Rep. Calvin Schrage

Maddy summarySB 43 designates the month of March each year as Women's History Month in Alaska. This law directly affects schools, community groups, and public and private agencies across the state, requiring them to recognize and honor women's historical contributions. The key provision adds a new section to Alaska Statutes (AS 44.12.088), formally establishing March as Women's History Month for observance through appropriate activities. The bill enables consistent, statewide recognition of women's roles in Alaska and U.S. history without imposing new obligations or funding requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 65 authorizes the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue up to $135 million in revenue bonds to replace the passenger dock and terminal facility in Seward, Alaska. The project must accommodate marine highway vessels with side-loading doors, and bonds will be repaid solely from dock revenue, not state funds. This bill directly affects the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Seward facility, enabling infrastructure upgrades without using general state credit. The bill was signed into law on March 6, 2025, and took effect March 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Alaska Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to study the potential use of FDA-approved psychedelic medicines for treating mental health issues. The task force will evaluate barriers to equitable access, recommend licensing and insurance rules for practitioners, and explore legal pathways for state-level legalization if federal reclassification occurs. Its diverse membership includes representatives from health agencies, mental health organizations, Alaska Native communities, survivors of domestic violence, and the psychiatric profession. The group is required to meet at least four times and submit a final report with its recommendations to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2024, after which the task force will dissolve.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows physicians licensed in other states and members of their multidisciplinary care teams to provide telehealth services to patients in Alaska under specific conditions. It permits ongoing follow-up care for patients who have an established relationship with the out-of-state doctor and allows consultations for life-threatening conditions referred by a local or qualified out-of-state physician. The legislation also expands the legal definition of a "health care provider" to include these out-of-state professionals and their teams, while establishing grounds for disciplinary action against team members who commit fraud, misrepresentation, or other professional misconduct.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes eleven Alaska Native languages alongside English as the state's official languages and moves the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to the Department of Education and Early Development. The renamed Council for Alaska Native Languages will advise the governor and legislature on programs to preserve and revitalize these languages, with its members required to include professional language experts and representatives from diverse regions. While the council will meet at least twice a year to provide recommendations, the law clarifies that official public documents must still be prepared in English. Additionally, the legislation includes a transition provision to ensure that staff currently working for the council do not automatically transfer to the new department when the council's location changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts in Alaska to have trained staff and at least two doses of opioid overdose medication available at their main buildings during all times students or staff are present, including before and after school hours and on weekends. It also mandates that one dose be available during any school-sponsored events held on school grounds, with the state Department of Health responsible for supplying the drugs and providing training videos for administration. To encourage participation, the legislation grants immunity from civil lawsuits to schools and individuals who fail to maintain these supplies due to good-faith efforts. Additionally, the bill updates rules for homeschool and correspondence study programs by requiring annual individual learning plans developed collaboratively with students, parents, and teachers. These plans must include state standards, ongoing assessments, and provisions for modifying the curriculum if a student struggles in core subjects.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the use of firefighting substances containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances within Alaska, with specific exceptions for the oil and gas industry unless state regulations mandate otherwise. It requires the state fire marshal to adopt rules that mandate the use of safer, alternative firefighting substances if those alternatives are deemed safe and effective by recognized federal testing programs. Additionally, the legislation ensures that the state will accept up to 25 gallons per year of these restricted substances for disposal from residents. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review Commission within the Alaska Department of Public Safety to address unresolved cases involving indigenous individuals. The commission will consist of nine members representing law enforcement, tribal organizations, victim advocates, and the legislature, who will meet to examine case trends and make recommendations for improving collaboration and reducing such incidents. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Public Safety to hire at least two investigators specifically tasked with handling these cases and serving as liaisons between agencies, communities, and federally recognized tribes. All documents and information gathered by the commission during its reviews will remain confidential and protected from public disclosure or use in legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates teacher certification and compensation rules in Alaska. It allows retired teachers to keep their state certification for life, enabling them to work as long-term substitutes for up to 165 consecutive days. The legislation also removes the previous cap on how many years of out-of-state teaching experience can count toward in-state salary scales. Additionally, it creates a new program where school districts or the state department can pay $5,000 annual bonuses and reimburse costs for teachers pursuing national board certification. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, for sections regarding national board certification, while other provisions apply to contracts signed after the law's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Alaska Veterans' Poppy Day to honor past and current military members and those who died preserving freedom. The day is set to occur annually on the Friday immediately before Memorial Day. It adds this new observance to the state's legal code without changing any other existing laws or requiring specific actions from individuals.