HB 25 Alaska House · 34th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relating to disposable food service ware and containers provided by customers; and providing for an effective date.

HB 25 bans polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) containers for prepared food in restaurants and prohibits state agencies from purchasing such items. It requires restaurants to use biodegradable or compostable alternatives instead, with exemptions available if affordable alternatives are unavailable or if compliance would cause undue hardship. Exceptions include food prepared outside Alaska, reusable coolers, and disaster emergencies. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and defines key terms like "disposable food service ware" and "biodegradable" to clarify coverage. This directly affects restaurants, food vendors, and state purchasing decisions.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Vetoed

Jul 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Vetoed Jul 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

CSHB 25(L&C) am → Enrolled HB 25 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into its official enrolled version, updating the header to reflect the 2026 session and removing committee-specific markings. The core policy text remains identical to the committee version, maintaining the ban on polystyrene foam containers while allowing for future municipal opt-ins and a one-year transition period for existing stock.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the only differences are formatting updates and the addition of a clause allowing municipalities to permit polystyrene foam use via local ordinance.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header to change from a committee draft to the official Enrolled HB 25, reflecting the 2026 legislative session.

Removed committee-specific metadata, including sponsor lists, amendment dates, and committee names, as these are not part of the final law.

Corrected minor grammatical inconsistencies in the definitions section, such as changing 'food hybrid service businesses' to 'business' and 'extrusion-blow molding' to 'extrusion blow molding'.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection allowing municipalities to pass local ordinances that permit restaurants to use polystyrene foam containers, overriding the state ban for those specific areas.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

100

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 3, 2026

Vetoed

(H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26

lower

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y35 N5

lower

May 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

upper

May 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y20 N-

upper

May 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) PASSED Y13 N7

upper

May 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) L&C SCS ADOPTED UC

upper

May 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) Moved SCS CSHB 25(L&C) Out of Committee

upper

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) Moved CSHB 25(L&C) AM Out of Committee

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y40

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) PASSED Y25 N15

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

(H) AM NO 11 FAILED Y8 N31 E1

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) AM NO 9 ADOPTED UC

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

(H) AM NO 8 FAILED Y19 N20 E1

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Amended

(H) AM NO 6 FAILED Y19 N20 E1

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Amended

(H) AM NO 5 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Amended

(H) AM NO 4 FAILED Y14 N25 E1

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED Y28 N11 E1

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Amended

(H) AM NO 2 AS AMD FAILED Y15 N24 E1

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) AM 1 TO AM 2 ADOPTED Y30 N9 E1

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y29 N11

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) L&C CS ADOPTED UC

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Moved CSHB 25(L&C) Out of Committee

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Moved HB 25 Out of Committee

lower

1 primary · 12 co-sponsors