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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB160

Changes to Legislative Council and Budget Committee Membership

Last scannedSep 14, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This bill changes how members are chosen for two state groups by requiring at least one member from a minority group in each chamber.

What it does

  • Requires the legislative council to include at least one member from the minority party of each house.
  • Updates the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee rules to require at least one minority member from each house.
  • Removes language requiring representation from 'each of the two major political parties' for these groups.
  • Adds a new definition stating that a 'minority' group must have an elected leader and make up at least 25 percent of the total members in a house.

Who it affects

  • The legislative council
  • The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill text does not state when these changes will officially take effect.
  • The source material does not explain why the definition of 'minority' was changed from two major parties to a percentage-based rule.

Plain language

Terms to know

Legislative Council
A group made up of the Senate president, six senators appointed by the president, the House speaker, and six representatives appointed by the speaker.
Minority
A group that has organized an elected leader and makes up at least 25 percent of all members in a house.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

MEMBERS LEG COUNCIL; LEG BUDGET & AUDIT An Act relating to the membership of the legislative council; and relating to the membership of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE1299
  2. (S) FN1: ZERO(LEG)1299
  3. (S) NR: BJORKMAN1299
  4. (S) DP: KAWASAKI, GRAY-JACKSON, YUNDT1299
  5. (S) STA RPT 3DP 1NR1299
  6. (S) Minutes (SSTA)Min
  7. (S) Moved SB 160 Out of CommitteeText
  8. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  9. (S) COSPONSOR(S): KIEHL, WIELECHOWSKI1132
  10. (S) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY-JACKSON1103
  11. (S) Minutes (SSTA)Min
  12. (S) Heard & HeldText
  13. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  14. (S) COSPONSOR(S): MYERS, HUGHES, CRONK, YUNDT, KAWASAKI750
  15. (S) STA, FIN744
  16. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS744