JUNEAU — The House Finance Committee unveiled a $9.7 billion operating budget for Alaska on Monday, 2 percent less than Gov. Sean Parnell proposed.

An analysis of the bill shows the proposal is lower than Parnell’s for all agencies, except for corrections, which is the same. The highest percentage change came to the budget for the governor’s office, with the committee recommending that the $1.75 million requested for redistricting costs be considered for inclusion in the supplemental budget for this year.

JUNEAU — The halls of the state Capitol should be quieter later this week as many lawmakers head out for the traditional Energy Council break, though there are a number of hearings crammed into the schedule through Wednesday.

The discussion will include twice-daily meetings by the Senate Finance Committee, as it digs into the oil tax bill, and continued testimony on a measure that would define “medically necessary” abortions.

After hump day, things largely go dark.

Here are three things to watch for:

JUNEAU — Gov. Sean Parnell has introduced legislation aimed at improving the permitting process in Alaska, but critics fear it will hurt the public’s ability to participate in permitting decisions.

JUNEAU — An Alaska state senator is proposing a bounty on sea otters, the cute little marine mammals often seen by tourists swimming on their backs between cruise ships, sometimes munching on a fresh crab or clams.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, sees the furry-faced critters as a growing threat to shellfish beds, particularly in southeast Alaska, where he is from. On Wednesday, he introduced legislation that would have the state pay $100 for each sea otter lawfully killed under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.