House: 412:38 Senate 302:26 Total 714:64

So we've just passed the half-way point of the 90 day 2nd Session of the 26th Alaska Legislature.  412 and 302 bills have been introduced in the House and Senate respectively.  38 from the House and 26 from the Senate have passed both houses.

Each Legislature convenes for two years, one session each year.  So, some of these bills were introduced in the 2009 session and are still hanging around.  From the legislative website here's the official tally as of today, Sunday, March 7, 2010:

Bill/Resolution Statistics (26th Legislature)

	HOUSE		SENATE		TOTALS
	INTRO	PASSED BOTH	INTRO	PASSED BOTH	INTRO	PASSED BOTH
Bills	412	38	302	26	714	64
Joint Res.	52	13	29	5	81	18
Concurrent Res.	21	6	14	5	35	11
Resolutions	15	10	10	6	25	16
Special Con. Res.	0	0	0	0	0	0

That means the House has passed 9.2% of the bills introduced and the Senate has passed 8.6%.  These batting averages would get you dropped from a baseball team.  But they have 45 or so days left.

And, in fairness, not all bills are equal.  Some are simple and some are far more complex. 

So where are all the bills?  Bills get assigned to committees that have jurisdiction over the issues they cover.  For instance, the Resources Committee deals with the programs and activities of the Departments of Fish and Game, Natural Resources, and Environmental Conservation.   I'm told that since the legislature has been cut back from 120 days to 90 days, bills tend to be assigned to fewer committees.

Anyway, a bill gets sent to a committee, which discusses it, possibly amends it, then, if it votes yeah, sends it on to the next committee.  If the bill has some sort of financial impact (and sometimes even if it is minimal) it has to go through the Finance Committee. 

Actually, I skipped a bit.  The whole procedure, step by step, is spelled out in a document linked on the Legislative Publications page and it's called Legislative Process in Alaska.  The next steps come directly from there:

The Committee then returns the bill with its report to the Chief Clerk or Secretary.

The report is read under Standing Committee Reports as part of the Daily Order of Business. The bill is then transmitted to the next committee of referral by the Chief Clerk or Secretary. If the bill does not have another committee referral, it is delivered to the Rules Committee which may schedule the bill on the Daily Calendar for Second Reading. The Rules Committee may also hold hearings on the bill and may propose amendments or a committee substitute of its own.

You can go to this page which lists each committee.  Click on a committee and you'll see what bills are there. where each bill is at the moment.

Click on Finance Committee now and you find there are now 72 bills sitting in the House Finance Committee.

		PRIME	CURRENT	STATUS
BILL	SHORT TITLE	SPONSOR(s)	STATUS	DATE
HB 4	FALSE CALLER IDENTIFICATION	LYNN, GARDNER	(H) FIN	02/04/09
HB 7	ROBERT E. BUSH VETERANS' MEMORIAL BRIDGE	CHENAULT	(H) FIN	02/24/10
HB 9	CAPITAL PUNISHMENT	CHENAULT	(H) FIN	04/10/09
HB 13	PROPERTY CRIMES	COGHILL	(H) FIN	04/02/09
HB 15	BAN CELL PHONE USE BY MINORS WHEN DRIVING	GARDNER, TUCK	(H) FIN	03/23/09
HB 29	ALASKA MINIMUM WAGE	OLSON	(H) FIN	03/12/09
HB 36	INITIATIVES: CONTRIBUTIONS/ PROCEDURES	** JOHANSEN, MILLETT	(H) FIN	04/16/09
HB 50	LIMIT OVERTIME FOR REGISTERED NURSES	** P.WILSON, GARA	(H) FIN	04/15/09
HB 52	POST-TRIAL JUROR COUNSELING	KERTTULA	(H) FIN	03/01/10
HB 58	EDUC LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM	** THOMAS, P.WILSON	(H) FIN	04/01/09
HB 59	PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS	** KAWASAKI, GARA	(H) FIN	04/10/09
HB 60	BUDGET PLANNING & LONG-RANGE FISCAL PLAN	GRUENBERG, CISSNA	(H) FIN	01/20/09
HB 64	GIFT CARDS	** GATTO, GARDNER	(H) FIN	02/11/09
HB 69	EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: RATING & HOME VISITS	** TUCK, PETERSEN	(H) FIN	04/10/09
HB 70	ALASKA GROWN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS	GATTO	(H) FIN	04/03/09
HB 73	LICENSE PLATES	LYNN	(H) FIN	03/25/09
HB 76	LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL & LB&A MEMBERSHIP	** GRUENBERG, BUCH	(H) FIN	02/05/10
HB 79	GAS ROYALTY & TAX FUND/PCE	RAMRAS	(H) FIN	01/21/09
HB 80	JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE	DAHLSTROM	(H) FIN	01/28/09
HB 82	BUDGET: CAPITAL, SUPP. & OTHER APPROPS	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	01/22/09
HB 89	VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COMMITTEE	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	03/04/10
HB 92	DIVEST INVESTMENTS IN SUDAN	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/25/09
HB 97	STATE VETERANS' CEMETERY & FUND	GUTTENBERG	(H) FIN	02/25/09
HB 99	DECEASED VETERAN DEATH CERTIFICATE/HONOR	STATE AFFAIRS	(H) FIN	03/02/09
HB 116	IDITAROD REGISTRATION PLATES	NEUMAN	(H) FIN	03/05/09
HB 127	ALASKA RAILROAD BUDGET	STOLTZE	(H) FIN	03/18/09
HB 132	BICYCLE PROGRAM	SEATON	(H) FIN	03/23/09
HB 138	CRUELTY TO ANIMALS	GATTO	(H) FIN	03/01/10
HB 147	EDUCATION FUNDING FOR INSTRUCTION	EDUCATION	(H) FIN	03/02/09
HB 149	CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUND	JUDICIARY	(H) FIN	03/23/09
HB 150	POWER COST EQUALIZATION	AUSTERMAN	(H) FIN	03/18/09
HB 154	SUPP./CAP. APPROPS: ECON. STIMULUS	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/25/09
HB 155	AUTHORIZE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PARTICIPATION	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	03/27/09
HB 166	SOUTHEAST ENERGY FUND	THOMAS	(H) FIN	04/01/09
HB 167	TAX CREDIT FOR STATE TOURISM PROGRAM	COGHILL	(H) FIN	04/08/09
HB 168	TRAUMA CARE CENTERS/FUND	COGHILL	(H) FIN	02/17/10
HB 169	APPROP: TRAUMA CARE FUND	COGHILL	(H) FIN	03/09/09
HB 180	SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDING	JOULE	(H) FIN	03/12/09
HB 190	CHILDREN'S TRUST GRANT FOR ENDOWMENT	FAIRCLOUGH	(H) FIN	04/15/09
HB 193	LEGISLATIVE ETHICS ACT	COGHILL	(H) FIN	04/07/09
HB 196	ALTERNATIVE ENERGY REVOLVING LOAN FUND	ENERGY	(H) FIN	04/01/09
HB 204	POSTSECONDARY MEDICAL EDUC. PROG.	DAHLSTROM	(H) FIN	04/03/09
HB 205	PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND FOR DECEASED	CRAWFORD	(H) FIN	04/14/09
HB 212	UNEMPLOYMENT AMENDMENTS: FED STIMULUS	CRAWFORD	(H) FIN	04/08/09
HB 225	STATE PROCUREMENT CODE	FAIRCLOUGH	(H) FIN	04/14/09
HB 228	REPEAL CBR SUBACCOUNT	DOOGAN BY REQUEST	(H) FIN	04/10/09
HB 235	PROF STUDENT EXCHANGE LOAN FORGIVENESS	MUNOZ	(H) FIN	02/08/10
HB 245	LICENSING FOR OPTOMETRY	THOMAS	(H) FIN	03/01/10
HB 273	MUNICIPAL GENERAL GRANT LAND	P.WILSON	(H) FIN	02/26/10
HB 283	PURCHASE/CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL	CRAWFORD	(H) FIN	03/04/10
HB 291	GUARANTEED REVENUE BONDS FOR VETERANS	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/23/10
HB 292	GRANTS TO DISASTER VICTIMS	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/19/10
HB 294	USE, REGULATION, AND OPERATION OF BOATS	NEUMAN	(H) FIN	02/03/10
HB 296	ENERGY EFFICIENCY BONDS; LOANS; FUND	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/26/10
HB 298	SEX OFFENSES; OFFENDER REGIS.; SENTENCING	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/12/10
HB 299	CRIME LAB; LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	01/19/10
HB 300	APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	01/19/10
HB 301	BUDGET: CAPITAL, SUPP. & OTHER APPROPS	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	01/19/10
HB 302	APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	01/19/10
HB 310	SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION DEBT REIMBURSEMENT	EDUCATION	(H) FIN	02/17/10
HB 312	ADVISORY VOTE ON IN-STATE GAS PIPELINE	CHENAULT	(H) FIN	02/05/10
HB 314	WORKERS' COMPENSATION	LABOR & COMMERCE	(H) FIN	02/26/10
HB 317	EDUC. FUNDING: BASIC/SPEC NEEDS/TRANSPORT	EDUCATION	(H) FIN	02/12/10
HB 323	INCREASING NUMBER OF SUPERIOR CT JUDGES	RLS BY REQUEST	(H) FIN	03/01/10
HB 325	APPROP: DEFERRED MAINTENANCE/REPLACEMENT	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/03/10
HB 326	SUPPLEMENTAL/CAPITAL/OTHER APPROPRIATIONS	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/03/10
HB 331	YOUTH COURTS AND CRIMINAL FINES	MUNOZ	(H) FIN	03/01/10
HB 339	AK HOUSING FIN CORP DIVIDEND	RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR	(H) FIN	02/10/10
HB 342	EXTEND BOARD OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS	T.WILSON	(H) FIN	02/26/10
HB 344	SALMON PRODUCT DEVELOP. TAX CREDIT	THOMAS	(H) FIN	02/23/10
HB 346	WORKERS' COMPENSATION ADVISORY BOARD	OLSON	(H) FIN	02/26/10
HB 356	TRANSPORT. INFRASTRUCTURE FUND APPROP.	TRANSPORTATION	(H) FIN	02/19/10

The House Rules Committee - the last stop before being voted on the House floor - has 21 bills.


Health and Human Services has 41.

Resources has 38.

State Affairs has 37.

Labor and Commerce has 35

Judiciary has 28.


Transportation has 25. 

Education has 20.  

Community and Regional Affairs has 19.

Energy has 15.


Fisheries has 15.

Military and Veterans Affairs has 1.  

I've left out all the House Resolutions (HR) and House Joint Resolutions (HJR) and Senate Bills (SB).  And note, that these can change every day, so the numbers will change. 

The Legislators clearly spend a lot of time writing, pushing,  and debating bills that never will become law.   They seem to do this because they think it impresses voters and contributors.  They also do this because they believe in the issues they are working on. Sometimes both motivations overlap, sometimes not.  People have to ask more questions of their legislators.

I'm not completely sure what's still likely to pass.  The Campaign Expenditure Disclosure bills - responding to the Citizens United Supreme Court case - appears to have bi-partisan support.   This will require disclosure of the funders of independent issue ads.  Even with this, everyone expects corporations and to a lesser extent labor unions, to target individual candidates who vote against their interests.  Without any of these bills passing, they can do that without the public knowing who's paying for the ads. 

It also looks like a lot of the remaining time will be spent on the gas pipeline and on a push by some lawmakers to lower oil and gas taxes.