Rep. Kevin McCabe

Maddy summaryHB 357, titled the Alaska Heartbeat Act, prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, directly affecting individuals seeking abortions and healthcare providers performing them. The bill requires abortions to be conducted only by licensed physicians in approved facilities, with specific consent and notification rules for minors. It amends civil procedure rules to enable civil enforcement of these abortion restrictions, allowing lawsuits to challenge violations. The legislation cites medical findings that cardiac activity indicates a likelihood of live birth, framing the heartbeat as a key medical milestone for legal protection. This bill would restrict access to abortion services beyond the point of fetal heartbeat detection, impacting both providers and patients seeking care.

Maddy summaryHJR 14 is a symbolic resolution expressing legislative support for two key rail projects: the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension (connecting Port MacKenzie to Houston/Delta Junction) and the Northern Rail Extension (to Fort Greely). It encourages the Alaska Railroad to adopt a community-focused approach for future expansions and supports developing Arctic infrastructure. The resolution does not fund or mandate these projects but highlights their potential benefits, including reduced transportation costs for mining/agriculture, improved energy resilience, and better military logistics at Fort Greely. It reflects Alaska's strategic interest in Arctic infrastructure development.

Maddy summaryHB 77 amends Alaska's theft statute to specifically classify the theft of mail or items within mail as "theft in the second degree." This directly affects individuals who steal physical mail (letters, packages, or items inside mail) from post offices, mailboxes, or after delivery to authorized locations. The bill defines "mail" broadly to include USPS-delivered items with postage, placed in authorized depositories or given to postal employees. Key provisions include criminalizing the theft of mail from post offices, mail receptacles, or after delivery, and adding "mail" as a new category under second-degree theft. The law applies to all mail covered by USPS delivery standards, not just commercial parcels.

Maddy summaryHB 342 requires Alaska's State Medical Board to create a standardized informed consent form for minors receiving sex-reassignment treatments or procedures. The form must include specific disclaimers, such as that the FDA hasn't approved puberty blockers or hormones for gender dysphoria, that other countries recommend psychotherapy first, and that these treatments carry risks like sterility, heart disease, and unknown brain development effects. It directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming care, their physicians, and the State Medical Board. The bill modifies medical licensing regulations to mandate this form before any such treatment, requiring it to be provided at every visit for at least one year. The bill is currently under review by the Health & Social Services committee.

Maddy summaryHB 47 creates two new criminal offenses related to AI-generated or manipulated child sexual abuse material in Alaska. It makes distributing such material a class B felony (or class A felony with prior convictions), and possessing 100 or more items is presumed to indicate intent to distribute. The bill defines "generated obscene child sexual abuse material" as content depicting manipulated images of children engaged in sexual acts, lacking serious value, and appealing to prurient interest under community standards. It specifically excludes tech employees acting in their job duties to prevent or report such material. The law does not address the other topics listed in the bill's title (teaching certificates, school bus licensing).

Maddy summaryThis Alaska legislative resolution (HJR 22) requests two specific actions from the U.S. Congress: (1) to propose a constitutional amendment limiting U.S. House and Senate members to a set number of terms, and (2) to call a constitutional convention to draft such an amendment. It asks Congress to act on this request, or else states will independently pursue a convention under Article V of the Constitution. The resolution formally applies for a convention focused solely on term limits, seeking to aggregate Alaska’s application with those of other states that have similar requests. As a procedural resolution, it does not change law but aims to advance a constitutional amendment process.

Maddy summaryHB 41 proposes that Alaska observe daylight saving time year-round (advancing time by one hour) instead of switching between standard and daylight saving time. This change would only take effect if Congress amends federal law by December 31, 2031, to permit states to use year-round daylight saving time. If federal law changes, the bill would implement the year-round time adjustment on the first Sunday in November following the federal law's effective date, or the following year if the federal change occurs after October 1. The bill does not change current time practices but prepares Alaska for potential future federal authorization.

Maddy summaryHB 341 establishes May 8 as World War II Victory Day in Alaska each year. The bill commemorates the Allied victory in World War II and honors U.S. military service members who served during the conflict. It authorizes civic groups and the public to observe the day through voluntary activities like ceremonies or educational events. The bill does not create new government programs, funding, or legal requirements - it is a symbolic observance.

Maddy summaryHB 370 amends Alaska's unemployment insurance law to exclude certain sports officials (like referees or umpires) from being classified as "employees" for unemployment insurance contribution purposes. This means employers of these officials, such as sports leagues or event organizers, would no longer be required to pay unemployment insurance taxes on their wages. The bill adds a new exclusion to the statute's definition of "employment," specifically targeting sports officials' service. As a result, these officials would not be covered under Alaska's unemployment insurance program.

Maddy summaryHB 358 creates a grant program to support career and technical education mobility for Alaska secondary school students. It establishes grants for pre-apprenticeship training and work-based learning opportunities, directly affecting high school students seeking career pathways. The bill requires the Department of Education to coordinate with businesses and labor unions to develop programs preparing students for apprenticeships or employment. Key provisions include funding for student mobility between educational programs and aligning training with workforce needs, as amended into Alaska Statute 14.07.020. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand career training access without specifying funding levels or outcomes.