Fiscal Policy

Current members (33rd Alaska State Legislature)

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Alaska House of Representatives
33rd Alaska State Legislature, 2023–25
District Name Party Coalition Residence Assumed
office
1 Dan Ortiz Ind Minority Coalition Ketchikan 2015
2 Rebecca Himschoot Ind Minority Coalition Sitka 2023
3 Andi Story Dem Minority Coalition Juneau 2019
4 Sara Hannan Dem Minority Coalition Juneau 2019
5 Louise Stutes Rep[a] Minority Coalition Kodiak 2015
6 Sarah Vance Rep Majority Coalition Homer 2019
7 Justin Ruffridge Rep Majority Coalition Soldotna 2023
8 Ben Carpenter Rep Majority Coalition Nikiski 2019
9 Laddie Shaw Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2019
10 Craig Johnson Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2023
(2005–2017)
11 Julie Coulombe Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2023
12 Calvin Schrage Ind Minority Coalition Anchorage 2021
13 Andy Josephson Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2013
14 Alyse Galvin Ind Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
15 Tom McKay Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2021
16 Jennie Armstrong Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
17 Zack Fields Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2019
18 Cliff Groh Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
19 Genevieve Mina Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
20 Andrew Gray Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
21 Donna Mears Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
22 Stanley Wright Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2023
23 Jamie Allard Rep Majority Coalition Eagle River 2023
24 Dan Saddler Rep Majority Coalition Eagle River 2023
(2011–2019)
25 DeLena Johnson Rep Majority Coalition Palmer 2017
26 Cathy Tilton Rep Majority Coalition Wasilla 2015
27 David Eastman Rep[b] No Coalition Wasilla 2017
28 Jesse Sumner Rep Majority Coalition Wasilla 2023
29 George Rauscher Rep Majority Coalition Sutton 2017
30 Kevin McCabe Rep Majority Coalition Big Lake 2021
31 Maxine Dibert Dem Minority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
32 Will Stapp Rep Majority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
33 Mike Prax Rep Majority Coalition North Pole 2019[c]
34 Frank Tomaszewski Rep Majority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
35 Ashley Carrick Dem Minority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
36 Mike Cronk Rep Majority Coalition Tok 2021
37 Bryce Edgmon Ind[d] Majority Coalition Dillingham 2007
38 Conrad McCormick Dem[d] Majority Coalition Bethel 2023
39 Neal Foster Dem[d] Majority Coalition Nome 2009[c]
40 Thomas Baker Rep Majority Coalition Kotzebue 2023[c]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

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Main article: Political party strength in Alaska

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Member of the Democratic-led minority caucus
  2. ^ Not a member of either caucus
  3. ^ a b c Originally appointed.
  4. ^ a b c Member of the Republican-led majority

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Legislative Process Archived December 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, Alaska Legislature (accessed April 27, 2013)
  2. ^ a b c Alaska Handbook to State Government Archived December 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 25, 2013)
  3. ^ a b Article 2 of the Alaska Constitution, Lieutenant Governor's Office (accessed April 26, 2013)
  4. ^ "Alaska's Republican former House speaker joins Democrat-led minority". Alaska Division of Elections. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Legislature sworn in January 17, 2023 without a governing majority
  6. ^ Speaker elected and majority formed
  7. ^ Independent Josiah Patkotak (District 40) resigned. [1]
  8. ^ Republican Thomas Baker was sworn in to succeed Patkotak. [2]
  9. ^ "Alaska House Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
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58°18′08″N 134°24′38″W / 58.302198°N 134.410467°W / 58.302198; -134.410467

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