Rep. Mike Prax

Maddy summaryHB 74 creates a new criminal offense called "airbag fraud" for knowingly selling, installing, manufacturing, or offering for sale vehicles with unsafe airbags. It prohibits selling replacement airbags that don’t meet federal safety standards, counterfeit airbags, or nonfunctioning airbags (including those that hide defects), and selling vehicles known to have such airbags. Violations are punishable as a class A misdemeanor, or a class C felony if death or serious injury results. The law exempts police vehicle installations, dealers without knowledge of faulty airbags, and insurance companies handling totaled vehicles.

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 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 147 allows licensed naturopaths in Alaska to prescribe prescription drugs under a temporary endorsement while supervised by a physician. To qualify, naturopaths must pass a pharmacology exam and meet department requirements, with supervision from a physician who has prescribed drugs for at least five years. After one year of supervised practice, the supervising physician can recommend full endorsement to the department, enabling the naturopath to prescribe without supervision. The bill also requires naturopaths to complete 60 hours of continuing education (including 20 hours on pharmacotherapy) every two years to renew their license.

Maddy summaryHB 161 requires most Alaska employers to provide paid sick leave: businesses with 50+ employees must offer 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (capped at 56 hours yearly), while smaller businesses (fewer than 15 employees) must offer 1 hour per 30 hours (capped at 40 hours yearly). Employees can use this leave for their own medical care, family health needs, or domestic violence situations, with accrual starting at hire or July 1, 2025. Unused leave carries over annually but cannot exceed the yearly caps. The law applies to private sector workers and allows cashing out accrued leave upon request.

Maddy summaryHB 145 authorizes mobile sports wagering in Alaska by creating a new regulatory framework for operators. It requires businesses to obtain a state license (including proof of operating in three other states), undergo criminal history checks for owners and key staff, and pay a tax on wagering revenue. The bill directly affects potential mobile betting operators, the Alaska Department of Revenue (for tax collection), and state agencies overseeing licensing and background checks. Key provisions include mandatory criminal record screenings, detailed ownership disclosure requirements, and rules for license renewal or suspension under state gambling laws. The bill does not specify tax rates but sets an effective date for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 241 adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PIC) into Alaska law, allowing psychologists licensed in other participating states to practice in Alaska more easily. It amends licensing rules (AS 08.86.070, AS 08.86.150) to establish "license by credentials" for out-of-state psychologists who meet Alaska's standards, such as holding a doctoral degree in psychology and demonstrating comparable qualifications. This directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to practice across state lines without retaking exams or completing full Alaska licensure. The bill streamlines cross-state practice while maintaining Alaska's licensing requirements for safety and competency.

Maddy summaryHB 81 restricts the release of conviction records for specific drug possession cases in Alaska. It prohibits criminal justice agencies from sharing records of convictions under Alaska Statute 11.71.060 (possession of less than one ounce of a schedule VIA controlled substance) if the person was 21 or older at the time, had no other convictions in that case, and requested non-disclosure. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and will expire January 1, 2028. This directly affects individuals meeting these criteria by allowing them to prevent their records from being publicly released.