SB 193 establishes a temporary endorsement pathway for naturopaths in Alaska to prescribe prescription drugs under physician supervision. It requires naturopaths to pass a pharmacology exam and complete one year of supervised practice with a physician who has at least five years of prescribing experience. After supervision, the supervising physician must submit a report recommending whether the naturopath should receive permanent prescribing authority. The bill also mandates 30 hours of continuing education for license renewal and an additional 20 hours on pharmacotherapy for those with prescribing authority. This directly affects licensed naturopaths seeking to expand their practice to include prescription drugs.
HB 147 allows licensed naturopaths in Alaska to prescribe prescription drugs under a temporary endorsement while supervised by a physician. To qualify, naturopaths must pass a pharmacology exam and meet department requirements, with supervision from a physician who has prescribed drugs for at least five years. After one year of supervised practice, the supervising physician can recommend full endorsement to the department, enabling the naturopath to prescribe without supervision. The bill also requires naturopaths to complete 60 hours of continuing education (including 20 hours on pharmacotherapy) every two years to renew their license.
HJR 27 is a non-binding resolution supporting Alaska’s energy strategy, urging the federal government to release previously allocated funds for energy and infrastructure projects. It directs state agencies to coordinate energy and economic planning, prioritize critical minerals development, and ensure energy equity - particularly for rural and Indigenous communities. The resolution emphasizes Alaska’s natural resource assets (oil, gas, minerals, renewables) and advocates for a unified state approach to maximize economic development. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses the legislature’s position on energy policy coordination.
HB 341 establishes May 8 as World War II Victory Day in Alaska each year. The bill commemorates the Allied victory in World War II and honors U.S. military service members who served during the conflict. It authorizes civic groups and the public to observe the day through voluntary activities like ceremonies or educational events. The bill does not create new government programs, funding, or legal requirements - it is a symbolic observance.
HB 370 amends Alaska's unemployment insurance law to exclude certain sports officials (like referees or umpires) from being classified as "employees" for unemployment insurance contribution purposes. This means employers of these officials, such as sports leagues or event organizers, would no longer be required to pay unemployment insurance taxes on their wages. The bill adds a new exclusion to the statute's definition of "employment," specifically targeting sports officials' service. As a result, these officials would not be covered under Alaska's unemployment insurance program.
SB 269 restructures Alaska's Board of Fisheries into three regional boards (Southeast, Central, and Western) to manage fisheries within specific geographic areas. Each regional board will have five appointed members representing commercial fishing, sport fishing, subsistence fishing, and the public, with appointments requiring gubernatorial nomination and legislative confirmation. The bill assigns each regional board jurisdiction over fisheries draining into distinct seas (Gulf of Alaska for Southeast, Bering Sea for Central, and Chukchi/Beaufort Seas for Western), with boundaries defined using existing administrative units. It also mandates regional boards to adopt fishery regulations, hold annual meetings, and coordinate jointly on conflicts with the Board of Game.
SB 267 requires Alaska school districts to file annual financial audits with the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee by November 15 each year, with state funding withheld for noncompliance. It mandates detailed annual reports from school districts including staff-to-student ratios, budget alignment with performance standards, and resources for school improvement. The bill establishes a public website (per AS 24.20.207) for accessing school financial data and audit reports. These provisions directly affect school districts, the Legislative Budget Committee, and the public by increasing transparency in school funding and accountability.
HB 358 creates a grant program to support career and technical education mobility for Alaska secondary school students. It establishes grants for pre-apprenticeship training and work-based learning opportunities, directly affecting high school students seeking career pathways. The bill requires the Department of Education to coordinate with businesses and labor unions to develop programs preparing students for apprenticeships or employment. Key provisions include funding for student mobility between educational programs and aligning training with workforce needs, as amended into Alaska Statute 14.07.020. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand career training access without specifying funding levels or outcomes.
HB 295 updates Alaska's rules for qualifying for the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) by expanding the list of acceptable reasons for temporary absence from the state during the qualifying year. It allows residents to remain eligible for the annual PFD payment if they are absent for specific, approved reasons like full-time education (including vocational training), military service (or accompanying family members), medical treatment (not for climate reasons), caregiving for critically ill relatives, estate settlement (within 220 days), or government service (e.g., as a member of Congress or state employee). The bill directly affects Alaska residents who temporarily leave the state for these qualifying purposes. This is a clarification of existing eligibility criteria, not a new policy change, and applies to all residents meeting the specified absence conditions.
HB 266 modifies Alaska's rules for transferring big game hunting permits. It allows the original permit holder to transfer a permit to another person (with or without payment) before the hunting season begins, provided they notify the Department of Fish and Game and provide the recipient's name and license number. The transferred permit retains all original conditions, including species restrictions and emergency closures, and the recipient assumes all associated responsibilities. This change directly affects hunters who wish to transfer permits but does not create new permits or alter eligibility requirements for obtaining them.
HB 45 requires all Alaska state government buildings and public schools to display the U.S. and Alaska state flags daily (weather permitting), with the U.S. flag shown prominently higher than other flags. It prohibits governmental entities from displaying any flag representing political viewpoints (including those related to race, sexual orientation, or political ideology). The bill also allows active or retired military members to use reasonable force to protect or restore the U.S. flag’s proper display, shielding them from legal liability. These provisions apply to all state agencies, local governments, public schools, and colleges, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 124 modifies Alaska's nursing licensure fee structure. It requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to set fees for single-state nursing licenses (registered, practical, or advanced practice) equal to regulatory costs, while setting multistate license fees at double the single-state rate. This directly affects nursing professionals seeking licenses in multiple states and the Board of Nursing. The bill also updates definitions of "health care provider" to include nurses and clarifies nursing practice authority. The policy change aims to align fee collection with regulatory costs for nursing licenses.
