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 21, 2025
Leadership
Bryce Edgmon (I-C)
since January 21, 2025
Majority Leader
Chuck Kopp (R-C)
since January 21, 2025
Minority Leader
Mia Costello (R)
since January 21, 2025
Structure
Seats40
Alaska House 2025-2027.svg
Political groups
Majority coalition caucus (21)
  •    Democratic  (14)
  •    Independent  (5)
  •    Republican  (2)
Minority (19)
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 5, 2024
(40 seats)
Next election
November 3, 2026
(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 Bryce Edgmon Dem-CoalitionInd Dillingham 37
Majority Leader Chuck Kopp Dem-CoalitionRep Anchorage 10
Majority Whip Zack Fields Dem-CoalitionDem Anchorage 19
Minority Leader Mia Costello RepRep Anchorage 15
Minority Whip Cathy Tilton RepRep Wasilla 26

Current composition

The 21-member majority caucus consists of all 14 Democrats, all 5 Independents and 2 Republicans. The 19-member minority caucus consists of 19 Republicans. [4]

192514
RepublicanRIDemocratic
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)111924211400
End 33rd (2024)201
Begin 34th Legislature (2025)192514400
Latest voting share

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

Committees

Current committees include: [5]

Current members (34th Alaska State Legislature)

Alaska House of Representatives
34th Alaska State Legislature, 2025–27
DistrictNamePartyCoalitionResidenceAssumed
office
1 Jeremy Bynum RepMinority Ketchikan 2025
2 Rebecca Himschoot IndMajority Sitka 2023
3 Andi Story DemMajority Juneau 2019
4 Sara Hannan DemMajorityJuneau2019
5 Louise Stutes RepMajority Kodiak 2015
6 Sarah Vance RepMinority Homer 2019
7 Justin Ruffridge RepMinority Soldotna 2023
8 Bill Elam RepMinority Nikiski 2025
9 Ky Holland IndMajority Anchorage 2025
10 Chuck Kopp RepMajorityAnchorage2025
(2017–2023)
11 Julie Coulombe RepMinorityAnchorage2023
12 Calvin Schrage IndMajorityAnchorage2021
13 Andy Josephson DemMajorityAnchorage2013
14 Alyse Galvin IndMajorityAnchorage2023
15 Mia Costello RepMinorityAnchorage2025
16 Carolyn Hall DemMajorityAnchorage2025
17 Zack Fields DemMajorityAnchorage2019
18 David Nelson RepMinorityAnchorage2025
(2021-2023)
19 Genevieve Mina DemMajorityAnchorage2023
20 Andrew Gray DemMajorityAnchorage2023
21 Donna Mears DemMajorityAnchorage2023
22 Ted Eischeid DemMajorityAnchorage2025
23 Jamie Allard RepMinority Eagle River 2023
24 Dan Saddler RepMinorityEagle River2023
(2011–2019)
25 DeLena Johnson RepMinority Palmer 2017
26 Cathy Tilton RepMinority Wasilla 2015
27 Jubilee Underwood RepMinorityWasilla2025
28 Elexie Moore RepMinorityWasilla2025
29 George Rauscher RepMinority Sutton 2017
30 Kevin McCabe RepMinority Big Lake 2021
31 Maxine Dibert DemMajorityFairbanks2023
32 Will Stapp RepMinorityFairbanks2023
33 Mike Prax RepMinority North Pole 2019 [a]
34 Frank Tomaszewski RepMinorityFairbanks2023
35 Ashley Carrick DemMajorityFairbanks2023
36 Rebecca Schwanke RepMinority Glennallen 2025
37 Bryce Edgmon IndMajority Dillingham 2007
38 Nellie Jimmie DemMajority Toksook Bay 2025
39 Neal Foster DemMajority Nome 2009 [a]
40 Robyn Burke DemMajority Utqiagvik 2025

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 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. Samuels, Iris; Maguire, Sean (January 21, 2025). "Alaska Legislature convenes session with aligned bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate". Anchorage Daily News.
  5. "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