There is one week left until the constitutional session limit on May 20. And a big deal for an adjournment package could be coming together. 

Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska) has one major priority – the gasline bill he introduced on March 20. Legislative leadership have many priorities, but many of them have a big one – the bill that brings back a pension for public employees.

Today, the Landmine learned these two bills could be part of a deal to get out of town and avoid a special session immediately after session or later this summer.

Earlier today, a long meeting took place in Senator Bill Wielechowski’s (D – Anchorage) office. Wielechowski chairs the rules committee and decides when and if a bill go to the floor. The Landmine was posted up outside Wielechowski’s office. Senator Cathy Giessel (R – Anchorage) and Representative Chuck Kopp (R – Anchorage), both big pension supporters, were seen walking out. So were Senator Forrest Dunbar (D – Anchorage) and Representative Zack Fields (D – Anchorage).  

The gasline bill has been stuck in House and Senate committees, and has been amended by each body to include provisions disagreeable to Dunleavy and Glenfarne (the developer). Glenfarne executives and Mark Begich, who is working for Dunleavy to promote the bill, have been busy presenting to various committees and meeting with legislators.  

The pension bill passed the House by a vote of 21-19 on caucus lines last May. The Senate passed a slightly different version by a vote of 12-8 on April 28. The House concurred the next day by the same 21-19 vote from May. It was transmitted to Dunleavy on April 30. He has until May 18 to act – just five days away. If he does not sign or veto the bill by midnight on May 18, the bill becomes law. So the clock is ticking. 

Neither version of the gasline bill Dunleavy introduced (one in the House and one in the Senate) have passed. So using one of those bills would be difficult with limited time. But there is another option. Bills can be stuffed into other bills that have a similar title. Senate Bill 180, a bill that affirms the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) jurisdiction over LNG import facilities, is sitting in the House Labor & Commerce Committee. It has no other committee referrals. It passed the Senate by a vote 20-0 on March 31. 

The House Labor & Commerce Committee recessed today to 8 am tomorrow morning. It was added to the committee’s calendar early this evening.

The Landmine is aware of a committee substitute that has been drafted but not yet introduced. It essentially lowers the volumetric tax to an amount agreeable to Dunleavy and Glenfarne, eliminates the property tax for the gasline, provides some money to affected communities, removes the equity option for municipalities, and weakens the commitment to build a Fairbanks spur line.

If the committee substitute is stuffed into SB 180 and passed out of the House Labor & Commerce Committee tomorrow morning, the House could pass the bill as soon as Saturday if everything goes smoothly. Because it’s a Senate bill, the Senate would only have the option of concurring or rejecting the House’s changes. That could happen by Monday. 

If the Senate concurs, the bill would be transmitted to Dunleavy. That could all happen by Monday in ideal circumstances – which can happen when there is agreement between the two majorities.

But the Republicans in the two minorities, as well as Senator Bert Stedman (R – Sitka), voted against the pension bill. And many of them hate it. So a lot of people will be trying to kill this deal. 

Today, the House adopted a floor amendment that restored half of the money for the West Susitna Access Road – which was fully removed by the House Finance Committee. This is a priority for Dunleavy, so that could signal some good will for this deal.

The Legislature will hold a joint session tomorrow morning to vote on Dunleavy’s department heads and appointees to boards and commissions. Attorney General-designee Stephen Cox likely lacks the 31 votes needed to be confirmed, though it is close. If Cox is confirmed, that will be another indication that the deal is materializing. But if he’s rejected, that could spell trouble.   

The bottom line is this deal is fragile and time is running out. Everything has to be perfect for this deal to come together. And there is not much trust between legislative leadership and Dunleavy. 

What happens tomorrow in the Capitol will reveal if this is deal is real or just misplaced hope.

The Landmine will be in the Capitol watching everything closely. Make sure to follow us on X for live updates!