Alaska Bills

in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 100: An Act relating to organized theft; relating to theft of medical records and medical information; relating to mail theft; and providing for an effective date.

SB 100 strengthens Alaska's criminal penalties for theft involving sensitive information and mail. It creates a new "organized theft" offense (a class A felony) for groups of three or more people coordinating multiple thefts. The bill specifically elevates penalties for stealing medical records or medical information (classified as second-degree theft under amended law) and for stealing mail (classified as third-degree theft when value is under $250). These changes apply to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 27, 2025

HB 85: An Act making supplemental appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

HB 85 is a budget bill that adjusts funding allocations for Alaska state agencies during the 2025 fiscal year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025). It specifies exact dollar amounts for departments like the Department of Commerce ($30,000 for Oil and Gas Conservation), Corrections ($4.1 million for Population Management), Health ($3.1 million for Behavioral Health), and Medicaid ($228.6 million). The bill reassigns, adds, or removes funds within existing budgets but does not create new programs or change laws. It directly affects state agencies by determining their available operating funds for the upcoming fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 56: An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; making supplemental appropriations; making reappropriations; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date.

SB 56 is a budget bill allocating funds for Alaska's state government operations and programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It provides specific funding amounts to state agencies like the Department of Administration, Finance, and Information Technology, including allowances for transferring up to $5 million within departments for facility operations and $500,000 between retirement funds. The bill directly affects state agencies by authorizing their spending from the general fund and constitutional budget reserve, incorporating unspent balances from previous years. It does not create new policies but formalizes existing financial allocations for state government functions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 58: An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date.

SB 58 allocates $21.2 million from the general fund to support the Alaska Psychiatric Institute and other mental health programs for fiscal year 2026. It provides funding for day-to-day operations, facility maintenance, and services like behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment, and juvenile justice mental health programs across multiple state agencies. The bill directly affects Alaskans accessing mental health services through state-run facilities and programs. It does not create new policies but ensures continued funding for existing mental health infrastructure and services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 120: An Act relating to the sale of the Alaska Railroad; and providing for an effective date.

HB 120 requires the Alaska governor to sell the state-owned Alaska Railroad by February 2027, mandating a request for proposals by June 2026. The buyer must commit to operating the railroad for at least 50 years, accept all existing contracts (including labor agreements), and pay a price exceeding the railroad's fair market value or the state's total investment. The legislature must approve the sale agreement during its next session, and the state retains an easement for transportation use along the railroad's right-of-way. Upon sale, the Alaska Railroad Corporation will dissolve, and non-operational property will transfer to the Department of Natural Resources.

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 115: An Act relating to increases in rent for dwelling units.

HB 115 limits annual rent increases for Alaska tenants by prohibiting landlords from raising rent more than once per calendar year. Landlords must provide written 90-day notice before any increase if rent is current, and after a lease ends, the new rent cannot exceed the previous amount until either the notice date or 90 days post-termination. This applies only to new rental agreements entered into on or after the law’s effective date. The bill directly affects landlords and tenants in Alaska rental housing, establishing clear timing rules for rent adjustments.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 112: An Act making a special appropriation to the Department of Education and Early Development for public education that appropriates the same base student allocation equivalent funding appropriated for fiscal year 2025; and providing for an effective date.

HB 112 allocates $6,640 per student in base funding for Alaska public schools for the 2026 fiscal year, matching the amount previously set for 2025. It directs the Department of Education to distribute these funds to school districts based on each district's average daily student enrollment. The bill ensures consistent per-student funding levels for public education without changing the existing school finance formula. This special appropriation takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting all Alaska public school districts receiving state aid.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 72: An Act relating to timber on state lands; relating to timber management leases; and providing for an effective date.

HB 72 amends Alaska state law to clarify rules for timber management leases on state lands and related land/resource contracts. It allows the director (e.g., of the Department of Natural Resources) to limit administrative reviews for lease approvals to "reasonably foreseeable, significant effects" and specific material facts, rather than requiring broad reviews. For multi-phase projects like oil/gas development, the bill permits phasing lease approvals - requiring public notice before each phase and department approval - while restricting review scope to the current phase's specific impacts. These changes directly affect state land managers, timber lease applicants, and project developers seeking to use state resources.

Topics ✗ Environment

in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 20, 2025

SB 98: An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Veterinary Examiners; and providing for an effective date.

SB 98 extends the termination date of Alaska's Board of Veterinary Examiners from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2031, ensuring the board continues overseeing veterinary licensing and practice standards. The bill applies retroactively to June 30, 2025, meaning the extension covers the period already in effect. It does not introduce new regulations, funding, or policy changes - only modifies the board's operational timeline. This affects the board’s ongoing work regulating veterinarians and veterinary practices across Alaska.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SB 72: An Act authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue revenue bonds to finance the replacement of the Alaska Railroad Corporation's passenger dock and related terminal facility in Seward, Alaska; and providing for an effective date.

SB 72 authorizes the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue up to $135 million in revenue bonds to replace its passenger dock and terminal facility in Seward, Alaska. The project must accommodate Alaska marine highway vessels with side-loading doors, and funds would cover the dock replacement and associated costs like debt service. Bonds would be repaid solely from dock revenue or other railroad funds, with no state credit or general funds pledged for repayment. This bill directly affects the Alaska Railroad Corporation and Seward's passenger transportation infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 108: An Act relating to participation of certain peace officers in the defined benefit and defined contribution plans of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska; and providing for an effective date.

HB 108 allows Alaska state troopers hired after June 30, 2006, who are currently enrolled in the defined contribution retirement plan (similar to a 401(k)) to switch to the defined benefit pension plan (guaranteed monthly payments after retirement) for a one-time election. Eligible troopers can make this change within 90 days of the bill's effective date, transferring their existing contributions to purchase retirement credits in the new plan. The bill requires administrators to provide written notice and financial comparisons before the election. This applies only to state troopers not previously in the defined benefit plan who meet service requirements.

failed · Alaska · House Feb 17, 2025

HSCR 1: Disapproving Executive Order No. 136.

HSCR 1 is a legislative resolution that formally rejects Governor's Executive Order No. 136. This executive order proposed creating a new Department of Agriculture by transferring agricultural responsibilities from the Department of Natural Resources. The resolution uses Alaska's constitutional process (requiring disapproval within 60 days of a legislative session) to block this agency reorganization. The bill directly affects the state's administrative structure by preventing the transfer of duties between departments. It is a procedural vote against a specific executive action, not a new policy.

Bill results