Alaska House of Representatives

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.

Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska State Legislature
Type
Type	Lower house
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 17, 2023
Leadership
Speaker	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
Seats	40
Political groups	Majority coalition caucus (23)   Republican (20)   Coalition Independent (1)   Coalition Democrat (2) Minority caucus (16)   Democratic (11)   Independent (4)   Republican (1) Other (1)   Non-caucusing Republican (1)
Length of term	2 years
Authority	Article 2, Alaska Constitution
Salary	$50,400/year + per diem
Elections
Voting system	Nonpartisan blanket primary / Instant-runoff voting (Beginning in 2022)
Last election	November 8, 2022 (40 seats)
Next election	November 5, 2024 (40 seats)
Redistricting	Alaska Redistricting Board
Meeting place
House of Representatives chamber Alaska State Capitol Juneau, Alaska
Website
Alaska House of Representatives
Rules
Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules

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.

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

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			Independent		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, 2023–25

District	Name	Party	Coalition	Residence	Assumed office
1	Dan Ortiz	Ind	Minority	Ketchikan	2015
2	Rebecca Himschoot	Ind	Minority	Sitka	2023
3	Andi Story	Dem	Minority	Juneau	2019
4	Sara Hannan	Dem	Minority	Juneau	2019
5	Louise Stutes	Rep	Minority	Kodiak	2015
6	Sarah Vance	Rep	Majority	Homer	2019
7	Justin Ruffridge	Rep	Majority	Soldotna	2023
8	Ben Carpenter	Rep	Majority	Nikiski	2019
9	Laddie Shaw	Rep	Majority	Anchorage	2019
10	Craig Johnson	Rep	Majority	Anchorage	2023 (2005–2017)
11	Julie Coulombe	Rep	Majority	Anchorage	2023
12	Calvin Schrage	Ind	Minority	Anchorage	2021
13	Andy Josephson	Dem	Minority	Anchorage	2013
14	Alyse Galvin	Ind	Minority	Anchorage	2023
15	Tom McKay	Rep	Majority	Anchorage	2021
16	Jennie Armstrong	Dem	Minority	Anchorage	2023
17	Zack Fields	Dem	Minority	Anchorage	2019
18	Cliff Groh	Dem	Minority	Anchorage	2023
19	Genevieve Mina	Dem	Minority	Anchorage	2023
20	Andrew Gray	Dem	Minority	Anchorage	2023
21	Donna Mears	Dem	Minority	Anchorage	2023
22	Stanley Wright	Rep	Majority	Anchorage	2023
23	Jamie Allard	Rep	Majority	Eagle River	2023
24	Dan Saddler	Rep	Majority	Eagle River	2023 (2011–2019)
25	DeLena Johnson	Rep	Majority	Palmer	2017
26	Cathy Tilton	Rep	Majority	Wasilla	2015
27	David Eastman	Rep	None	Wasilla	2017
28	Jesse Sumner	Rep	Majority	Wasilla	2023
29	George Rauscher	Rep	Majority	Sutton	2017
30	Kevin McCabe	Rep	Majority	Big Lake	2021
31	Maxine Dibert	Dem	Minority	Fairbanks	2023
32	Will Stapp	Rep	Majority	Fairbanks	2023
33	Mike Prax	Rep	Majority	North Pole	2019[lower-alpha 1]
34	Frank Tomaszewski	Rep	Majority	Fairbanks	2023
35	Ashley Carrick	Dem	Minority	Fairbanks	2023
36	Mike Cronk	Rep	Majority	Tok	2021
37	Bryce Edgmon	Ind	Majority	Dillingham	2007
38	Conrad McCormick	Dem	Majority	Bethel	2023
39	Neal Foster	Dem	Majority	Nome	2009[lower-alpha 1]
40	Thomas Baker	Rep	Majority	Kotzebue	2023[lower-alpha 1]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

Main article: Political party strength in Alaska

See also

• Alaska portal

• Alaska Senate
• Alaska State Capitol
• List of Alaska State Legislatures
• Impeachment in Alaska

Notes

1. Originally appointed.

References

1. Legislative Process Archived December 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, Alaska Legislature (accessed April 27, 2013)
2. Alaska Handbook to State Government Archived December 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 25, 2013)
3. 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.

External links

• Alaska State Legislature
• Alaska House Republicans House Republicans website
• Alaska House Coalition Minority Coalition website (Coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans)

58.302198°N 134.410467°W / 58.302198; -134.410467