Alaska Bills

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 11: An Act relating to flood insurance; relating to property insurance; establishing the Alaska Flood Authority and the Alaska flood insurance fund; and providing for an effective date.

SB 11 creates the Alaska Flood Authority, a nonprofit organization made up of all property insurers licensed in Alaska, and establishes the Alaska Flood Insurance Fund. The bill directly affects property insurers (who must join the Authority) and Alaskans seeking flood insurance coverage. Key provisions require flood insurance rates to prioritize historical flood damage data and mandate the Authority to work toward increasing flood insurance availability in the state. The bill amends insurance rate regulations to ensure flood insurance pricing reflects actual past flood risks, rather than broader general insurance factors.

in committee · Alaska · House May 12, 2025

HB 30: An Act establishing the office of entrepreneurship; relating to new businesses in the state; relating to reports concerning procurements by agencies; and relating to initial business license fees for new businesses in the state.

HB 30 creates an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce to support new businesses in Alaska. It requires state agencies to annually report on contracts with new businesses, including demographic details and geographic locations, and to suggest ways to improve access for these businesses. The bill also waives the initial $50 business license fee for new businesses (as defined by state law) and mandates the Office to issue an annual report on legislation affecting new businesses. These changes aim to streamline support for new business growth and increase transparency in government contracting.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 117: An Act renaming the State Commission for Human Rights the Alaska State Commission for Civil Rights; relating to removal of commissioners of the Alaska State Commission for Civil Rights; relating to reports from the Alaska State Commission for Civil Rights; relating to the definition of 'employer' for the purposes of the Alaska State Commission for Civil Rights; and relating to local civil rights commissions.

SB 117 renames Alaska's "State Commission for Human Rights" to the "Alaska State Commission for Civil Rights" and updates related laws. It adds a formal process for the governor to remove commissioners for cause (like misconduct or incompetence), requires the commission to submit an annual report by November 15 with public access, and revises the definition of "employer" to exclude religious organizations from certain discrimination rules. The bill also clarifies that local municipalities may establish civil rights commissions with their own appointment rules. These changes primarily affect the state commission, its commissioners, employers covered by civil rights laws, and local governments.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alaska · House May 10, 2025

HB 224: An Act relating to volunteer labor compliance officers; and providing for an effective date.

HB 224 establishes a volunteer program for labor compliance officers in Alaska who inspect construction sites to verify adherence to state labor laws. Volunteers must have five years of construction experience, complete an OSHA-approved safety course, and wear department-issued badges while conducting inspections. The program requires volunteers to report violations to the department, wear safety equipment at their own expense, and maintain confidentiality - though they cannot issue citations or enforce laws. This directly affects construction sites and workers by adding a volunteer-based compliance check, while ensuring volunteers remain independent of state employment and enforcement. The bill creates a framework for the department to manage the program through a roster, regulations, and orientation.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alaska · House May 10, 2025

HB 182: An Act relating to live music and entertainment at breweries, wineries, and distilleries.

HB 182 modifies Alaska's licensing rules for breweries, wineries, and distilleries by allowing limited live music and entertainment. Specifically, license holders may now host up to four live music events or other entertainment performances annually, along with educational displays about their products and community fundraisers. The bill removes previous bans on live music, disc jockeys, karaoke, and TVs during consumption, while maintaining existing restrictions on seating at bars, opening before 9 a.m., and serving after 9 p.m. It directly affects businesses holding retail licenses for alcohol production and sales. The changes apply uniformly across breweries, wineries, and distilleries under Alaska Statutes 04.09.320, 04.09.330, and 04.09.340.

in committee · Alaska · House May 10, 2025

HJR 10: Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the Alaska permanent fund and to appropriations from the Alaska permanent fund.

HJR 10 proposes constitutional amendments to Alaska's Permanent Fund, primarily increasing the annual appropriation limit from 4% to 5% of the fund's average value over the prior five years. It would allow the legislature to transfer this amount to the general fund each year for state spending, while requiring the fund to retain all income except for investment costs. The bill also mandates transferring the unencumbered earnings reserve balance into the permanent fund by June 30, 2027. These changes directly affect how Alaska manages its permanent fund revenues and state budget allocations. The proposal must be approved by voters at the next general election to take effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Alaska · House May 9, 2025

HJR 19: Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to voter qualification.

HJR 19 proposes constitutional amendments to Alaska's voting rules, affecting all voters in state and local elections. It revises voter eligibility to clarify that only "a" U.S. citizen (replacing "every"), aged 18+, meeting residency requirements (30 days in the district for most elections), may vote. The bill also specifies disqualifications: non-citizens, felons convicted of moral turpitude (without restored rights), and those judicially deemed mentally incompetent (without removed disability) cannot vote. These changes require voter approval at the next general election, as the resolution is pending committee referral.

Topics ✗ Immigration

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 9, 2025

SB 186: An Act relating to removing soft drinks from the food stamp program; and providing for an effective date.

SB 186 would remove soft drinks from the list of eligible purchases under Alaska's food stamp program (SNAP). The bill defines "soft drink" as nonalcoholic sweetened beverages (excluding milk-based drinks or those with over 50% juice) and amends the state's food definition to exclude them. It requires Alaska to seek a federal waiver from the USDA to implement this change, with the policy only taking effect if the waiver is approved by July 1, 2027. The bill does not change current SNAP rules but prepares for a potential future restriction on using benefits for soft drinks.

in committee · Alaska · House May 9, 2025

HB 178: 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.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Alaska · Senate May 9, 2025

SCR 4: Designating May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month; and designating May 4 - 10, 2025, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week.

SCR 4 is a non-binding legislative resolution designating May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and May 4-10, 2025, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in Alaska. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but aims to raise public awareness about mental health challenges and tardive dyskinesia - a condition affecting some individuals on long-term antipsychotic medications. The resolution references Alaska-specific data, including high rates of untreated mental illness (over 29,000 adults not receiving care due to cost) and the state’s second-highest suicide rate nationally. It encourages community recognition and support for mental health services without mandating policy changes.

in committee · Alaska · House May 9, 2025

HB 198: An Act relating to the obstruction or hindrance of lawful trapping of game; and providing for an effective date.

HB 198 modifies Alaska's trapping law to create a legal defense for people who disable traps on public lands. It allows individuals to claim they were lawfully using public facilities (like trails or parks) and reasonably believed disabling a trap was necessary to protect safety or property. The bill also prevents lawsuits against such individuals if they successfully use this defense under amended law (AS 16.05.790(c)(2)). This directly affects trappers and public land users who might encounter traps while traveling or recreating. The changes take effect immediately.

in committee · Alaska · House May 9, 2025

HB 190: An Act relating to the insurance tax education credit; relating to the income tax education credit; relating to the oil or gas producer education credit; relating to the property tax education credit; relating to the mining business education credit; relating to the fisheries business education credit; relating to the fisheries resource landing tax education credit; renaming the day care assistance program the child care assistance program; relating to the child care assistance program and the child care grant program; and providing for an effective date.

HB 190 expands tax credit opportunities for businesses by adding multiple new education-related credits to Alaska's tax code. It allows businesses to claim credits against state taxes for contributions to educational programs, including Alaska Native cultural initiatives, vocational training, coastal ecosystem learning centers, and nonprofit child care facilities serving employees' children. The bill also renames the "day care assistance program" to "child care assistance program" and connects it to related grant programs. These changes directly affect businesses making qualifying contributions to education or child care services in Alaska, providing financial incentives for such support. The policy creates concrete tax credit mechanisms without altering existing program structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Bill results