Alaska House of Representatives

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Wikipedia

Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 21, 2025
Leadership
Bryce Edgmon (I-C)
since January 21, 2025
Majority Leader
Chuck Kopp (R-C)
since January 21, 2025
Minority Leader
DeLena Johnson (R)
since November 29, 2025
Structure
Seats40
Political groups
Majority coalition caucus (21)  
Minority (19)  
Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle 2, Alaska Constitution
Salary$50,400/year + per diem
Elections
Nonpartisan blanket primary / Instant-runoff voting
Last election
November 5, 2024
Next election
November 3, 2026
RedistrictingAlaska Redistricting Board
Meeting place
House of Representatives chamber
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska
Website
Alaska House of Representatives
Rules
Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules

The Alaska 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.

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 HouseBryce EdgmonDem-CoalitionIndDillingham37
Majority LeaderChuck KoppDem-CoalitionRepAnchorage10
Majority WhipZack FieldsDem-CoalitionDemAnchorage19
Minority LeaderDeLena JohnsonRepRepPalmer25
Minority WhipJustin RuffridgeRepRepSoldotna7

Current composition

The 21-member majority caucus consists of all 14 Democrats, all 5 Independents and 2 Republicans. The 19-member minority caucus consists of 19 Republicans. [4]

↓
19 2 5 14
Republican 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
32nd Legislature (2021–2022) 17 2 2 4 15 40 0
Begin 33rd Legislature (2023) 19 1 1 2 4 2 11 40 0
End 33rd (2024) 20 1
Begin 34th Legislature (2025) 19 2 5 14 40 0
Latest voting share 47.5% 52.5%

Past partisan compositions can be found on Political party strength in Alaska.

Committees

Current committees include:[5]

  • 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 (34th Alaska State Legislature)

Alaska House of Representatives
34th Alaska State Legislature, 2025–27
DistrictNamePartyCoalitionResidenceAssumed
office
1Jeremy BynumRepMinorityKetchikan2025
2Rebecca HimschootIndMajoritySitka2023
3Andi StoryDemMajorityJuneau2019
4Sara HannanDemMajorityJuneau2019
5Louise StutesRepMajorityKodiak2015
6Sarah VanceRepMinorityHomer2019
7Justin RuffridgeRepMinoritySoldotna2023
8Bill ElamRepMinorityNikiski2025
9Ky HollandIndMajorityAnchorage2025
10Chuck KoppRepMajorityAnchorage2025
(2017–2023)
11Julie CoulombeRepMinorityAnchorage2023
12Calvin SchrageIndMajorityAnchorage2021
13Andy JosephsonDemMajorityAnchorage2013
14Alyse GalvinIndMajorityAnchorage2023
15Mia CostelloRepMinorityAnchorage2025
(2011-2015)
16Carolyn HallDemMajorityAnchorage2025
17Zack FieldsDemMajorityAnchorage2019
18David NelsonRepMinorityAnchorage2025
(2021-2023)
19Genevieve MinaDemMajorityAnchorage2023
20Andrew GrayDemMajorityAnchorage2023
21Donna MearsDemMajorityAnchorage2023
22Ted EischeidDemMajorityAnchorage2025
23Jamie AllardRepMinorityEagle River2023
24Dan SaddlerRepMinorityEagle River2023
(2011–2019)
25DeLena JohnsonRepMinorityPalmer2017
26Vacant[a]RepMinority
27Jubilee UnderwoodRepMinorityWasilla2025
28Elexie MooreRepMinorityWasilla2025
29Vacant[b]RepMinority
30Kevin McCabeRepMinorityBig Lake2021
31Maxine DibertDemMajorityFairbanks2023
32Will StappRepMinorityFairbanks2023
33Mike PraxRepMinorityNorth Pole2019[c]
34Frank TomaszewskiRepMinorityFairbanks2023
35Ashley CarrickDemMajorityFairbanks2023
36Rebecca SchwankeRepMinorityGlennallen2025
37Bryce EdgmonIndMajorityDillingham2007
38Nellie JimmieDemMajorityToksook Bay2025
39Neal FosterDemMajorityNome2009[c]
40Robyn BurkeDemMajorityUtqiagvik2025

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Cathy Tilton was confirmed to a State Senate appointment on November 29, 2025. Steve St. Clair was appointed to her seat by Governor Mike Dunleavy, but he requires a confirmation vote from the House to be seated.[6]
  2. ↑ George Rauscher was confirmed to a State Senate appointment on November 29, 2025. Garret Nelson was appointed to his seat by Governor Mike Dunleavy, but he requires a confirmation vote from the House to be seated.[6]
  3. 1 2 Originally appointed.

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. ↑ Samuels, Iris; Maguire, Sean (January 21, 2025). "Alaska Legislature convenes session with aligned bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate". Anchorage Daily News.
  5. ↑ "Alaska House Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. April 9, 2014. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Governor Dunleavy Appoints Two Members to Alaska House of Representatives". Office of Governor Mike Dunleavy. December 24, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.

58°18′08″N 134°24′38″W / 58.302198°N 134.410467°W / 58.302198; -134.410467