Rep. Kevin McCabe

Maddy summaryHJR 16 is a resolution passed by the Alaska State Legislature urging the Export-Import Bank of the United States to prioritize funding for domestic projects like the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project over the Mozambique LNG project. It requests the bank reconsider its funding for Mozambique LNG - which has a 43 million metric ton annual capacity - arguing it competes with Alaska's project and could reduce demand for domestic LNG exports. The resolution specifically cites Alaska LNG's planned 20,000 metric ton annual capacity and 2031 export timeline as projects that align with national energy security goals. It directs the bank to provide similar support for Alaska LNG as it has for Mozambique LNG, ensuring funding decisions align with long-term U.S. export interests.

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 summaryHB 120 requires the Alaska governor to sell the state-owned Alaska Railroad by February 2027, mandating a request for proposals by June 2026. The buyer must commit to operating the railroad for at least 50 years, accept all existing contracts (including labor agreements), and pay a price exceeding the railroad's fair market value or the state's total investment. The legislature must approve the sale agreement during its next session, and the state retains an easement for transportation use along the railroad's right-of-way. Upon sale, the Alaska Railroad Corporation will dissolve, and non-operational property will transfer to the Department of Natural Resources.

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 7 creates the Port of Southcentral Alaska Authority to manage and operate the port in Anchorage, including its seaport, rail, and industrial properties. The new authority, established as a separate public corporation under the Department of Commerce, will handle all financial and legal obligations for the port. It is governed by a board of 9 members: two state agency commissioners and seven public appointees with specific qualifications (including port management experience and regional representation from Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna areas). The bill transfers responsibility for port operations from previous oversight to this new authority, making it an essential government function for managing state-owned port assets.

Maddy summaryHB 5 prohibits Alaska insurance companies from making certain decisions based solely on a person’s status as an elected official. It bans insurers from refusing coverage, limiting coverage, canceling policies, denying claims, or raising premiums for state legislators, governors, mayors, city council members, or school board officials. Exceptions apply if decisions are based on actual risk data (underwriting principles) or required by law. The law applies to policies issued, delivered, or renewed after its effective date. This directly affects elected officials who may face unfair insurance treatment due to their office.

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 the Alaska Military Affairs Commission and updates the composition of the Joint Armed Services Committee to include representatives from military organizations and local mayors. It creates a new role for an assistant adjutant general within the Alaska National Guard, requiring the appointee to have at least five years of service in the state's Army or Air National Guard. Additionally, the legislation sets specific eligibility requirements for judge advocates, mandating that they be commissioned officers in good standing with a state militia or federal armed forces. These changes aim to broaden community representation in military advisory bodies and standardize leadership qualifications within the state's military structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Alaska state agencies to create a strategic plan for developing critical minerals needed for renewable energy technologies. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to submit a report comparing the state's current production of minerals like lithium and copper to national and global levels, while also analyzing how regulatory rules affect mining development. Additionally, the Department of Commerce must provide a report on how Alaska can support the global energy transition through innovation, manufacturing, and transportation. Both reports must outline specific strategies for increasing state production and competitiveness over the next three, five, and ten years.