SENATE
CATHY GIESSEL
27th-34th Legislature (2011 -2026)

Senator Cathy Giessel
Majority Leader

Email: [email protected]
District: E
Party: Republican
Toll-Free: 800-892-4843

Session Contact
State Capitol Room 121
Juneau AK, 99801
Phone: 907-465-4843

Interim Contact
1500 W. Benson Blvd.
Anchorage AK, 99503
Phone: 907-269-0181

Legislative Service
2011-2018 Senator
2019-2020 Senator Senate President
2023-2026 Senator Majority Leader

:

Place of Birth:
Fairbanks, Alaska

Residency in Alaska:
Lifetime

Occupation:
Registered Nurse
Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Family:
Husband - Richard
Adult Children - Peter, Elizabeth, David
3 grandchildren

Education:
Bachelor of Science - Nursing (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
Masters of Science - Nursing (University of Alaska Anchorage)

Alaska State Senate: 2011 - present
Committee on Labor & Commerce
Committee on State Affairs
Finance subcommittee on the Legislature

Senate Caucus Work:
Joint Legislative In-State Gas Caucus
Joint Outdoor Heritage Caucus
Anchorage Caucus

National Involvement:
American Legislative Exchange Council (Fiscal Policy Task Force)
Energy Council
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (Legislative Energy Horizon Institute, Arctic Caucus)
National Council of State Legislators (Committees: Agriculture & Energy, Budgets & Revenue, Labor & Economic Development, Mining Safety)
Council of State Governments-West (Committees: Energy & Public Lands, Fiscal Affairs, Western Economic Development)

Organizations and Community Involvement:
Resources Development Council
Alaska Miners Association
Alaska Industry Support Alliance
Chambers of Commerce in: Soldotna, Kenai, Cooper Landing, Seward, Chugiak-Eagle River
Pioneers of Alaska
National Rifle Association

Awards and Recognitions:
2010 Exceptional Leader, National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Fellow, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Anchorage Republican Woman of the Year, 2007

Special Interests:
Cross country skiing, biking, hiking, running, shooting, textile crafts

Legislative Service:

Prime Sponsorship
BillShort TitlePrime Sponsor(s)Current StatusStatus Date
SB 28 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) L&C 01/22/2025
SB 32 ALLOWED COSTS IN ELECTRIC COOP RATES SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) RES 01/22/2025
SB 34 REPEAL 90 DAY SESSION LIMIT SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) RLS 02/04/2026
SB 47 CHUGACH STATE PARK EASEMENTS SENATOR GIESSEL
CHAPTER 6 SLA 25 06/07/2025
SB 90 MINOR MENTAL HEALTH: AGE OF CONSENT SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) RLS 04/25/2025
SB 121 HEALTH INSURANCE ALLOWABLE CHARGES SENATOR GIESSEL BY REQUEST
(S) L&C 03/31/2025
SB 122 HEALTH INSURANCE NETWORK STANDARDS SENATOR GIESSEL BY REQUEST
(S) L&C 04/07/2025
SB 134 PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER;3RD PARTY ADMIN SENATOR GIESSEL
(H) RLS 05/17/2025
SB 141 AEDS/OVERDOSE KITS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) HSS 03/24/2025
SB 142 HEALTH INSURANCE & PHARMACY BENEFITS MGRS SENATOR GIESSEL BY REQUEST
(S) L&C 03/24/2025
SB 147 PHARMACIST PRESCRIPTION AUTHORITY SENATOR GIESSEL BY REQUEST
(S) FIN 05/12/2025
SB 191 TRANSFER OF RAILROAD LAND TO WHITTIER SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) RLS 03/04/2026
SB 199 COMMER FISH LIM ENTRY COMMN: XFER TO ADFG SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) RES 01/21/2026
SB 201 COURT REPORTS: INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS SENATOR GIESSEL
WITHDRAWN 01/23/2026
SB 205 PEACE OFFICERS/FIREFIGHTERS: DISABILITY SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) FIN 03/10/2026
SB 220 COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATION SENATOR GIESSEL BY REQUEST
(S) HSS 01/21/2026
SB 226 HOMEMADE FOOD; REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING SENATOR GIESSEL
(S) RES 03/20/2026
SR 1 SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ARCTIC AFFAIRS SENATOR GIESSEL
SENATE RESOLVE 1 07/11/2025



Cosponsored Bills
BillShort TitlePrime Sponsor(s)Current StatusStatus Date
HB 10 ADD FACULTY MEMBER UNIV BOARD OF REGENTS REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK
(S) FIN 05/09/2025
HB 16 CAMPAIGN FINANCE;CONTRIBUTION LIMITS;APOC REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE
RETURNED TO (S) RLS 05/20/2025
HB 39 EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HARD OF HEARING REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD
(S) FIN 02/04/2026
HB 57 SCHOOLS: COMM. DEVICES/CLASS SIZE/FUNDING REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS
CHAPTER 5 SLA 25 04/30/2025
HB 69 EDUCATION: FUNDING REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT
VETO SUSTAINED 04/17/2025
HB 174 REAA FUND: MT. EDGECUMBE, TEACHER HOUSING REPRESENTATIVE BURKE
VETOED BY GOVERNOR 06/24/2025
HJR 5 SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE BYNUM
LEGIS RESOLVE 8 07/16/2025
HJR 9 EXTEND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TAX CREDITS REPRESENTATIVE MINA
LEGIS RESOLVE 9 07/16/2025
HJR 11 RECOGNIZING ALASKA/CANADA RELATIONSHIP REPRESENTATIVE KOPP
LEGIS RESOLVE 5 07/16/2025
HJR 25 INTERNATIONAL TEACHER VISAS REPRESENTATIVE MINA
LEGIS RESOLVE 16 07/16/2025
SB 9 SURRENDER OF INFANTS; INF. SAFETY DEVICE SENATOR MYERS
3RD RDG,3/31 CAL(S) 03/30/2026
SB 23 CIVICS EDUCATION SENATOR STEVENS
(H) EDC 03/11/2026
SB 24 TOBACCO/NICOTINE/E-CIG AGE; E-CIG TAX SENATOR STEVENS
(H) FIN 05/13/2025
SB 26 ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME SENATOR MERRICK
(H) STA 05/13/2025
SB 41 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON
(S) FIN 02/28/2025
SB 44 MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS SENATOR CLAMAN
(S) FIN 02/07/2025
SB 89 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCOPE OF PRACTICE SENATOR TOBIN
(H) L&C 03/23/2026
SB 103 CNA TRAINING SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON
(S) L&C 02/19/2025
SB 111 DIGITAL PRODUCT REPAIR SENATOR DUNBAR
(S) L&C 04/09/2025
SB 129 PAYMENT OF CONTRACTS SENATOR KAWASAKI
(S) FIN 03/11/2026
SB 154 HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD SENATOR YUNDT
(S) FIN 05/17/2025
SB 221 RESTRICTING STATE FUND FIDUCIARY SENATOR STEDMAN
(S) FIN 01/21/2026
SJR 2 CONST. AM: VOTES NEEDED FOR VETO OVERRIDE SENATOR CLAMAN
(S)HELD IN 3RD, 3/31 CAL 03/30/2026
SJR 17 HONORING THE ENERGY COUNCIL SENATOR STEDMAN
LEGIS RESOLVE 18 07/16/2025
SJR 19 ANWR & NAT'L PETRO RESERVE: STATE SHARE SENATOR BJORKMAN
LEGIS RESOLVE 13 07/16/2025
SJR 21 INTERNATIONAL TEACHER VISAS SENATOR TOBIN
(S) EDC 05/07/2025
SR 4 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED STATES SENATOR TILTON
TRANSM TO GOVERNOR 02/13/2026