AKPIRG

05/28/2026

Lawmakers are still convening for a special session on AKLNG, but the regular legislative session is now over.

It ended with some big wins, and some unfinished work that will carry into future sessions.

Here’s what passed, what didn’t, and how lawmakers ended up back in special session.

05/27/2026

Our series highlighting the Alaska Native Languages ACS Toolkit continues! A few months ago, we shared a beautiful video from the AKPIRG Denaa Kkenaage’ Language Panel featuring Velma Schafer speaking about the importance of the American Community Survey (ACS). This month, we’re excited to share a companion piece: “Weaving Our Net” – a poster featuring Velma weaving a fishing net 🧶🐟

Just like a fishing net is woven strand by strand to support and sustain a community, every completed ACS form helps strengthen the collective picture of our communities’ needs. Participating in the ACS helps direct federal funding and resources for things like healthcare, housing, transportation, and language access – helping communities thrive for generations to come.

Enaa baasee' to the entire Denaa Kkenaage’ Language Panel for creating this powerful resource, and special thanks to Velma for sharing her knowledge and artistry with us 💜

Check out the full toolkit with downloadable and printable resources in nine Alaska Native languages at akpirg.org/acs (link in bio!)
—
This message is brought to you by the AKPIRG Denaa Kkenaage’ Language Panel, with Velma Schafer, Hʉkk'aaghneestaatlno Lorraine David, and Brittany Woods-Orrison.

05/20/2026

A huge win for all Alaskans: SB 249 is headed to the Governor's desk with UNANIMOUS support from the House and Senate! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who used our action form to contact their legislators in support of this bill -- your advocacy helped move this important consumer protection bill across the finish line. Together, we helped deliver real accountability and justice to Alaskans harmed by Crypto ATM fraud.

05/18/2026

Sign-ons needed TODAY! Urge the House to bring SB 249 to a floor vote!

bit.ly/StopCryptoATMFraud

05/14/2026

Yesterday our team participated in the Anchorage Waterways Council's annual creek cleanup! Our staff chose an area of Chanshtnu Creek, or Chester Creek, near our office to spend an afternoon cleaning up 🚮

By the end, we filled 10 bags of trash and helped make this community green space and this local waterway a little cleaner for everyone. 🌿🗑️

Thank you to the Anchorage Waterways Council for organizing, and to all the sponsors of the creek cleanup!

05/14/2026

SB 249 passed in the Senate unanimously! Write to your representative to make sure it passes in the House.

https://bit.ly/StopCryptoATMFraud

05/06/2026

‼️ACTION ALERT ‼️

Tell your legislators to stop Crypto ATM fraud: bit.ly/StopCryptoATMFraud

Crypto ATMs are spreading across our communities in Alaska and putting people, especially Elders, at risk of scams.

Two bills in the legislature would help prevent Crypto ATM fraud from happening in our communities and help victims recover losses. Take 30 seconds to encourage your lawmakers to act. ✅

If you've been defrauded with a Crypto ATM, you can report it to local law enforcement and file a complaint with the FBI at ic3.gov. AARP also has a Fraud Watch Network Helpline that you can call at 877-908-3360 Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET to speak with a fraud specialist. You can also report the scam via AARP’s Scam-Tracking Map to help warn others and see what has been reported in your area.

05/05/2026

Yesterday, Alaska came incredibly close to taking a major step forward for our democracy. It failed by 2 votes.

SB 64 would have expanded voter access and strengthened our elections, especially for rural, Alaska Native, off-road system, and military voters. Passing this bill was a product of years of bipartisan effort and collaboration, and Governor Dunleavy vetoed it.

The veto override did not pass. But 38 lawmakers from on both sides of the aisle stood up for it. That kind of bipartisan support doesn’t happen by accident, it happens because Alaskans organized, advocated, and made their voices heard.

Alaska deserves an election system built for all Alaskans, and we’re going to keep showing up until we get there.

04/30/2026

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) is responsible for ensuring that utilities do not charge their ratepayers unfair or unreasonable rates. AKPIRG Lead Regulatory Analyst, Brian Kassof, discusses how a last-minute amendment to SB 180 could put ratepayers at risk in today's Northern Journal article:

“Without knowing how the RCA would implement accelerated timelines, it is impossible to know exactly how changes to the process would harm protections to ratepayers,” Kassof said in a statement to Northern Journal. “But a 40% reduction in the timeline would almost certainly erode these protections.”

Read more at the link below!

Under a last-minute proposal from Anchorage Democratic Rep. Carolyn Hall, regulators would have nine months instead of 15 months to vet utility proposals.

04/29/2026

We’re glad to share another piece from the Alaska Native Languages ACS Toolkit – this one created by the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in Language Panel 💚

At the center of this poster is a traditional Gwich’in beaded baby belt. These belts are carefully handcrafted – often by a baby’s sh*tsuu (grandmother) – with deep intention and care. Given to welcome a child, they carry meaning, connection, and tradition from one generation to the next. In much the same way, language is a gift passed down, holding identity and knowledge across time.

If you receive the ACS in the mail, you can include every language you speak – even those you’re still learning. For Gwich’in speakers and learners, marking your language is a meaningful way to keep it moving forward and expand access to resources and services in your community.

Mahsì’ choo to the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in Language Panel for weaving this story into the ACS Toolkit 💫
—
This message is brought to you in Dinjii Zhuh K'yaa by the AKPIRG Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in Language Panel, with Mary Fields, Hishinlai' Peter and Amaya Shaw

Original baby belt imagery provided by Mary Fields. Graphic design in collaboration with Black and White Raven Company ()

04/22/2026

Come with us for a day in Juneau! 🏛️

Since our legislative fly-in in February, AKPIRG staff have been hard at work tracking bills, meeting with lawmakers, pushing for policies that put Alaskans first, and having fun along the way 🤸🏻‍♀️

The Alaska State Legislature is just a few short weeks away from adjourning for the year, which means the pace in Juneau is definitely picking up. Stay tuned as we all work to get bills across the finish line!