Alaska Bills

SB 175 creates a tax exemption for corporations primarily operating in Port MacKenzie, removing their requirement to pay Alaska's net corporate income tax. This directly affects businesses located within the Port MacKenzie area. The bill adds a new provision to Alaska's tax code (AS 43.20.012(e)) specifying this exemption, while repealing the existing related section. The exemption takes effect immediately, but the repeal of the old rule is scheduled for July 1, 2035.

SB 135 changes how Alaska distributes tax revenue from fisheries business and landing taxes to municipalities. It increases the share for unified municipalities/unorganized borough cities from 50% to 60% and for cities within boroughs from 25% to 35% of collected taxes. Boroughs receive 60% of revenue from outside cities and 35% from cities within their boundaries. Newly incorporated boroughs (post-1987) get phased-in percentages over three years, and the bill requires municipalities to use these funds for harbor facility maintenance and improvements.

SB 171 expands tax credit programs for educational contributions across multiple sectors in Alaska, including credits for donations to universities, vocational schools, Alaska Native cultural programs, and coastal ecosystem centers. It also creates new tax credits for businesses that operate child care facilities for employees, contribute to nonprofit child care providers, or reimburse employees for child care costs. The bill renames the "day care assistance program" to "child care assistance program" and integrates this change with related tax credit provisions. These changes directly affect Alaska taxpayers who make qualifying educational or child care-related contributions, allowing them to reduce their income, insurance, or property tax liabilities. The bill consolidates and modifies existing credit structures under various tax codes without altering the program's core eligibility criteria.

SB 173 requires public construction projects in Alaska valued at $2.5 million or more - managed by the Department of Transportation/Public Facilities or Department of Administration - to allocate at least 15% of labor hours to apprentices in 23 specific trades (e.g., carpenters, electricians, plumbers). It further mandates that at least 20% of these apprentice positions must be filled by veterans. Contractors must submit detailed project data - including veteran apprentice counts and occupational breakdowns - to the state labor commissioner, who will compile an annual report for the legislature. This law aims to increase apprenticeship opportunities while prioritizing veteran employment in state-funded construction work.

SB 17 creates a new crime called "airbag fraud" in Alaska, making it illegal to knowingly sell, install, or conceal counterfeit, nonfunctioning, or non-compliant airbags in vehicles. It directly affects auto repair shops, dealerships, and sellers who knowingly handle vehicles with unsafe airbags, though it excludes police vehicles, dealers without knowledge of the issue, and insurance companies handling totaled vehicles. The law imposes penalties ranging from a class A misdemeanor for basic violations to a class C felony if death or serious injury occurs due to the unsafe airbag. The bill aims to ensure airbags meet federal safety standards by criminalizing the sale or installation of defective or counterfeit components.

SB 82 revises Alaska's public school attendance policies to expand parental school choice within district capacity limits, requiring school districts to report enrollment data and denial reasons for student applications. It mandates school districts to adopt mobile device policies prohibiting student personal phones during school hours except in emergencies, for educational use with permission, health needs, or as part of an individualized education plan. The bill also creates a $450 incentive grant for school districts for each kindergarten through third-grade student who meets or improves on grade-level reading skills via statewide assessments. These changes directly affect parents, school districts, and students in Alaska's public education system.

HB 132 regulates small loans ($25,000 or less) in Alaska by clarifying who qualifies as a "lender" and requiring participation in the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System. It directly affects small lenders (including those offering payday-style loans), credit unions, and borrowers by defining new lender responsibilities - such as when loans are disguised as sales or structured to avoid regulations - and mandating registry enrollment. Key provisions include amending licensing rules to require $1,000 application fees, updating definitions to include deferred deposit advance providers, and establishing processes for licensees to challenge registry data. The bill aims to standardize oversight for small loans while ensuring fair competition between state and federally chartered financial institutions.

SB 114 amends Alaska law to clarify the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation's mandate, requiring it to prioritize developing an in-state natural gas pipeline for direct delivery to Fairbanks and Southcentral communities. The bill mandates that the pipeline must operate safely, economically, and provide natural gas (including propane) at the lowest possible rates to residents and businesses. It specifically requires a direct pipeline spur to Fairbanks and the Fairbanks North Star Borough, while also outlining the corporation's role in advancing liquefied natural gas projects. The legislation focuses on maximizing state benefits from natural gas resources without specifying new funding or tax changes.

SB 139 restricts certain nonresident persons from purchasing, leasing, or acquiring land within 100 miles of military installations in Alaska. It prohibits foreign-owned entities or nonresident individuals (with exceptions for residential leases and U.S. citizens from designated "foreign adversary" countries) from holding such land, with violations leading to state forfeiture of the property. The bill establishes a process where the attorney general can pursue forfeiture through court action, sell the land, and deposit proceeds into the state general fund. Existing mortgages and prior ownership rights remain unaffected by this law.

SB 168 modifies Alaska's medical assistance program to expand eligibility for family planning services and supplies. It allows the Department of Health to provide these services to individuals of child-bearing age who are not pregnant and have household income at or below 225% of the federal poverty line. The bill requires the state to amend its medical assistance plan for federal approval, and the changes would take effect only if approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects low-income Alaskans seeking non-pregnancy-related reproductive healthcare services.

HB 166 requires Alaska's Department of Education to develop an opioid abuse awareness curriculum for students in grades 6-12. The curriculum must cover opioid dangers (including fentanyl-laced candy), science of opioid use, safe prescription practices, and early warning signs, with at least 60 minutes of annual instruction. School districts must teach this curriculum during the last week in October. The bill also mandates that the Department consult with health officials, overdose response experts, and affected families when creating the program.

This bill requires Alaska public schools to include hands-only CPR instruction in health education for students in grades where it is adopted. The Department of Education must develop age-appropriate curricula based on current national guidelines, requiring hands-on practice and instruction on automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Schools must offer this training to students in designated grades starting August 25, 2025. It directly affects all K-12 public school students in Alaska through mandatory curriculum updates.