Alaska Bills

signed · Alaska · Senate Aug 19, 2025

SB 183: An Act relating to hindering the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee; relating to the powers of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee and the legislative audit division; and providing for an effective date.

SB 183 strengthens the authority of Alaska's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee by making it a crime to intentionally obstruct the committee's work. It creates a new offense (hindering the committee) for failing to provide requested information or preventing others from doing so, unless legally justified. The bill expands the committee's powers to require full cooperation from state agencies, hold hearings, issue subpoenas, review budgets and spending, and make recommendations to the governor and legislature. It also updates the legislative audit division's duties to conduct required post-audits of specific state entities like the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. The law became effective August 3, 2025, after overriding a gubernatorial veto.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Alaska · House Aug 19, 2025

HB 35: An Act relating to the use and possession of electronic devices by prisoners; and relating to identification cards.

HB 35 restricts electronic device use for prisoners in Alaska state correctional facilities. It prohibits most personal devices like computers, tablets, and VCRs, allowing only approved uses for rehabilitation, education, legal research, or health care. The bill also limits access to certain media (e.g., R-rated movies), specific equipment (like free weights), and restricts food spending comparisons to military personnel. It directly affects incarcerated individuals in state facilities and aims to enhance security by controlling prohibited items and activities. The law became effective November 5, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Technology

in committee · Alaska · Senate Aug 2, 2025

SB 1003: An Act relating to tax credits for contributions to public schools and programs operated by tribal entities or tribally empowered Alaska Native organizations through a compact with the state; relating to tax credits for contributions to state-funded literacy programs; relating to the insurance tax education credit, the income tax education credit, the oil or gas producer education credit, the property tax education credit, the mining business education credit, the fisheries business education credit, and the fisheries resource landing tax education credit; and providing for an effective date.

SB 1003 expands Alaska's tax credit system to allow businesses to claim credits for cash or equipment donations to tribal-operated public schools (via state compacts) and state-funded literacy programs. It modifies existing education tax credits - including those for insurance, oil/gas producers, property, mining, and fisheries businesses - to include these new donation categories. The bill sets a $10 million annual limit on total education tax credits per taxpayer (or $3 million for affiliated groups), preventing excessive credit claims across multiple programs. This directly affects businesses making qualifying donations to these specific educational initiatives in Alaska.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · Senate Aug 2, 2025

SB 1001: An Act relating to public school enrollment; relating to authorization of charter schools; establishing an after-school literacy grant program; and authorizing lump sum payments for certain teachers as retention and recruitment incentives.

This bill changes how Alaska public schools handle student enrollment by requiring districts to accept students year-round when space is available, publish annual enrollment data online (including vacancies and denial reasons), and compensate for enrollment discrepancies. It also creates a new process for charter schools, requiring the state board to approve applications within 45 days. Additionally, the bill establishes an after-school literacy grant program and authorizes lump-sum payments to certain teachers as retention and recruitment incentives. These changes directly affect public school districts, charter schools, teachers, and students seeking enrollment.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · Senate Aug 2, 2025

SB 1002: An Act relating to demonstration state-tribal education compacts; relating to demonstration state-tribal education compact schools; and providing for an effective date.

SB 1002 authorizes the Alaska Department of Education to create demonstration state-tribal education compacts with participating federally recognized tribes (specifically those from 2022 negotiations). These compacts establish special "demonstration schools" that operate under tribal-state agreements instead of standard school district rules. The schools are exempt from most state education statutes but must follow specific requirements like attendance laws, safety protocols, and mandatory participation in state retirement systems for staff. The compacts must be finalized by June 30, 2028, and will expire after five years unless renewed.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · House Aug 2, 2025

HB 1001: An Act relating to public school enrollment; relating to authorization of charter schools; establishing an after-school literacy grant program; and authorizing lump sum payments for certain teachers as retention and recruitment incentives.

HB 1001 modifies Alaska's public school enrollment rules to allow parents to apply for their child to attend schools outside their district, subject to capacity limits and school district lottery policies. It establishes a new process for charter schools, requiring state board approval within 45 days and mandating school districts to report enrollment data annually. The bill also creates an after-school literacy grant program and authorizes lump-sum payments to certain teachers for retention and recruitment. These provisions directly affect students, parents, school districts, charter schools, and teachers across Alaska.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · House Aug 2, 2025

HB 1002: An Act relating to demonstration state-tribal education compacts; relating to demonstration state-tribal education compact schools; and providing for an effective date.

HB 1002 creates a framework for Alaska to establish demonstration education compacts between the state and federally recognized tribes. It authorizes the Education Commissioner to enter into these compacts, requiring standardized terms including five-year durations, defined roles, funding rules, and mandatory participation in state teacher retirement systems (AS 14.25 or AS 39.35). Schools operating under these compacts would be exempt from most state school laws but must follow specific requirements like attendance rules, safety standards, and annual audits. The bill applies directly to participating tribes and their schools, with compacts needing to be finalized by June 2028.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · House Aug 2, 2025

HB 1003: An Act relating to tax credits for contributions to public schools and programs operated by tribal entities or tribally empowered Alaska Native organizations through a compact with the state; relating to tax credits for contributions to state-funded literacy programs; relating to the insurance tax education credit, the income tax education credit, the oil or gas producer education credit, the property tax education credit, the mining business education credit, the fisheries business education credit, and the fisheries resource landing tax education credit; and providing for an effective date.

HB 1003 expands tax credits for businesses and individuals who donate to specific education programs in Alaska. It adds two new credit categories: contributions to public schools operated by tribal entities under state compacts, and donations to state-funded literacy programs run by the Department of Education. The bill also modifies existing education tax credits (including those for oil/gas, mining, and fishing businesses) by setting a $3 million annual limit per taxpayer for combined credits, preventing double-counting with other education-related credits. This policy directly affects taxpayers making qualifying donations to tribal schools, literacy initiatives, or state education programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SCR 9: Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 70, relating to emergency medical services for operational canines; relating to the powers, duties, and liability of emergency medical technicians and mobile intensive care paramedics; and relating to the practice of veterinary medicine.

SCR 9 is a procedural resolution that suspends specific Alaska legislative rules (24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e)) to allow House Bill 70 to advance without following standard title-change procedures. It does not change policy but expedites consideration of HB 70, which addresses emergency medical services for operational canines, clarifies duties/liability for EMTs/paramedics, and regulates veterinary medicine practice. The resolution directly affects the legislative process for HB 70 but does not alter the bill's substantive content. This procedural step was passed by the Alaska House on May 20, 2025.

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SCR 6: Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 121, relating to the practice of accounting.

This bill (SCR 6) is a procedural resolution that suspends four specific rules in the Alaska State Legislature (Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e)) related to changing a bill's title. It directly affects the legislative process for House Bill 121, which concerns accounting practice regulations. By suspending these rules, SCR 6 allows HB 121 to move forward without requiring a formal title change during consideration. This is a standard procedural step to facilitate the advancement of a specific bill through the legislative process.

passed · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SR 1: Establishing a Senate Special Committee on Arctic Affairs.

This Senate Resolution (SR 1) establishes a special committee within the Alaska State Legislature to study Arctic-related issues. The committee, composed of five senators (with two co-chairs), will examine topics like economic interests, environmental concerns, Indigenous community impacts, and strategic opportunities in the Arctic. It has no policy-making authority but will provide recommendations to the legislature. The committee will operate until the start of the next legislative session (Thirty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature).

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SJR 16: Urging the United States Congress to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act; and urging lawmakers to advocate for policies that guarantee equitable access to vital healthcare.

This Alaska Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 16) urges the U.S. Congress to pass the federal Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, which would require private health insurance plans to cover all medically necessary treatments for congenital anomalies (such as cleft lip/palate or hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia) without annual or lifetime limits. It specifically references families facing high costs - like over $100,000 for dental care for conditions such as Emily Brubaker’s - due to current insurance gaps. The resolution asks Alaska’s congressional delegation to support this federal bill to ensure equitable, lifelong healthcare access for affected individuals.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results