William H. "Bill" Elam
Registered Republican · AK · Alaska state representative for District 8
Bill Elam is an IT infrastructure director at Central Peninsula Hospital who has served in the Alaska House since 2025 and earlier served on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. He lists balanced budgets, resource development, and affordable in-state natural gas among his priorities.
Where William H. "Bill" Elam stands, based on their records
Supports
Healthcare Affordability (1 record), Anti-Corruption (1 record), Government Efficiency (1 record),
Opposes
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Social Programs and Welfare (1 record), Civil Rights (1 record)
Mixed record
Public Education Quality (4 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 1 support
Voted yes on 2026-06-19 on overriding the governor's veto of HB 195, a bill renaming physician assistants as physician associates and changing their rules for working with doctors. The Legislature overrode the veto 43-17, so the bill became law.
June 19, 2026Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 oppose
Introduced a bill, by request, proposing to reserve pesticide regulation to the state and to limit local governments' power to regulate pesticides (House Bill 359).
February 23, 2026Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 1 support
Sponsored a bill proposing to require cities to publish their total bond debt before bond elections, including debt inside school service areas (House Bill 319).
February 18, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Introduced a bill proposing to drop the requirement that the Board of Fisheries and the Board of Game each meet at least once a year (House Bill 177).
April 9, 2025Supports Government Efficiency
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support
Elam voted to keep the governor's veto of a school funding bill (HB 69) in place. The try to undo the veto failed 33-27 on April 22, 2025.
April 22, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: homernews.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 oppose
Voted no on 2026-06-19 on overriding the governor's veto of SB 21, a bill creating Alaska Work and Save, a state-run retirement savings program for private-sector workers. The override failed 39-21 in a joint House-Senate vote; 40 votes were needed.
June 19, 2026Opposes Social Programs and Welfare
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 4 support · 2 oppose
Voted no on 2026-06-19 on overriding the governor's veto of SB 41, a bill requiring mental health education in public schools. The override failed 38-22 in a joint House-Senate vote; 40 votes were needed.
June 19, 2026Opposes Public Education Quality
Source: akleg.gov
Introduced House Bill 358, proposing a state grant program to help high school students reach career and technical education and work-based learning programs.
February 23, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: akleg.gov
Elam voted to undo the governor's cut of $50 million in school money from the state budget. The vote passed 45-14 on August 2, 2025, with no votes to spare. He was one of only seven House minority Republicans to vote yes.
August 2, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: alaskabeacon.com
In 2025, the governor vetoed a bill that raised state money for public schools (House Bill 57). Elam voted to cancel that veto and keep the higher school funding formula in place.
July 3, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: alaskapublic.org
Also on this bill
- May 20, 2025 · Elam voted for a school funding bill (HB 57) that added $700 per student. After the governor vetoed it, Elam voted to undo the veto on May 20, 2025. He said he had given his word to support the bill and wanted stable funding for schools. (Supports Public Education Quality)
Elam voted for a school funding bill (HB 57) that added $700 per student. After the governor vetoed it, Elam voted to undo the veto on May 20, 2025. He said he had given his word to support the bill and wanted stable funding for schools.
May 20, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: homernews.com
Also on this bill
- July 3, 2025 · In 2025, the governor vetoed a bill that raised state money for public schools (House Bill 57). Elam voted to cancel that veto and keep the higher school funding formula in place. (Supports Public Education Quality)
Elam voted to keep the governor's veto of a school funding bill (HB 69) in place. The try to undo the veto failed 33-27 on April 22, 2025.
April 22, 2025Opposes Public Education Quality
Source: homernews.com
Track record — Election Integrity
Election Integrity · 1 support
Elam sponsored HB 320 in the 34th Legislature, a bill concerning voter registration and Permanent Fund Dividend application registration.
February 18, 2026Supports Election Integrity
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Data Privacy
Data Privacy · 1 support
Sponsored a bill proposing to require social media platforms to switch off addictive design features for Alaska minors unless a parent consents (House Bill 318).
February 18, 2026Supports Data Privacy
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 oppose
Voted no on 2026-06-19 on overriding the governor's veto of HB 52, a bill setting rights for minors treated in psychiatric hospitals and limiting the use of seclusion and restraint. The override failed 36-24 in a joint House-Senate vote; 40 votes were needed.
June 19, 2026Opposes Civil Rights
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 1 support
Introduced a bill proposing to bar card networks and banks from charging merchants swipe fees on the sales tax and tip parts of a card payment (House Bill 171).
April 2, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Elam sponsored HJR 26 in the 34th Legislature, a resolution supporting Alaska LNG project workforce development.
May 16, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: akleg.gov
Track record — General
General · 11 records
Signed a House Minority Caucus letter on 2026-08-13 asking House Speaker Bryce Edgmon to call the House back into session and hold a public vote on the governor's gas pipeline tax bill (HB 4001).
August 13, 2026
Source: alaskahouse.org
Cross-sponsored SB 208, a farm bill that eases the sale and lease of state land for farming, treats industrial hemp as a farm crop, and names giant cabbage the state vegetable. It became law without the governor's signature on 2026-08-10 (Chapter 60, SLA 2026).
August 10, 2026
Source: akleg.gov
Voted no on 2026-07-16 on the final compromise version of HB 381, the gas pipeline tax break bill, which also added a state income tax on some privately owned oil and gas companies. The vote tied 19-19, so the bill failed.
July 16, 2026
Source: akleg.gov
Also on this bill
- June 20, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-06-20 on accepting the Senate's changes to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill. The House rejected the Senate changes 12-28 and sent the bill to a conference committee. (General)
- June 12, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-06-12 on an amendment to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill, letting local governments exempt a gas treatment or LNG plant from property tax and instead tax the gas that flows through it. The amendment failed 12-27. (General)
- June 12, 2026 · Voted yes on 2026-06-12 on passing HB 381, a bill proposing to cut state property taxes on the planned Alaska LNG gas pipeline by switching to a tax on the gas it carries. The House passed it 34-5. (General)
The Alaska Outdoor Council published its list of supported candidates for the 2026 election on 2026-07-13 and named Bill Elam among the Alaska House candidates it backed.
July 13, 2026
Source: alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org
Voted no on 2026-06-20 on accepting the Senate's changes to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill. The House rejected the Senate changes 12-28 and sent the bill to a conference committee.
June 20, 2026
Source: akleg.gov
Also on this bill
- July 16, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-07-16 on the final compromise version of HB 381, the gas pipeline tax break bill, which also added a state income tax on some privately owned oil and gas companies. The vote tied 19-19, so the bill failed. (General)
- June 12, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-06-12 on an amendment to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill, letting local governments exempt a gas treatment or LNG plant from property tax and instead tax the gas that flows through it. The amendment failed 12-27. (General)
- June 12, 2026 · Voted yes on 2026-06-12 on passing HB 381, a bill proposing to cut state property taxes on the planned Alaska LNG gas pipeline by switching to a tax on the gas it carries. The House passed it 34-5. (General)
Voted yes on 2026-06-19 on overriding the governor's veto of HB 314, a bill creating registration for interior designers and updating rules for architects, engineers and land surveyors. The Legislature overrode the veto 45-15, so the bill became law.
June 19, 2026
Source: akleg.gov
Voted no on 2026-06-12 on an amendment to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill, letting local governments exempt a gas treatment or LNG plant from property tax and instead tax the gas that flows through it. The amendment failed 12-27.
June 12, 2026
Source: akleg.gov
Also on this bill
- July 16, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-07-16 on the final compromise version of HB 381, the gas pipeline tax break bill, which also added a state income tax on some privately owned oil and gas companies. The vote tied 19-19, so the bill failed. (General)
- June 20, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-06-20 on accepting the Senate's changes to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill. The House rejected the Senate changes 12-28 and sent the bill to a conference committee. (General)
- June 12, 2026 · Voted yes on 2026-06-12 on passing HB 381, a bill proposing to cut state property taxes on the planned Alaska LNG gas pipeline by switching to a tax on the gas it carries. The House passed it 34-5. (General)
Voted yes on 2026-06-12 on passing HB 381, a bill proposing to cut state property taxes on the planned Alaska LNG gas pipeline by switching to a tax on the gas it carries. The House passed it 34-5.
June 12, 2026
Source: akleg.gov
Also on this bill
- July 16, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-07-16 on the final compromise version of HB 381, the gas pipeline tax break bill, which also added a state income tax on some privately owned oil and gas companies. The vote tied 19-19, so the bill failed. (General)
- June 20, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-06-20 on accepting the Senate's changes to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill. The House rejected the Senate changes 12-28 and sent the bill to a conference committee. (General)
- June 12, 2026 · Voted no on 2026-06-12 on an amendment to HB 381, the gas pipeline tax bill, letting local governments exempt a gas treatment or LNG plant from property tax and instead tax the gas that flows through it. The amendment failed 12-27. (General)
Elam cast the only no vote in the whole Legislature on a large crime bill (HB 239). The bill raised the age of consent to 18 and combined 10 or more bills into one package. Elam said the fast process did not give each idea a careful look.
May 20, 2026
Source: alaskapublic.org
Elam was sworn in as the state representative for House District 8 on January 21, 2025. He won the 2024 election over fellow Republican John Hillyer.
January 21, 2025
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Elam served two terms on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly before running for the state House. On the Assembly, he was the school board liaison and led the lands committee and the legislative committee.
September 30, 2024
Source: alaskabeacon.com
Past races William H. "Bill" Elam ran in:
- State Representative · November 3, 2026 · State House District 8; Alaska · incumbent
- State House District 8 · August 18, 2026 · State House District 8; Alaska · incumbent