Alaska Legislature Sends Public Pension Bill to Governor’s Desk

Alaska Legislature sends public pension bill to governor’s desk

Alaska lawmakers voted Wednesday to send a public pension bill to the desk of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, calling it the culmination of years of effort to restore guaranteed income in retirement for Alaska’s teachers, public safety officers and other state…

Alaska Legislature passes bill offering public pensions with fate at Dunleavy’s desk uncertain

Sen. Cathy Giessel, an Anchorage Republican who carried House Bill 78 in the upper chamber, huddles with other senators during a debate on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media) The Alaska Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would once again offer state and local government employees a pension. The House was concurred with the Senate’s changes Wednesday, sending the measure to Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Despite dozens of attempts since…

Alaska Senate votes to restore public pension system, amid debate around cost

Sens. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, discuss a proposed pension bill, with Sen. President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, seen in the background on Apr. 28, 2026. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) Members of the Alaska Senate voted to approve a long-awaited pension bill on Tuesday, amid debate on the cost of the new public retirement benefits system and responsibilities of the state and local community employers. The Senate …