Governor Mike Dunleavy has vetoed Senate Bill 183, a bipartisan measure to enhance Alaska’s tax audit transparency. The bill would have required the Department of Revenue to share audit reports with the Legislature in the format lawmakers requested.
The Legislature created SB 183 after the Revenue Department under Dunleavy stopped sharing data related to oil and gas tax audits. These audits determine how much oil companies pay the state, which could involve billions in lost or gained revenue.
Senator Elvi Gray Jackson, who chairs the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, criticized the veto and called it unprecedented. The bill passed earlier this year with overwhelming support, with 59 lawmakers in favor, 10 opposed, and one abstaining.
That substantial margin could push legislators to override the veto during the January regular session, requiring 40 votes in a joint session. Senator Bill Wielechowski, who leads the Senate Rules Committee and sponsored SB 183, accused the governor of hiding critical information.
Legislative leaders even sent a formal letter to Dunleavy asking him not to veto the bill, calling the situation extraordinary. They said allowing the Department of Revenue to withhold information sets a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
Dunleavy’s veto message claimed the bill gave too much power to the Legislature’s auditors, calling it an unconstitutional delegation of authority. He referred to previous rulings from the Alaska Supreme Court to support his position.
