ARCO at 438. In this passage, however, we were merely pointing out that the procedure used by the legislature in that case was not constitutionally defective. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that article II, section 18 does not require a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature for the passage of laws containing retroactive provisions. The superior court properly granted summary judgment for the state. Alaska Const. art.
Laws passed by the legislature become effective ninety days after enactment.
The legislature may, by concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of each house, provide for another effective date. The application of the ELF reduces the oil production tax an oil company pays as the productivity of an oil well declines. The purpose of the ELF is to encourage the development of marginally productive wells. However, the ELF in effect prior to 1989 provided tax breaks to some highly productive wells. See 1989 House Journal 171.