Legislature to Anchorage: Making Government Accessible, Transparent, and EfficientJuneau has long served as Alaska’s capital, and its history and role in state government are respected and valued. This plan does not change that—Juneau will remain our official capital. But holding legislative sessions exclusively in Juneau can isolate lawmakers from the very Alaskans they represent.
For citizens in rural areas, the Interior, and the Railbelt, participating in government often requires long travel, high costs, and time away from work and family. Many Alaskans simply cannot make the trip, limiting public engagement and transparency. There is also a clear financial impact: housing legislators, aides, and staff in Juneau for months at a time costs millions of dollars each session in travel, per diem, lodging, and logistical expenses.
By moving regular legislative sessions to Anchorage and requiring pre-filing of all bills, we can:
- Increase accessibility for the largest number of Alaskans, allowing more meaningful participation in hearings and decision-making.
- Improve efficiency, because legislators and committees can review pre-filed bills in advance, schedule hearings in an orderly manner, and focus on substantive debate rather than last-minute scrambling.
- Enhance transparency, giving the public a clear view of all proposed legislation before the session begins and ensuring rural and remote communities can engage fully.
- Reduce costs, with preliminary estimates suggesting potential savings of over $19 million per session when accounting for legislators, aides, and support staff.
As Governor, I Will:
- Direct the legislature to hold regular sessions in Anchorage to make government more accessible to the greatest number of Alaskans.
- Require pre-filing of all bills, working with legislative leadership to ensure smooth implementation.
- Maintain Juneau as the official state capital while expanding opportunities for citizens, tribal leaders, local governments, and small businesses to participate in legislative hearings and meetings.
- Ensure all public hearings are widely advertised and accessible both in-person and virtually.
- Promote transparency and fiscal responsibility by tracking travel, lodging, and per diem savings, and reinvesting those dollars into Alaskan services.
- Approve any necessary statutory or procedural changes to allow regular sessions outside Juneau.
- Support rules and procedures for pre-filing bills and hybrid participation, so remote and rural communities can engage fully.
- Implement a phased approach to ensure smooth transitions while maximizing public access and efficiency.
- Millions of dollars saved per session on travel, per diem, and staffing costs.
- Increased citizen participation, especially from rural and remote areas.
- Greater transparency, public trust, and accountability in the legislative process.
- Juneau retains its historical and official role as the capital, while the legislature becomes more accessible, efficient, and focused on the issues that matter most to Alaskans.
