Rep. Genevieve Mina

Maddy summaryThis Alaska legislative resolution urges the U.S. Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Hmong veterans who served with U.S. forces in Laos during the Vietnam War. It recognizes their service as Special Guerrilla Units, including intercepting enemy forces along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and supporting U.S. military operations. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests this honor from federal lawmakers. It directly affects Hmong veterans who fought alongside U.S. forces but have not yet received this congressional recognition.

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 establishes Juneteenth Day, observed on June 19th, as an official legal holiday in Alaska. By amending state statutes, it adds this date to the list of recognized days when businesses and government offices are closed, joining existing holidays like Independence Day and Memorial Day. The legislation also adjusts the numbering of other holidays in the state code to accommodate this new addition.

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 extends the Alaska senior benefits payment program by repealing the existing sunset date that was set to end the program on June 30, 2032. The legislation directly affects Alaska residents who currently receive benefits under this program, ensuring their eligibility continues beyond the previously scheduled expiration. By removing the specific repeal clauses for several state statutes, the bill effectively removes the automatic termination of the program without changing the core rules or funding amounts. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, allowing the program to continue operating under its current framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to buy the building it currently occupies at 700 Bragaw Street in Anchorage for up to $8 million. The legislation provides the specific legal approval needed for this purchase and sets the law into effect immediately. It directly impacts the state agency by allowing it to own its office space rather than lease it.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles to create custom registration plates for specific local organizations, such as tax-exempt nonprofits, state departments, and municipalities. To qualify, the sponsoring group must pay for the design and printing costs, and the plates cannot duplicate existing designs or contain offensive content. The legislation also establishes a $100 application fee for the first issuance and replacement of these plates, while permitting the sponsoring organization to charge an additional fee to vehicle owners. Finally, the bill includes provisions for notifying sponsors before cancelling a plate design and outlines the rules for purchasing these specialty plates.

Maddy summaryThis law, known as the Textbook Cost Transparency Act, requires the University of Alaska to clearly list required course materials on its online course schedule. It mandates that the university specify which materials are free or low-cost and disclose any automatic fees charged when students register. Additionally, the university must include a search feature that allows students to easily find courses where all required materials are either free or affordable. The definitions for low-cost and zero-cost resources are based on the state's minimum hourly wage and free availability, respectively. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.