HB 240 requires Alaska public school districts to adopt written policies prohibiting digital harassment and nonconsensual digital impersonation (defined as fake digital content that misrepresents an identifiable person to deceive others). These policies must be shared with students, parents, and staff, and school districts must report related incidents to the state education department annually. The bill also mandates that state-provided training materials include specific guidance on addressing these digital harms. It directly affects all Alaska school districts and their students by establishing clear standards for preventing and responding to online abuse.
HB 250 makes it a class B misdemeanor for peace officers in Alaska to wear masks covering their face during public interactions while performing official duties, unless specific exceptions apply. These exceptions include undercover assignments, wearing face shields designed for protection, medical masks with a physician's certification, or masks for smoke exposure. The law directly affects police officers, sheriffs, and other peace officers who interact with the public in their official roles. It takes effect immediately upon enactment and does not apply to the exceptions listed in the bill text.
SB 263 repeals Alaska's child care facility revolving loan fund, its related foreclosure expense account, and the entire program. This bill directly affects child care facilities that previously accessed loans through this state-funded program. The legislation removes the legal framework governing these funds and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill does not create new funding or alter current child care support structures; it solely eliminates the repealed program.
SB 264 amends Alaska's housing assistance loan program by adding specific restrictions on loan types and borrower eligibility. It prohibits loans exceeding certain dollar limits or loan-to-value ratios for small community housing, requires inspections for building material loans, and bans loans to borrowers with past-due child support. The bill repeals three existing funding mechanisms: the home ownership assistance fund, operating loss reserve account, and restricted title loss reserve account. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting applicants and administrators of Alaska's state housing loan program.
This bill updates Alaska's Public Employees' Retirement System and teachers' retirement system to clarify which employees are covered under each plan based on their hire date and participation choices. It establishes specific employer contribution rates for the defined benefit plan, sets deadlines for submitting payments with interest penalties for late submissions, and mandates that new teachers hired after July 1, 2006, participate in the defined contribution plan unless they are already in the defined benefit system. The legislation also adjusts how retired employees pay for major medical insurance, requiring those eligible for Medicare to pay a percentage of premiums based on their years of service, while disabled employees retain access to retiree health benefits. These changes apply to current and future public employees and teachers in Alaska, with provisions taking effect on a specified date.
SB 219 requires Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation to annually test all public water systems for PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and test immediately if contamination occurs. If PFAS levels exceed specified limits - such as 4 parts per trillion for PFOA or PFOS - the department must provide free alternative drinking water to affected residents. The bill establishes liability: entities that negligently release PFAS must cover testing and water replacement costs, while manufacturers may be liable if users followed all regulations. It sets clear, science-based contamination thresholds (e.g., 10 parts per trillion for certain chemicals) and defines a "hazard index" for mixed contaminants. This directly affects public water systems, residents in contaminated areas, and entities handling PFAS-containing products.
HB 160 allows Alaska's local municipalities to set their own election terms for municipal school board members through local ordinances. Currently, school board members serve three-year terms by default (per AS 29.20.300(a)), but this bill gives municipalities the authority to change that term length if they choose. The key provision amends Alaska Statutes to explicitly permit municipal governing bodies to alter school board terms via ordinance, without requiring state-level approval. This directly affects all municipal school districts across Alaska, giving local communities more flexibility in how they structure school board elections.
This bill extends Alaska's state of emergency for the 2025 West Coast Storm until March 8, 2026, retroactively covering the period starting February 6, 2026. It allows state agencies to continue emergency response efforts related to the storm's ongoing impacts on infrastructure. The extension follows previous renewals and aligns with Alaska Statute 26.23.020(c), which requires legislative approval for emergency extensions beyond 30 days. The bill directly affects state agencies managing disaster recovery operations.
SB 233 establishes the Controlled Substances Advisory Committee within Alaska's Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. The bill defines the committee's membership, requiring it to include the attorney general, commissioners of family services and public safety, a pharmacy board representative, a peace officer appointed by the governor, and medical professionals (a physician and psychiatrist), plus two additional governor-appointed members. This procedural bill creates a formal structure for advisory input on controlled substances matters but does not change existing laws or directly affect the public. The committee's role will be determined by future state actions, not this bill.
HB 276 updates Alaska's rules for selling and leasing state land. It requires official cadastral surveys before most land sales or long-term leases, with exceptions for short-term leases, material sales, or land near surveyed rights-of-way. The bill also adds a one-year Alaska residency requirement for bidders on non-commercial, non-industrial, and non-agricultural land sold at auction. These changes apply to land transactions but exclude certain cases like homestead program parcels or municipal subdivisions.
SB 129 requires Alaska state agencies to pay contractors, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and Alaska Native organizations within 30 calendar days after receiving a valid payment request for contracts, grants, or reimbursement agreements. If payments are delayed, agencies must pay interest at the state rate starting on the 31st day (or 21st day for federal-funded grants). The bill also mandates written notices within 8 working days if payments are withheld due to performance issues, detailing required corrections. These provisions apply to most state-funded contracts and grants but exclude public construction projects and retainage. The law aims to ensure timely payments to organizations relying on state funding for operations.
SB 95 updates Alaska's child care assistance program by establishing a clear income eligibility threshold: families must have a household income at or below 105% of the state's median monthly household income (adjusted for family size) to qualify, unless exempt. The bill amends existing statutes to correct inconsistent terminology between "day care" and "child care" throughout the law. This directly affects low- and moderate-income families applying for child care assistance and the state department administering the program. The changes ensure consistent program rules and clarify eligibility requirements for families seeking support.
