SB 190 amends Alaska law to clarify that the prohibition on alcohol delivery does not apply when a parent gives alcohol to their child, a guardian to their ward, or a spouse to their legal spouse (off licensed premises), or when a medical professional provides alcohol during treatment. It also expands banks' authority to serve as trustees for minors and incapacitated persons in court-appointed roles under probate law. The bill updates the Alaska Rules of Probate Procedure and Rule 77(c) of the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure to reflect these changes. These provisions directly affect families, guardians, and financial institutions involved in Alaska's guardianship, conservatorship, and probate systems.
HB 159 creates a new process for property owners or their agents to request peace officers to remove people occupying residential property without legal right. It applies specifically to occupants who entered without permission, haven’t been told to leave, lack rental agreements, aren’t family members, and aren’t involved in pending court cases. The bill requires a sworn written request detailing these conditions and warns that false claims could lead to liability for damages and legal fees. It amends Alaska’s civil procedure rules to formalize this removal method while addressing related offenses like trespass. This bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.
SB 55 reduces required employer contributions to Alaska's teachers' retirement system. It lowers the employer contribution rate from 14.56% to 12.56% of base salaries for active and reemployed retired teachers, and cuts supplemental employee benefit contributions from 9% to 7% of annual compensation. The bill directly affects school districts and public employers participating in the teachers' retirement system (AS 14.25) or public employees' retirement system (AS 39.35), impacting their payroll obligations. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and also clarify eligibility rules for employers not participating in federal Social Security.
Senate Bill 288 updates the rules for loans provided by the state's Bulk Fuel Loan Account to borrowers in Alaska. The bill increases the maximum loan amount from $750,000 to $1.5 million, with a higher limit of $1.8 million for cooperatives purchasing fuel for multiple communities. It also requires all loans from this account to be repaid within one year of disbursement. These changes apply to loans made on or after the bill's effective date.
HB 385 allows public utilities in Alaska, such as electric cooperatives and telephone companies, to use a simplified process for adjusting their rates over a set period. Under this new procedure, a utility can apply to the state commission for permission to change rates without going through the full standard filing process, provided they meet specific regulatory requirements. The commission must approve the application if the utility follows the rules and retains the authority to review the process periodically or revoke permission if errors occur.
HB 325 requires Alaska's commissioner of natural resources to establish regulations for industrial hemp production and sales. The bill mandates standards for approved seed sources (including federally certified options), post-harvest THC testing, minimum isolation distances of 1,000 meters for seed production, and a tiered system for testing, inspections, and fees based on grower size and risk - such as a micro-grower category. It also explicitly permits manufacturing and retail sale of industrial hemp products. These regulations will directly affect registered industrial hemp growers and businesses in Alaska.
HB 281 requires businesses processing cash transactions to round totals to the nearest five cents using specific rules: totals ending in 1-2 or 6-7 cents round down, while those ending in 3-4 or 8-9 cents round up. It directly affects retailers, restaurants, and other businesses that handle cash payments for goods or services. The bill excludes electronic payments (like credit cards or debit) and clarifies that rounding does not impact state or local tax calculations. This policy change standardizes cash rounding practices for in-person transactions only.
HB 197 updates Alaska's dental hygiene licensing requirements and board structure. It requires dental hygienists to complete an accredited two-year program, pass written and clinical exams, and meet specific background checks to obtain a license. The bill establishes an executive administrator position for the Board of Dental Examiners and mandates two hours of continuing education on pain management and opioid use for license renewals. Additionally, it expands the board's duties to maintain a registry of licensed professionals and enforce disciplinary actions.
SB 93 modifies how students in Alaska school districts' approved early education programs are counted for funding purposes. It changes the calculation to count each such student as "one-half" of a full-time equivalent student (previously specified with brackets), directly affecting school districts offering these programs. The bill repeals outdated funding calculation sections in state law (AS 14.03.120(h), 14.03.410, etc.) to implement this change. The new funding method takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 104 creates Alaska's Address Confidentiality Program to protect the addresses of specific vulnerable individuals. It allows victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault (with a court order), minors under protective orders, peace officers, correctional officers, and their household members to enroll. The program provides a substitute post office box for mail, which the Department of Administration forwards to the participant's real address while keeping it confidential. Enrollment lasts five years and requires renewal, and participants must not be required to register under Alaska's sex offender registry laws.
HB 387 creates a new Joint Legislative Alaska Native Languages Academic Task Force to address challenges facing the Alaska Native Language Center and academic research. The task force will consist of six legislators appointed by their respective chamber leaders and is required to meet within 90 days of the bill's effective date. Its main duties include holding public meetings to gather input, reviewing the current state of language instruction and research at the University of Alaska, and examining staffing and leadership issues that threaten the preservation of Alaska Native languages.
This bill creates a new procedure for property owners to request police removal of certain unlawful occupants from residential properties without first obtaining a court order. It applies to occupants who entered without permission, continue occupying, have no rental agreement, aren't immediate family, and where no related litigation is pending. Owners must submit a sworn request form verifying these conditions under penalty of perjury, with potential liability for false claims. The law amends Alaska's civil procedure rules to establish this expedited process for removing occupants who don't meet specific criteria under existing eviction statutes.
