Legislative Council, which creates rules for the Legislature, has decreed that all who enter the Alaska Capitol, starting Monday, must wear masks.
At the meeting, Sen. President Peter Micciche tried to amend the rule to say that masks would be recommended but not required. That motion failed 7-7.
Voting in favor of the “recommended” option were Reps. Cathy Tilton and Chris Tuck, along with Sens. Shelley Hughes, Mike Shower, Lora Reinbold, and Click Bishop.
Those favoring mandates were Democrats Rep. Neal Foster, Sara Hannan, Matt Claman, House Speaker Louise Stutes, and Republican Sens. Gary Stevens and Bert Stedman.
The third special session of the year begins on Tuesday to hammer out a fiscal path forward for the state and to determine the amount of the 2021 Permanent Fund dividend.
