Alaska Legislature's next special session will begin Aug. 16

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has postponed the next special session of the Alaska Legislature by two weeks after lawmakers requested more time to prepare.

The session will begin Aug. 16 in Juneau, and its agenda includes a change to the Permanent Fund dividend payment formula, the state’s subsidy for rural electrical prices, measures to increase state revenue, and a proposed constitutional amendment that would tighten the state spending cap.

“A full 2021 dividend is still of paramount importance for many members of our caucus,” said Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, and a member of the House’s Republican minority minority. “New constitutional amendments regarding spending or future taxes are incredibly important, but until we tackle how we’ll treat the dividend, going forward, I doubt we’ll make much progress.”

A group of eight legislators, including McCabe, has been meeting regularly in public and private to find agreement on potential options before the session begins. The committee has not yet advanced any proposals.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2021/07/29/alaska-legislative-leaders-ask-dunleavy-to-postpone-special-session-as-they-seek-agreement-on-future-of-permanent-fund-dividend/
(Anchorage Daily News)