The Alaska Senate gaveled in the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tue, Jan.21.
Senator Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, was officially elected as Senate President by his colleagues. Senator Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, will serve as Majority Leader, and Senator Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, will serve as Rules Chair.
To complete the Majority’s leadership team, Senator Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, will serve as Majority Whip, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, will chair the Legislative Budget & Audit Committee, and Senators Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, and Donny Olson, D-Golovin, will serve as Finance Chairs.
The 14-member Senate Majority also announced their legislative priorities for the legislative session, which will build upon previous efforts to strengthen Alaska’s economy.
These beginning-of-session priorities include boosting public education funding, addressing public employee and teacher retirement, updating election processes, and tackling Alaska’s ongoing energy challenges to ensure long-term sustainability and affordability.
“The future of Alaska is bright, and I am looking forward to working across chambers, caucuses, and party lines to address the challenges Alaska faces,” said Senate President Gary Stevens. “Both chambers have tremendous opportunities to tackle the issues with the ability to do it through bipartisan collaboration—something Alaskans want and deserve.”