Rep. Genevieve Mina

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic joint resolution (HJR 25), not a law, expressing Alaska's support for recruiting and retaining international educators on J-1 and H-1B visas. It highlights how rural school districts (like Kuspuk, Kodiak, and North Slope) rely on these visas to address critical teacher shortages in math, science, and special education. The resolution acknowledges challenges these educators face - such as visa duration uncertainty and limited job mobility - but does not create new legal requirements or funding. It formally encourages continued use of J-1 and H-1B programs to maintain educational quality in underserved communities. (Note: As a resolution, it has no legal force and serves only to affirm legislative support.)

Maddy summaryHJR 11 is a symbolic resolution recognizing Alaska's relationship with Canada. It highlights shared natural resources, trade (including $596 million in annual exports from Alaska to Canada), historical military partnerships, and cultural ties through decades of collaboration. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it serves only as an official statement of support. It was passed by the Alaska Legislature and transmitted to the Governor for filing.

Maddy summaryHJR 13 is a state resolution urging the U.S. President to resume evacuation flights for Afghan nationals with approved Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and their families. It specifically requests the State Department expedite visa processing, secure legal protections for SIV applicants, and provide Congress with a report on reinstating evacuation flights. The resolution directly affects Afghan allies who worked with U.S. forces and have received SIV approval but remain stranded abroad, often separated from family members. As a non-binding resolution, it calls for federal action but does not alter existing law or create new obligations.

Maddy summaryThis Alaska legislative resolution encourages the U.S. Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War. It highlights the Hmong people's critical but often overlooked role in the conflict - particularly in Laos, where they were recruited by the U.S. CIA, suffered heavy casualties (including 40,000 killed), and faced post-war persecution after the U.S. withdrawal. The resolution notes Alaska's Hmong community (over 5,500 residents) and its prior recognition of Hmong veterans through a state holiday established in 2019. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but urges federal action to honor these veterans.

Maddy summarySB 39 clarifies regulations for loans of $25,000 or less by defining when a person is considered a lender (such as holding the main financial interest in a loan or disguising loans as property sales) and expands the definition of "financial institution" to include deferred deposit advance providers and pawnbrokers. The bill requires Alaska's Department of Commerce to participate in the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry, including establishing processes for licensees to challenge information and mandating that licensees register with the system. It also changes application fees, requiring $1,000 upfront payment for investigation expenses related to licensure. These provisions standardize oversight of small loans and ensure consistent regulation for financial institutions across Alaska.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding resolution (SJR 8), not a legislative bill. It expresses Alaska's support for strengthening ties with Taiwan through four specific actions: (1) resuming an Alaska Trade Office in Taiwan to boost trade, (2) expanding educational exchanges, (3) advocating for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations like the WHO, and (4) endorsing closer U.S.-Taiwan economic partnerships, including potential trade agreements. The resolution reaffirms Alaska's existing sister-state relationship with Taiwan and its economic ties, noting Taiwan as Alaska's eighth-largest export market in 2023. It has no legal effect but serves as a symbolic statement of support.

Maddy summaryHB 156 requires employers in Alaska to include salary ranges in all job postings and prohibits them from stopping employees or applicants from discussing or asking about pay. It also bans employers from asking about previous salary or punishing workers for sharing pay information. The law protects employees from retaliation (like firing or demoting) if they discuss pay or file a complaint about violations. Employers who break these rules face fines of $100-$2,000 per violation, with potential reductions for self-audits. This directly affects all employers (including state agencies and universities), employees, and job applicants in Alaska.

Maddy summaryHB 178 prohibits discrimination based on medical debt in employment and housing. It amends existing laws to make it unlawful for employers to refuse jobs, deny promotions, or discriminate in pay because of a person's medical debt, and for landlords to refuse rentals, charge higher fees, or ask about medical debt when screening tenants. The bill explicitly adds "medical debt" to protected characteristics under Alaska's anti-discrimination statutes, covering both workplace and housing decisions. It defines "medical debt" per AS 45.85.800(c) and takes effect upon enactment. This directly affects job applicants, employees, and renters whose medical debt might otherwise be used against them.

Maddy summaryHB 69 would increase Alaska's base student allocation from $5,960 to $6,960 per student for public school funding. This change directly affects all Alaska public school districts by raising the state's per-pupil funding amount. The bill specifies that the new rate would take effect on July 1, 2025. The legislation is a straightforward funding adjustment with no additional provisions or mechanisms beyond the dollar amount change. (Note: The bill was vetoed by the governor on April 22, 2025, and the veto was sustained.)

Maddy summaryHB 89 creates a new type of protective order specifically targeting gun violence risks, allowing peace officers or household members to petition courts for orders preventing individuals deemed a danger from possessing firearms. It establishes a mandatory central registry for all protective orders (including domestic violence and gun-related orders), requiring law enforcement to enter orders into the system within 24 hours and maintaining records even after expiration. The bill clarifies that violating protective orders - especially those restricting firearm access - constitutes a criminal offense, with specific provisions detailing when violations occur. It directly affects individuals subject to such orders, law enforcement officers, and courts handling these petitions. The law amends Alaska’s civil procedure rules to implement these changes, effective upon passage.