Rep. Maxine Dibert

Maddy summarySB 23 requires Alaska public high schools to implement a standardized civics curriculum covering U.S. and Alaska government, founding documents, citizenship rights, and global governance systems. Students must complete a semester-long civics course and pass two assessments: a 100-question test based on the U.S. citizenship exam and a civics project-based assessment to earn a high school diploma. The bill directly affects all Alaska public high school students, with exemptions for transfers after 10th grade, students with prior history credits, or those with disability waivers. Schools must document passing scores on transcripts and may allow retakes for the assessment.

Maddy summaryHB 258 creates a statewide fund to help low-income Alaskans spay or neuter their pets and manage feral cat and dog populations. The fund, financed by fees from special pet owner license plates, donations, and federal/private grants, reimburses veterinarians, shelters, or clinics up to 80% of costs for spay/neuter surgeries or vaccinations for pets owned by households earning ≤130% of federal poverty guidelines. It also allows municipalities to use the program for trapping, spaying/neutering, and vaccinating feral animals under local ordinances. The Department of Environmental Conservation must report annually on program use and funding, and promote public awareness about pet population control. This bill directly affects pet owners, animal service providers, and local governments managing feral animal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 261 modifies Alaska's education funding rules by establishing specific spending limits and allocation formulas for school construction projects. It sets a $190.6 million cap for projects approved between 1998-2006, distributing funds based on municipality school enrollment sizes (e.g., $77.9 million for districts with 25,000+ students in 2000). A separate $177.3 million cap applies to projects from 1999-2006, with allocations tied to enrollment ranges as of 2005 (e.g., $61.9 million for districts with 45,000+ students). The bill also requires department approval for early education programs to count toward district enrollment calculations. These provisions directly affect school districts and municipalities receiving construction funding based on historical enrollment data.

Maddy summarySB 111, the "Digital Right to Repair Act," requires digital product manufacturers (like those making phones, computers, or farm equipment) to provide independent repair shops and device owners with necessary documentation, parts, and tools for diagnosis, maintenance, and repair. It mandates that manufacturers make these resources available on terms no less favorable than those given to their own authorized service providers, including security feature reset documentation. The bill prohibits charging independent repairers more than authorized dealers and allows reasonable fees only for physical copies or shipping. It directly affects manufacturers, independent repair businesses, and consumers seeking repair options, while exempting parts no longer available to manufacturers. The law takes effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 162, the Digital Right to Repair Act, requires digital product manufacturers (like those making smartphones, computers, or smart devices) to provide independent repair shops and device owners with necessary documentation, parts, and tools for diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing products. Manufacturers must share software/firmware updates and cannot charge independent repairers more than they charge their own authorized service providers. The law also mandates that security features disabling repair functions must be reset with available documentation and tools. This directly affects manufacturers, independent repair businesses, and consumers seeking affordable, accessible repair options in Alaska.

Maddy summaryHB 125 changes how Alaska's Board of Fisheries members are appointed. It requires the governor to appoint seven members with specific representation: two for commercial fishing, two for sport fishing, two for subsistence fishing (selected from a list by the Alaska Federation of Natives), and one from the scientific community (selected from a list by NOAA). The governor must choose members based on knowledge and judgment, without regard to political affiliation or geographic location, while ensuring diverse viewpoints. The bill also includes a transition rule allowing current board members to finish their terms before new appointments follow these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 12 requires Alaska public school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to any student who requests these meals, with no cost to the student. The state department of education must fund this through state appropriations and maximize federal funding available for school meals. This policy directly affects all Alaska public school students who request breakfast or lunch, ensuring meal access regardless of family income. The bill does not change eligibility criteria but mandates that districts offer these meals at no cost to students who ask for them.

Maddy summaryHB 105 requires Alaska public schools (K-12) to include mental health education in health curricula and mandates that schools provide parents with at least two weeks' notice before offering mental health instruction to their children. It directs the state Board of Education to develop age-appropriate mental health education guidelines in collaboration with health departments, tribal organizations, and mental health experts. The bill also expands existing health education requirements to explicitly include mental health, alongside topics like personal safety and substance abuse prevention. School districts must adopt policies allowing parents to withdraw children from mental health instruction or assessments, similar to existing provisions for other sensitive topics.

Maddy summaryHB 238 expands Alaska's medical assistance program to cover immunizations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children and adolescents under 18. It clarifies that "included vaccines" must be on a list maintained by the commissioner and align with AAP guidelines for this age group. The bill adds these immunizations explicitly to the list of optional services the Department of Health and Social Services can provide under medical assistance. This directly affects children and teens under 18 who rely on state-funded healthcare programs for vaccination coverage.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 4 is a symbolic resolution from the Alaska Legislature urging the President, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to maintain "Denali" as the official name for North America's tallest mountain. It states that Denali is the traditional Koyukon Athabaskan name, has been Alaska's official name since 1975, and was adopted by the U.S. in 2015, rejecting a return to "Mount McKinley." The resolution argues that changing the name would be disrespectful to Alaska Natives, confuse tourism (as Denali is widely recognized), and lacks historical connection to President McKinley, who never visited the mountain. This resolution does not change the name but formally requests federal officials continue using "Denali."