SB 162 exempts sales and exchanges of gold and silver coins ("specie") from borough and city sales and use taxes across Alaska. This directly affects buyers and sellers of physical precious metals, removing local tax burdens on such transactions in all municipalities. The bill amends tax statutes (specifically AS 29.45.650(m) and AS 29.45.700(i)) to explicitly exclude specie from taxable sources. It defines "specie" as gold or silver coins valued primarily by metal content but clarifies individuals are not required to accept such coins as payment for debts.
HB 40 requires public schools and certain private schools competing against public schools to designate athletic teams or sports as male, female, or coeducational. It mandates that students participating in female-designated teams must be assigned female sex based on their birth certificate at birth, defining "sex" as biological characteristics present at birth. The bill prohibits schools from taking adverse action against institutions that follow these designations and allows students to sue schools that violate the policy. It applies to all school-sponsored athletic programs in Alaska and explicitly preserves access to courts for related disputes.
This bill updates Alaska's process for leasing state-owned land to farmers. It requires new agricultural leases to be awarded through competitive bidding (public auction or sealed bids), with applications including detailed farming plans and management proposals. Current leases can be renewed only once, and decisions must prioritize the best agricultural proposal over the highest bid. These rules directly affect farmers and agricultural businesses applying for state land leases.
SB 225 updates Alaska's trust laws to increase privacy and streamline dispute resolution. It requires courts to seal trust-related records (protecting settlor and beneficiary privacy) and creates a new process for trust owners, trustees, and beneficiaries to resolve disputes through binding nonjudicial settlement agreements - covering issues like trust interpretation, asset management, trustee actions, and trust modifications - without court approval. These agreements must align with trust purposes and can be later reviewed by a court if requested. The bill directly affects individuals managing or benefiting from noncharitable trusts in Alaska, clarifying how disputes can be resolved privately or through court.
HB 271 modifies the royalty rate for specific natural gas leases in Alaska's Cook Inlet's Kitchen Lights Unit, affecting leaseholders with division numbers 389196, 389197, 389198, 389507, 389514, 389515, and 389923. It sets a fixed 3% royalty rate on gross production value starting January 1, 2026, to make continued gas production economically viable amid declining output and rising costs. The bill also allows the department to audit royalty calculations and permits termination of the rate modification if leases were improperly assigned. This change aims to secure reliable, affordable energy for Southcentral Alaska residents and utilities while maximizing state economic benefits from the gas leases.
HB 130 creates a "flexible time credit" system for executive branch classified employees in Alaska who are not eligible for overtime pay. It allows these employees to earn paid time off for hours worked beyond their standard workweek, accruing in 15-minute increments. The time credit has no cash value and is forfeited if the employee leaves state service, excluding hours covered by special pay plans for extended on-site work. This policy directly affects non-overtime-eligible state workers in executive branch roles, replacing overtime compensation with flexible paid time off.
HB 157 requires courts to determine and document whether post-adoption contact with siblings is in the best interest of a child being adopted from foster care. The bill defines "sibling" broadly to include both blood relatives and children raised together in the same household, ensuring this expanded definition applies to adoption proceedings. It is based on legislative findings that sibling bonds are important, often irreplaceable, and should be preserved when possible during adoption. The law aims to help maintain family connections by encouraging courts to include provisions for ongoing contact in adoption decrees.
SB 194 authorizes mobile sports wagering in Alaska by creating a new regulatory framework for operators. It requires businesses to obtain a state license, meet specific eligibility criteria (including having licenses in three other states), and undergo criminal background checks for owners and key personnel. The bill also imposes a tax on mobile sports wagering revenue and establishes procedures for license suspensions related to gambling violations. This legislation directly affects companies seeking to legally offer mobile sports betting in Alaska, introducing new licensing requirements and oversight mechanisms.
HB 162, the Digital Right to Repair Act, requires digital product manufacturers (like those making smartphones, computers, or smart devices) to provide independent repair shops and device owners with necessary documentation, parts, and tools for diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing products. Manufacturers must share software/firmware updates and cannot charge independent repairers more than they charge their own authorized service providers. The law also mandates that security features disabling repair functions must be reset with available documentation and tools. This directly affects manufacturers, independent repair businesses, and consumers seeking affordable, accessible repair options in Alaska.
This bill extends the state of Alaska's disaster emergency declaration for the 2025 West Coast Storm until June 30, 2026. The legislation directly affects state agencies responsible for emergency response and recovery efforts by allowing them to continue operations beyond the previous expiration date of May 7, 2026. It also formally approves and ratifies earlier emergency declarations and financing plans issued by the governor throughout 2025 and early 2026. The measure is designed to ensure that resources and personnel remain available to address ongoing infrastructure damage and recovery needs caused by the storm.
HB 390 updates Alaska's election laws to modernize voter registration and election administration. The bill expands acceptable forms of identification for in-person and mail-in registration to include hunting or fishing licenses, while also allowing registration officials to waive ID requirements if they know the applicant's identity. It requires the Division of Elections to use Permanent Fund Dividend data for voter roll maintenance and mandates annual reports on data sharing and election integrity. Additionally, the legislation strengthens address confirmation procedures by requiring notices to be sent to voters who have not voted in recent elections or who have moved to another state.
This bill extends a state disaster emergency declaration related to the 2025 West Coast Storm from May 7, 2026, to June 30, 2026. It directly affects state agencies and emergency responders who need continued authority to manage recovery efforts and infrastructure repairs. The legislation formally ratifies previous extensions made through April 2026 and ensures that emergency funding plans remain valid. By overriding the standard 30-day limit on such declarations, the bill allows the state to maintain an official emergency status for nearly two additional months.
