An Act relating to costs of and charges for textbooks and other course materials required for University of Alaska courses; and providing for an effective date.
This law, known as the Textbook Cost Transparency Act, requires the University of Alaska to clearly list required course materials on its online course schedule. It mandates that the university specify which materials are free or low-cost and disclose any automatic fees charged when students register. Additionally, the university must include a search feature that allows students to easily find courses where all required materials are either free or affordable. The definitions for low-cost and zero-cost resources are based on the state's minimum hourly wage and free availability, respectively. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2023
House Passage
May 2024
Signed into Law
Oct 2024
Introduced Jan 18, 2023
Signed Oct 9, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
56
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Oct 9, 2024
Signed into law
(S) Signed into law 9/5 CHAPTER 58 SLA 24
upper
May 15, 2024
Lower · Passed
(H) PASSED Y40
lower
May 9, 2024
Committee
(H) <Pending Referral> -- MEETING CANCELED --
lower
Feb 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
(H) Moved SB 13 Out of Committee
lower
May 5, 2023
Upper · Passed
(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
upper
May 5, 2023
Upper · Passed
(S) PASSED Y19 N1
upper
Mar 20, 2023
Upper · Passed
(S) Moved SB 13 Out of Committee
upper
1 primary · 13 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Robert Myers
RRepublican
Co
Alyse Galvin
IIndependent
Co
Andy Josephson
DDemocratic
Co
Dan Saddler
RRepublican
Co
Elvi Gray-Jackson
DDemocratic
Co
Forrest Dunbar
DDemocratic
Co
Genevieve Mina
DDemocratic
Co
James Kaufman
RRepublican
Co
Jesse Kiehl
DDemocratic
Co
LT
Löki Tobin
DDemocratic
Co
Maxine Dibert
DDemocratic
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