Alaska Bills

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 2, 2025

SB 138: An Act relating to vehicle rental taxes; relating to the issuance of subpoenas related to tax records; and providing for an effective date.

SB 138 adjusts Alaska's passenger vehicle rental tax rates, imposing a 10% tax on traditional rentals (not arranged through a platform) and an 8% tax on rentals arranged through a vehicle rental platform (like apps or websites). It requires platforms with over 200 annual transactions to collect and pay the tax, provide tax records to the state, and exempts them from liability if they made reasonable efforts to obtain correct information from vehicle owners. The bill also prohibits the state from collecting taxes for platform rentals that occurred before the bill's effective date. This primarily affects rental companies and platforms meeting the transaction threshold, with no retroactive tax collection for prior platform transactions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 1, 2025

SB 14: An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; and relating to workforce housing development projects.

SB 14 amends Alaska's Industrial Development and Export Authority to include workforce housing development in its purpose and powers. The bill specifically authorizes the authority to provide financing for new workforce housing facilities with five or more dwelling units and grants it the power to enter into loan agreements for these projects. This change would enable the authority to support the development of housing for workers, particularly in labor-intensive industries across Alaska. The bill directly affects the authority and developers of qualifying workforce housing projects.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 1, 2025

SB 116: An Act amending campaign contribution limits for state and local office; directing the Alaska Public Offices Commission to adjust campaign contribution limits for state and local office once each decade beginning in 2031; and relating to campaign contribution reporting requirements.

SB 116 amends Alaska's campaign contribution limits for state and local elections, setting new caps such as $2,000 per election cycle for individual donations to candidates. It requires the Alaska Public Offices Commission to automatically adjust these limits every decade starting in 2031 using the Consumer Price Index for urban Alaska, rounded to the nearest $50. The bill directly affects candidates, donors, and political groups participating in Alaska's state and local elections by changing contribution rules and reporting requirements. Key provisions include updated yearly limits for political parties ($5,000) and joint gubernatorial campaigns ($8,000 per cycle), with adjustments tied to inflation. The changes aim to update contribution rules while preserving election integrity, as noted in the legislative findings.

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 215: An Act extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; relating to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; relating to the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveyors, and landscape architecture; relating to scope of the certification requirements for architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects; relating to immunity for design professionals; relating to liens for labor or materials furnished; relating to the procurement of landscape architectural services; and providing for an effective date.

HB 215 extends the expiration date of Alaska's State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors from 2025 to June 30, 2033. The bill also revises the board's composition to include 12 members (up from 11) with specific professional representation (e.g., two civil engineers, two land surveyors, two architects, and one landscape architect), adds a board investigator position, and clarifies disciplinary procedures for professionals. It directly affects licensed architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects who must comply with state certification requirements. The changes aim to modernize board operations and oversight while maintaining regulatory standards for these design professions.

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 29: An Act relating to group insurance coverage and self-insurance coverage for school district employees, employees of the University of Alaska, and employees of other governmental units in the state; and providing for an effective date.

HB 29 clarifies that school districts, the University of Alaska, and other Alaska government units must budget for group or self-insurance coverage for their employees. It amends statutes to require school boards to specifically allocate funds for insurance participation in their annual budgets (under AS 14.14.090(1)) and explicitly authorizes boards to maintain such coverage (under AS 14.08.101(12)). This change ensures insurance costs are formally included in budget planning for these public employees, without creating new coverage requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 102: An Act exempting the state from daylight saving time; and providing for an effective date.

SB 102 exempts the state of Alaska from observing daylight saving time (DST), meaning Alaska will permanently stay on standard time year-round instead of switching clocks in spring and fall. This change directly affects all Alaskans, as it eliminates the twice-yearly time adjustments for the entire state. The bill amends Alaska Statute 44.12 to state that the state "exempts itself from observation of advanced time" (DST) during the period defined by federal law (15 U.S.C. 260a). The exemption takes effect November 4, 2025.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 112: An Act relating to credits against the oil and gas production tax; and providing for an effective date.

SB 112 creates two tax credit systems for Alaska oil producers under the state's oil and gas production tax. Producers can claim a $5 credit per barrel for oil that receives a gross value reduction at production (Section 1), and tiered credits ranging from $1 to $8 per barrel based on monthly oil prices for oil produced north of 68°N latitude (Section 2). Credits cannot reduce tax liability below minimum levels or exceed qualified capital expenditures for each lease, and unused credits cannot be carried forward (Section 3). The bill applies to oil produced on or after January 1, 2025, directly affecting oil producers operating in Alaska, particularly those in northern regions.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 30, 2025

HCR 2: Proposing an amendment to the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature relating to voting and abstention from voting.

HCR 2 proposes amending Alaska's legislative voting rules to clarify when legislators may abstain from voting. It requires members requesting to abstain to provide a brief oral explanation (including specific ethics law references if applicable) and obtain approval by a majority vote of the chamber - replacing the previous requirement for unanimous consent. This rule change directly affects Alaska legislators during floor votes, ensuring transparency and accountability in voting procedures. The amendment does not alter policy substance but modifies the process for handling abstentions under the state's ethics guidelines.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SJR 18: 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.

SJR 18 is a non-binding resolution urging Alaska state agencies, local governments, and the Alaska congressional delegation to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season. It specifically directs the Governor, Department of Natural Resources (forestry/fire division), Department of Public Safety, and municipalities to review wildfire response plans for high-risk communities (like Anchorage and Fairbanks), inspect equipment and water resources, expand public outreach through programs like Ready, Set, Go! and Firewise USA, and conduct evacuation drills before May 2025. The resolution focuses on proactive measures - such as improving access routes, treating fuel loads, and enhancing early detection - to reduce fire risks and costs, without creating new laws or funding. It directly affects state agencies, local fire departments, and communities in wildland-urban interface areas.

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 33: An Act relating to defamation claims based on the use of synthetic media; relating to the use of synthetic media in electioneering communications; and providing for an effective date.

SB 33 addresses the use of synthetic media (manipulated audio, video, or images) in two key areas. It creates a new civil liability standard for defamation claims based on synthetic media, treating such claims as "defamation per se" without requiring proof of harm. The bill also prohibits knowingly using synthetic media in election-related communications with intent to influence elections, unless a clear disclosure statement ("This has been manipulated") is visible or audible as specified. Individuals harmed by violations can sue for damages, attorney fees, and seek injunctions against publication, while platforms hosting content are generally exempt from liability unless they remove required disclosures.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 2: An Act relating to disclosure of election-related deepfakes; relating to use of artificial intelligence by state agencies; and relating to transfer of data about individuals between state agencies.

SB 2 requires anyone distributing election-related communications containing AI-generated deepfakes (false videos, audio, or images that appear realistic but depict non-existent actions) to include a clear disclosure statement. This disclosure must be easily visible in videos, audible in audio, and maintained throughout the communication, such as "This communication has been manipulated by artificial intelligence." The law exempts satire, news coverage with clear authenticity disclaimers, and communications paid for by others. Violations can lead to lawsuits for damages, attorney fees, and injunctions to stop distribution. It directly affects candidates, political groups, and anyone creating election content using AI manipulation.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 137: An Act relating to permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support; and relating to applications and qualifications for permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support.

HB 137 ensures that Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends (PFDs) for individuals behind on child support payments are directed to the child support recipient, not the debtor. The bill requires child support agencies to share lists of debtors with the Department of Revenue by March 31 each year, allowing the department to file PFD applications on behalf of eligible debtors without requiring their signature. If approved, the full dividend (minus a 7% administrative fee) is paid directly to the child support recipient, and the dividend cannot be claimed by agencies or used to satisfy the debt. This changes how PFDs are processed for debtors, prioritizing child support payments while simplifying the application process for affected individuals.

Bill results