HB 52 Alaska House · 34th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

HB 52 ensures minors receiving inpatient mental health treatment at psychiatric hospitals in Alaska have the right to weekly confidential communication (via phone or video) with parents, legal guardians, or an approved adult, unless prohibited by law or deemed unadvisable by a physician. The bill requires psychiatric hospitals to report all uses of seclusion or restraint to the Department of Health and parents within one business day, and mandates biannual unannounced inspections of hospitals treating minors, including interviews with at least 50% of minor patients. It also requires the Department of Health to publish an annual report detailing seclusion/restraint usage, inspection findings, and data on minors in care, with the report due by November 1 each year. These provisions take effect on July 1, 2025.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Vetoed

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Vetoed Jun 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

CSHB 52(HSS) am → Enrolled HB 52 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enrolled for passage, converting it from a committee draft to an official act. The core policy changes remain intact, establishing rights for minors in psychiatric care, requiring annual reporting on restraint use, mandating unannounced wellness inspections, and defining 'chemical restraint' to exclude necessary medical treatment.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the text represents the final version ready for signature.

TECHNICAL

The document format was updated from a House committee draft to the official enrolled act, including the removal of committee headers and the addition of the final act title and effective date.

TIMELINE

A specific effective date of July 1, 2027, was added to the final version, which was not present in the draft.

REQUIREMENT

Minor text edits were made to streamline language in the requirements for confidential communication, annual reporting, and inspection protocols.

DEFINITION

A formal definition for 'chemical restraint' was added to clarify that it does not include ongoing medication for treating underlying psychiatric illness.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 20, 2026

Vetoed

(H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/18/26

lower

Jun 19, 2026

Vetoed

(H) GOVERNOR VETO SUSTAINED Y36 N24

lower

May 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y32 N8

lower

May 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

upper

May 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) PASSED Y20 N-

upper

May 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC

upper

May 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) Moved SCS CSHB 52(FIN) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) PASSED Y37 E3

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) HSS CS ADOPTED UC

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Committee

(H) FIN REPLACES L&C REFERRAL

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee

lower

1 primary · 17 co-sponsors