JUNEAU (AP) — A revised fiscal analysis shows a proposed oil tax overhaul could cost the state between $5.4 billion and $5.7 billion through 2019.

That is based on the latest forecast for oil prices and production, released last week, which assumes a continued net decline in production and prices between $109 a barrel and $118 a barrel. Under the prior forecast, the bill crafted in the House Resources Committee would have cost up to $6 billion during that time.

JUNEAU — An oil tax overhaul under consideration in Alaska would be a “game changer” and send a signal that the state is ready to compete for investment, a BP Alaska executive said Monday.

Damian Bilbao couldn’t say how many projects would make economic sense for the company until a final bill was in place that the company could model. But he told the House Finance Committee the latest version of SB21 would make Alaska more competitive for investment dollars. If it passed, he said the state could expect to see a shift in activity within one to two years.

JUNEAU — One of the governor’s permitting bills has hit a speed bump in the Senate, where rural lawmakers have raised concerns about the impact it will have on tribal organizations and citizens.

HB77, from Gov. Sean Parnell, is aimed at improving the permitting process and seeks to build upon past efforts to eat into a backlog of permits and authorizations.

JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate passed a $2 billion capital spending package Saturday — much smaller than Alaskans have seen in recent years but one that a leading senator suggested they’ll have to start getting used to.

Saturday’s 17-3 vote followed several failed attempts by minority Democrats to amend the bill, including a bid to add additional funding for things like two engineering buildings within the University of Alaska system. Sen. Berta Gardner, D-Anchorage, originally voted against the bill but changed her vote on reconsideration.