Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska 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

The Alaska State House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska 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

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.

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 HouseCathy TiltonRep-CoalitionRepWasilla26
Majority LeaderDan SaddlerRep-CoalitionRepEagle River24
Majority Whip
Minority LeaderCalvin SchrageDem-CoalitionInd Anchorage12
Minority WhipLouise StutesDem-CoalitionRep Kodiak5

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]

↓
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

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)

Alaska House of Representatives
33rd Alaska State Legislature, 2023–24
DistrictNamePartyResidenceAssumed
office
1Dan OrtizIndKetchikan2015
2Rebecca HimschootIndSitka2023
3Andi StoryDemJuneau2019
4Sara HannanDemJuneau2019
5Louise StutesRep[lower-alpha 1]Kodiak2015
6Sarah VanceRepHomer2019
7Justin RuffridgeRepSoldotna2023
8Ben CarpenterRepNikiski2019
9Laddie ShawRepAnchorage2019
10Craig JohnsonRepAnchorage2023
(2005–2017)
11Julie CoulombeRepAnchorage2023
12Calvin SchrageIndAnchorage2021
13Andy JosephsonDemAnchorage2013
14Alyse GalvinIndAnchorage2023
15Tom McKayRepAnchorage2021
16Jennie ArmstrongDemAnchorage2023
17Zack FieldsDemAnchorage2019
18Cliff GrohDemAnchorage2023
19Genevieve MinaDemAnchorage2023
20Andrew GrayDemAnchorage2023
21Donna MearsDemAnchorage2023
22Stanley WrightRepAnchorage2023
23Jamie AllardRepEagle River2023
24Dan SaddlerRepEagle River2023
(2011–2019)
25DeLena JohnsonRepPalmer2017
26Cathy TiltonRepWasilla2015
27David EastmanRep[lower-alpha 2]Wasilla2017
28Jesse SumnerRepWasilla2023
29George RauscherRepSutton2017
30Kevin McCabeRepBig Lake2021
31Maxine DibertDemFairbanks2023
32Will StappRepFairbanks2023
33Mike PraxRepNorth Pole2019[lower-alpha 3]
34Frank TomaszewskiRepFairbanks2023
35Ashley CarrickDemFairbanks2023
36Mike CronkRepTok2021
37Bryce EdgmonInd[lower-alpha 4]Dillingham2007
38Conrad McCormickDem[lower-alpha 4]Bethel2023
39Neal FosterDem[lower-alpha 4]Nome2009[lower-alpha 3]
40Thomas BakerRepKotzebue2023[lower-alpha 3]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See also

Notes

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

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″N 134°24′38″W / 58.302198°N 134.410467°W / 58.302198; -134.410467

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