Alaska Bills

passed · Alaska · Senate May 10, 2024

SB 239: An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; and relating to workforce housing development projects.

This bill amends the laws governing the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to explicitly include the construction of workforce housing with five or more units as a primary purpose. It grants the authority the power to finance, lease, and manage these housing projects, allowing it to acquire interests in them through purchase, gift, or lease. The legislation also enables the authority to issue bonds and incur debt specifically to fund these housing developments, expanding its existing role in supporting industrial and export projects.

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 10, 2024

SB 135: An Act establishing the Alaska Work and Save Program; establishing the Alaska Retirement Savings Board; and providing for an effective date.

This bill creates the Alaska Work and Save Program, a retirement savings initiative managed by the Alaska Retirement Savings Board, and allows residents to automatically divert a portion of their Permanent Fund Dividend into the program or other designated funds. Under the new rules, employees at employers who do not offer qualified retirement plans would be automatically enrolled in the program, with their contribution rates increasing over time unless they opt out. The legislation also establishes a public database for eligible charitable organizations and funds, mandates that the Department of Revenue provide tax statements to contributors, and sets aside a seven percent coordination fee from contributions to cover administrative costs, excluding the Work and Save Program accounts and specific victim compensation funds from this fee.

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 9, 2024

SJR 21: Urging federal support for the state's aviation fuel transition.

This Senate Joint Resolution asks the federal government to extend Alaska's exemption from a 2030 ban on leaded aviation fuel until 2034. The bill argues that remote Alaskan communities rely heavily on piston-driven aircraft for essential services like food delivery and emergency medical care, and that a sudden fuel switch would disrupt these lifelines. It directs copies of the request to Alaska's U.S. Senators and Representative to advocate for the change during federal aviation reauthorization.

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 9, 2024

SB 266: An Act relating to standards-based assessments; relating to correspondence study programs; relating to student fund accounts for correspondence study programs; and providing for an effective date.

(S) REFERRED TO FINANCE

passed · Alaska · House May 9, 2024

HB 312: An Act relating to the appointment of an assistant adjutant general; and providing for an effective date.

This bill updates the rules for appointing assistant adjutant generals in the Alaska National Guard. It requires that these leaders be appointed by the adjutant general with the governor's approval and gives preference to candidates with at least five years of service in the Alaska Army or Air National Guard or recent active duty experience. The legislation also specifies that an assistant adjutant general must hold the rank of brigadier general or lower, and must have previously held the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher. These changes directly affect the selection process and rank requirements for leadership roles within the Army and Air National Guard components of the Alaska National Guard.