Alaska Bills

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SCR 7: Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 75, relating to national criminal history record checks for certain employees of the Department of Revenue; relating to allowable absences for eligibility for a permanent fund dividend; and relating to electronic notice of debt collection executed on a permanent fund dividend.

SCR 7 is a procedural resolution that suspends four specific rules (24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e)) of the Alaska State Legislature's Uniform Rules. This suspension allows House Bill 75 to bypass standard procedures for changing a bill's title during its legislative review. The resolution does not alter the content of HB 75 but expedites its consideration. HB 75 itself covers three separate topics: criminal background checks for certain Department of Revenue employees, eligibility rules for permanent fund dividends, and electronic debt collection notices. SCR 7 is purely a procedural step to move HB 75 forward more quickly.

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SCR 8: Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 35, relating to the use and possession of electronic devices by prisoners.

SCR 8 is a procedural resolution that suspends specific rules in the Alaska State Legislature to allow faster consideration of House Bill 35. It bypasses standard requirements for changing a bill's title (Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e)) to expedite the legislative process for HB 35. HB 35 itself would address rules for prisoners' use and possession of electronic devices. This resolution does not change the policy of HB 35 but streamlines its path through the legislature. The suspension is a routine procedural step, not a substantive policy change.

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SJR 15: Calling on the state's congressional delegation to oppose cuts to federal spending on Medicaid.

SJR 15 is a resolution calling on Alaska's congressional delegation (Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, and Representative Begich) to oppose federal Medicaid funding cuts. It urges them to protect Medicaid coverage for over 250,000 Alaskans who rely on it for health care, especially children, seniors, rural residents, and Alaska Native communities. The resolution emphasizes that Medicaid supports essential services like hospital care, nursing home support, and healthcare jobs across the state. It does not change laws but formally requests congressional action.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SCR 5: Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 57, relating to wireless telecommunications devices in public schools.

SCR 5 is a procedural bill that suspends specific legislative rules (24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e)) in the Alaska State Legislature. This allows House Bill No. 57 - which proposes restrictions on wireless telecommunications devices in public schools - to move forward without following standard procedures for changing a bill's title. The suspension expedites consideration of HB 57, which directly affects public school policies and student device usage. SCR 5 itself does not change school policies but streamlines the legislative process for HB 57.

passed both · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HJR 4: Urging the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the United States Board on Geographic Names, and the members of the state's delegation in Congress to maintain Denali as the official name for the tallest mountain in North America.

House Joint Resolution 4 is a symbolic resolution from the Alaska Legislature urging the President, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to maintain "Denali" as the official name for North America's tallest mountain. It states that Denali is the traditional Koyukon Athabaskan name, has been Alaska's official name since 1975, and was adopted by the U.S. in 2015, rejecting a return to "Mount McKinley." The resolution argues that changing the name would be disrespectful to Alaska Natives, confuse tourism (as Denali is widely recognized), and lacks historical connection to President McKinley, who never visited the mountain. This resolution does not change the name but formally requests federal officials continue using "Denali."

passed · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HR 4: Establishing a House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.

HR 4 establishes a temporary House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs in the Alaska State Legislature. The committee will study military and veterans' issues, review existing laws, and propose new legislation, with members appointed by the Speaker and a chair designated by the Speaker. It operates until the convening of the Thirty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature's first regular session. This resolution does not create new policy but organizes a dedicated body to address military and veterans' concerns within the legislative process.

Topics ✓ Veterans

passed both · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HJR 15: Urging the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources, division of forestry and fire protection, the Department of Public Safety, municipalities of the state and relevant wildfire planning and response agencies, and the Alaska delegation in Congress to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season.

HJR 15 is a non-binding legislative resolution urging Alaska agencies and communities to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season. It directs the Governor, Department of Natural Resources (forestry/fire division), public safety agencies, municipalities, and the Alaska congressional delegation to review wildfire response plans, improve water access for firefighting, inspect roads for evacuation routes, and expand public education programs like Firewise USA and Ready, Set, Go! The resolution specifically targets high-risk areas including Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Kenai, where climate-driven dry conditions and new wildfire risks require proactive measures. It emphasizes concrete steps like pre-season drills, fuel reduction, and enhanced early detection systems to reduce response costs and community vulnerability.

Topics ✓ Environment

Ky Holland (N) · 18 co-sponsors

passed both · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HJR 9: Urging the United States Congress to extend enhanced tax credits for health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act.

HJR 9 is a joint resolution from Alaska's legislature urging the U.S. Congress to extend enhanced federal tax credits that make health insurance premiums affordable under the Affordable Care Act. These credits currently help over 23,000 Alaska residents avoid higher costs, but they expire at the end of 2025. Without extension, premiums would more than double for tens of thousands of Alaskans, forcing difficult choices between health care, housing, and food. The resolution requests Congress act through budget processes to maintain these credits, emphasizing their role in preventing market instability and preserving access to care. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a law, so it directly affects Alaska residents by advocating for federal action.)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SJR 17: Recognizing and honoring the 50th anniversary of The Energy Council.

SJR 17 is a ceremonial resolution honoring The Energy Council's 50th anniversary. It does not enact new laws or affect policies, people, or programs. The resolution formally commends The Energy Council - established in 1975 as a nonpartisan forum for energy policy collaboration among U.S. states and Canadian provinces - for its role in shaping energy discourse over five decades. It serves solely as a symbolic gesture of recognition, with no substantive policy changes or obligations.

signed · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SB 132: An Act relating to insurance; and providing for an effective date.

SB 132 requires health insurers to offer non-network coverage options at initial enrollment for members, allowing them to choose out-of-network providers (with potentially higher costs). It also mandates clear instructions on prior authorization forms for benefit-level exceptions when out-of-network care is needed, specifying how claims will be processed. The bill affects covered individuals and healthcare providers by increasing transparency in coverage decisions and access to non-network care. It does not change premium costs but ensures insurers provide necessary details about network status and exceptions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Alaska · Senate Jul 30, 2025

SJR 12: Urging the United States Congress and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to address outages of National Data Buoy Center stations.

This joint resolution (SJR 12) urges the U.S. Congress and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address recurring outages of National Data Buoy Center weather and ocean monitoring stations in Alaska. It specifically highlights critical failures of the Seal Rocks Buoy in Prince William Sound, which provides essential real-time wave height data used by the Coast Guard to safely manage oil tanker traffic through Hinchinbrook Entrance. The resolution emphasizes that current backup buoys are also unreliable, forcing reliance on subjective ship reports during hazardous conditions and increasing safety risks for tankers, crews, and the environment. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests federal action to restore these vital infrastructure systems.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

vetoed · Alaska · House Jul 30, 2025

HB 174: An Act relating to the regional educational attendance area and small municipal school district fund; relating to Mt. Edgecumbe High School; and relating to teacher housing.

HB 174 creates a dedicated fund to support rural school districts and Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Alaska. It provides funding for school construction and major maintenance projects at these locations, as well as for maintenance of state-owned teacher housing located within rural school districts. The bill specifies that the fund must not hold more than $70 million in unspent balances and prioritizes school construction projects. This directly affects regional educational attendance areas, small municipal school districts, and teachers working in those communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Housing

Bill results