Yesterday, March 31, 2026, the Alaska State Senate passed SJR 2, which lowers the veto override vote requirement from 3/4th of the Legislature to 2/3rd, specifically to override a governor’s veto of “bills to raise revenue and appropriation bills or items.”
The bill’s sponsor is Senator Matt Claman (D-Anchorage) who argues that the bill matches Alaska’s legislative power with that of the rest of the nation. Alaska has the highest voting requirement for overriding a veto on revenue or appropriations matters. Most states require a 2/3 vote from both legislative chambers to override a gubernatorial veto. A handful of states have even lower requirements.
The Senate Republicans, on the other hand, see the bill as an “attempt to tip the balance of power.”
Senate Minority Leader Mike Cronk (R – Tok / Northway) states: “The framers of our
Constitution saw the wisdom in giving the governor considerable power to reduce state spending. The fiscal override threshold is high for a reason.”
According to a press release from the Senate Republicans, “SJR 2 is a short-sighted and retaliatory push from the Democrat-lead Majority Caucus and is a transparent statement of their will to power.”
SJR 2 will now be considered in the House. If it passes the House, then voters will get the final decision this November.
