Rep. DeLena Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 64 in Alaska creates a legal process for parents to safely surrender newborns without facing criminal charges or future parental obligations. It allows parents to hand infants to authorized personnel (like hospital staff, police, or emergency medical workers) or place them in designated infant safety devices at approved locations (such as hospitals, fire stations, or clinics). Facilities receiving surrendered infants must immediately notify child welfare services, and parents lose all legal duty to support the child after a safe surrender. The bill also protects facilities from liability if they follow these procedures, and requires safety devices to be visible, climate-controlled, and clearly marked.

Maddy summaryHB 213 amends Alaska law to clarify how the Department of Administration may share driver's license data. It limits data sharing to only what's required for REAL ID Act compliance (federal standards for driver's licenses) and adds a new provision allowing the department to share data with U.S. Social Security Administration-approved entities for driver's license verification. The bill restricts sharing beyond these specific purposes and takes effect immediately. It directly affects the Department of Administration and entities seeking to verify driver's license information.

Maddy summaryHB 18 allows Alaska boat and vehicle owners to establish a "transfer on death" (TOD) title, bypassing probate. Owners can designate one or two beneficiaries via a simple application (with fee) to automatically transfer title upon their death. The bill specifies that TOD titles require no beneficiary acceptance, consideration, or probate court involvement, and owners may revoke or change beneficiaries anytime without notifying the beneficiary. This directly affects Alaska residents who own titled boats or vehicles and wish to simplify inheritance for their heirs.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 6) is a ceremonial measure recognizing the 250th anniversary of the U.S. founding on July 4, 2026. It encourages Alaskans, communities, and organizations to participate in commemorative events celebrating American history and founding principles like liberty and federalism. The resolution specifically urges educational institutions across Alaska to strengthen civics education, focusing on active citizenship and the nation's foundational ideals. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or requirements but promotes reflection on historical principles and civic engagement.

Maddy summaryHJR 5 is a resolution passed by the Alaska Legislature urging the U.S. Congress and President to reinstate and permanently fund the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. This act provided critical funding to rural communities near national forests (like those in Southeast Alaska) that historically relied on payments from federal timber revenue to support schools, roads, public safety, and infrastructure. The resolution specifically requests retroactive funding for fiscal year 2025 after the program expired in January 2025 and asks Congress to make the funding mechanism permanent. It does not create new law but formally advocates for federal action to prevent budget shortfalls in affected rural areas.

Maddy summaryHB 11 modifies how Alaska permanent fund dividends are handled when recipients choose to redirect funds. It establishes a specific priority order for contributions and donations: funds must first cover mandatory contributions under AS 43.23.130, then donations under AS 43.23.230, and finally other contributions under AS 43.23.135. This directly affects Alaskans who receive permanent fund dividends and elect to redirect part of their payment toward state funds. The bill ensures these redirections follow a clear, standardized process when the total requested amount exceeds the dividend payout.

Maddy summaryHB 168 requires Alaska public high schools to implement a standardized civics education curriculum covering 14 specific topics, including U.S. founding documents, government branches, Alaska's constitution, and comparative global government systems. To earn a diploma, students must complete a semester-long civics course, pass a 100-question assessment based on the U.S. citizenship test, and either complete a civics project or provide evidence of prior passing scores. The bill mandates schools to document passing scores on student transcripts and allows limited exemptions for transfer students or those with disabilities. This directly affects all Alaska high school students seeking graduation, with requirements taking effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 83 rejects all recommendations from Alaska's State Officers Compensation Commission regarding state officer pay for 2025. The bill directly blocks the commission's proposed changes to compensation levels without creating new salary rules. It takes immediate effect under existing law, preventing the recommended salary adjustments from being implemented. This is a procedural disapproval of the commission's report, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryHJR 7 is a symbolic resolution expressing Alaska's gratitude to President Trump for his 2020 executive order "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential." The resolution specifically commends the executive order's directives to restart oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, rescind environmental reviews of past projects, and prioritize resource development on federal lands. It does not create new laws or alter regulations but formally supports the executive order's policy goals. The resolution directly affects Alaska's legislative body, which is expressing this stance to the federal government. This is a non-binding gesture, not a legislative change.

Maddy summaryHB 8 limits Alaska's legal holidays to a maximum of 12 per calendar year, overriding previous provisions that allowed for more. This directly affects the Alaska legislature, which establishes these holidays, by restricting its ability to add new ones beyond the 12-year cap. The bill adds a specific provision to state law stating that holidays established under sections (a)(13) and (14) of the existing law do not count toward this 12-holiday limit. The change is purely procedural, setting a clear numerical constraint on holiday additions without creating new holidays or altering existing ones.