Judiciary

HB 301 amends Alaska's anti-discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in covered contexts like housing and employment. It adds new definitions to the statute, clarifying that "gender identity or expression" includes a person's self-image or behavior regardless of sex assigned at birth, and expands "sex" to include both sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill directly affects Alaskans by extending legal protections against discrimination in areas governed by the existing anti-discrimination statute. The legislation focuses on updating definitions within current law rather than creating new enforcement mechanisms.

HB 159 creates a new process for property owners or their agents to request peace officers to remove people occupying residential property without legal right. It applies specifically to occupants who entered without permission, haven’t been told to leave, lack rental agreements, aren’t family members, and aren’t involved in pending court cases. The bill requires a sworn written request detailing these conditions and warns that false claims could lead to liability for damages and legal fees. It amends Alaska’s civil procedure rules to formalize this removal method while addressing related offenses like trespass. This bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 371 requires election-related groups (supporting/opposing candidates or ballot measures) to maintain a physical Alaska address and register with the Alaska Public Offices Commission if they receive majority funding from nonresidents. It mandates new disclosures about contributors coordinating or aggregating individual donations, limits contributions to groups making only independent expenditures, and requires detailed spending reports for communications funded by such groups. The bill aims to increase transparency around campaign financing, particularly for nonresident-funded election activities, to help voters understand funding sources. These changes apply to political committees, independent expenditure groups, and nongroup entities operating in Alaska elections.

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.

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.