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HB 178 Alaska House · 34th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relating to medical debt and consumer credit reporting agencies; relating to discriminatory practices based on the medical debt of a person; and providing for an effective date.

HB 178 prohibits discrimination based on medical debt in employment and housing. It amends existing laws to make it unlawful for employers to refuse jobs, deny promotions, or discriminate in pay because of a person's medical debt, and for landlords to refuse rentals, charge higher fees, or ask about medical debt when screening tenants. The bill explicitly adds "medical debt" to protected characteristics under Alaska's anti-discrimination statutes, covering both workplace and housing decisions. It defines "medical debt" per AS 45.85.800(c) and takes effect upon enactment. This directly affects job applicants, employees, and renters whose medical debt might otherwise be used against them.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits discrimination based on medical debt in employment/housing, protecting patients from financial repercussions of healthcare costs and aligning with patient rights protection.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits landlords from discriminating against tenants based on medical debt in rental decisions, strengthening tenant protections under housing anti-discrimination laws.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment discrimination based on medical debt, adding it to protected characteristics under anti-discrimination laws, directly advancing workers' rights in hiring and promotions.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Apr 9, 2025 Last action May 9, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB 178 → CSHB 178(L&C) · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to change its title from 'House Bill' to 'Committee Substitute' and updated the sponsor information to reflect committee action. The substantive content regarding medical debt protections in housing and credit reporting appears to be reorganized or merged in the new version, with the core provisions on prohibiting discrimination based on medical debt in housing and banning the reporting of medical debt to credit agencies remaining the central focus.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding the protection of individuals from discrimination based on medical debt in housing and credit reporting remains consistent, though the text has been restructured.
TECHNICAL

The bill title was changed from 'House Bill No. 178' to 'Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 178 (Labor and Commerce)', indicating it has been reviewed and amended by the committee.

TIMELINE

The introduction date was changed from April 9, 2025, to May 9, 2025, and the referral was updated to only the Finance committee, while the Labor and Commerce committee is now listed as the sponsor.

REQUIREMENT

The text of the bill was reorganized; the original version had separate sections for employment discrimination and housing/credit protections, while the new version consolidates these into a single section with subsections for housing and definitions.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
1
Committee
2
May 9, 2025
Committee
(H) REFERRED TO FINANCE
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Moved CSHB 178(L&C) Out of Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Genevieve Mina
Genevieve Mina
DDemocratic
AK
19