The process of how a bill becomes a law in Alaska involves several key steps: 1. The Idea: A bill may be proposed by various sources, including legislators, committees, agencies, individuals, or the Governor. All bills must be introduced by a legislator, legislative committee, or the Governor. 2. Bill Drafting: The proposed bill is transmitted to the Legislative Affairs Agency for legal drafting and research. 3. Bill Introduction: Once drafted, the bill is introduced by a member of the legislature by submitting it to either the Chief Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate. 4. First Reading: The bill is read for the first time during the Daily Order of Business and referred to a committee. 5. Committee Consideration: The committee holds hearings, may make amendments, or create a committee substitute for the bill. The committee reports its findings and the bill is sent to the next committee or back to the Rules Committee. 6. Second Reading: The bill is read again, and amendments can be proposed and voted on. 7. Third Reading: The bill is read a final time. It must receive a majority vote to pass. If there’s an effective date clause, a two-thirds vote is required. 8. Reconsideration: A member can request to reconsider their vote on the bill under specific rules. 9. Passage in the Other House: Once a bill is passed in one house, it is sent to the other house where it undergoes a similar process of readings and possible amendments. 10. Conference Committees: If there are disagreements between the two houses, a conference committee may be formed to reconcile amendments. 11. Enrollment and Signature: After both houses agree, the bill is enrolled and sent to the Governor for approval. 12. Governor’s Role: The Governor may sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature within a specified timeframe. 13. Becoming Law: If the Governor signs, the bill becomes an Act, and it is assigned a chapter number. It takes effect 90 days after enactment unless a specific effective date is provided. 14. Implementation: Finally, the law may require administrative regulations for enforcement and implementation.

A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Alaska in several ways: 1. Proposing Ideas for Legislation: Individuals can generate ideas for bills or proposed legislation and communicate these ideas to a legislator, legislative committee, or the Governor, as all bills must be introduced by them. 2. Attending Committee Hearings: Members of the public can attend public hearings conducted by legislative committees. This allows citizens to express their views on bills and participate in discussions relevant to pending legislation. 3. Contacting Legislators: Constituents can contact their elected officials to express their opinions on specific bills or issues being considered by the legislature. This direct communication can influence legislative decisions. 4. Participating in the Legislative Process: Individuals can observe the legislative process by attending sessions, following debates, and tracking legislation that's of interest to them. 5. Lobbying: Engaging in lobbying activities by advocating for specific legislation or policies can also be a way for the public to influence the legislative process. 6. Voting: Citizens can participate in the electoral process by voting for candidates who align with their values and preferred policies. This indirectly influences the legislative agenda.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Alaska every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.

FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.

FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features

• real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
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1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.

2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.

3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.

4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.

5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.

6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.

7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.

You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.