A state Senate bill to reform Alaska's oil tax structure to encourage development on the North Slope appears to be about two weeks behind schedule, according to Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak).
At a press conference Wednesday, Stevens said his original goal was to get the bill through the Senate Resources Committee by now, but he says he's now pushed back that date to March 8.
"We've had to adjust it because of the interest in the bill and all the amendments that are out there," Stevens said.
According to Stevens, lawmakers have proposed about 20 amendments to the bill after sitting in on several Senate Resources Committee hearings.
Earlier this session, Stevens had said his goal was to pass the bill through the Senate, and get it over to the house with 30 days left to go in the legislative session -- about the middle of March, but that self-imposed goal now also looks to be in jeopardy.
"It's going to be later than I had thought," Stevens said. He said he hadn't discussed his revised timeline yet with House Speaker Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski), but he said he hoped to get the bill to the house within a "reasonable time."
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