Alaska House of Representatives

Last updated

Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska State Legislature
Seal of the State of Alaska.svg
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
Alaska House 2023-2025 new.svg
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
Alaska State Capitol, House of Representatives chamber 2024-08-15.jpg
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.

Contents

Powers and process

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

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

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

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

Terms and qualifications

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

House of Representatives member directory in the hallway of the Capitol building. Taken in 2009, this shows the House membership during the 26th Legislature. AlaskaHouseOfRepresentativesDirectory2009.jpg
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.

PositionRepresentativeCaucusPartyResidenceDistrict
Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton Rep-CoalitionRep Wasilla 26
Majority Leader Dan Saddler Rep-CoalitionRep Eagle River 24
Majority Whip George Rauscher Rep-CoalitionRep Sutton 29
Minority Leader Calvin Schrage Dem-CoalitionInd Anchorage 12
Minority Whip Louise Stutes Dem-CoalitionRep Kodiak 5

Current composition

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]

201211411
RepublicanIDRRIDemocratic
AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Independent Democratic Vacant
End of 28th Legislature260410400
Begin 29th Legislature (2015)231412400
End of 29th (2016)122
30th Legislature (2017–2018)183217400
Begin 31st Legislature (2019)158215400
End 31st (2020)1615391
Begin 32nd Legislature (2021)201415400
End 32nd (2022)1722415
Begin 33rd Legislature (2023) [5] 21613400
January 18, 2023 [6] 111924211
October 10, 2023 [7] 1391
November 13, 2023 [8] 20400
Latest voting share

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

Committees

Current committees include: [9]

Current members (33rd Alaska State Legislature)

Alaska House of Representatives
33rd Alaska State Legislature, 2023–25
DistrictNamePartyCoalitionResidenceAssumed
office
1 Dan Ortiz IndMinority Ketchikan 2015
2 Rebecca Himschoot IndMinority Sitka 2023
3 Andi Story DemMinority Juneau 2019
4 Sara Hannan DemMinorityJuneau2019
5 Louise Stutes RepMinority Kodiak 2015
6 Sarah Vance RepMajority Homer 2019
7 Justin Ruffridge RepMajority Soldotna 2023
8 Ben Carpenter RepMajority Nikiski 2019
9 Laddie Shaw RepMajority Anchorage 2019
10 Craig Johnson RepMajorityAnchorage2023
(2005–2017)
11 Julie Coulombe RepMajorityAnchorage2023
12 Calvin Schrage IndMinorityAnchorage2021
13 Andy Josephson DemMinorityAnchorage2013
14 Alyse Galvin IndMinorityAnchorage2023
15 Tom McKay RepMajorityAnchorage2021
16 Jennie Armstrong DemMinorityAnchorage2023
17 Zack Fields DemMinorityAnchorage2019
18 Cliff Groh DemMinorityAnchorage2023
19 Genevieve Mina DemMinorityAnchorage2023
20 Andrew Gray DemMinorityAnchorage2023
21 Donna Mears DemMinorityAnchorage2023
22 Stanley Wright RepMajorityAnchorage2023
23 Jamie Allard RepMajority Eagle River 2023
24 Dan Saddler RepMajorityEagle River2023
(2011–2019)
25 DeLena Johnson RepMajority Palmer 2017
26 Cathy Tilton RepMajority Wasilla 2015
27 David Eastman RepNoneWasilla2017
28 Jesse Sumner RepMajorityWasilla2023
29 George Rauscher RepMajority Sutton 2017
30 Kevin McCabe RepMajority Big Lake 2021
31 Maxine Dibert DemMinorityFairbanks2023
32 Will Stapp RepMajorityFairbanks2023
33 Mike Prax RepMajority North Pole 2019 [a]
34 Frank Tomaszewski RepMajorityFairbanks2023
35 Ashley Carrick DemMinorityFairbanks2023
36 Mike Cronk RepMajority Tok 2021
37 Bryce Edgmon IndMajority Dillingham 2007
38 Conrad McCormick DemMajority Bethel 2023
39 Neal Foster DemMajority Nome 2009 [a]
40 Thomas Baker RepMajority Kotzebue 2023 [a]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Originally appointed.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Legislative Process Archived December 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine , Alaska Legislature (accessed April 27, 2013)
  2. 1 2 3 Alaska Handbook to State Government Archived December 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 25, 2013)
  3. 1 2 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.
  8. Republican Thomas Baker was sworn in to succeed Patkotak.
  9. "Alaska House Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.

58°18′08″N134°24′38″W / 58.302198°N 134.410467°W / 58.302198; -134.410467