Rep. Sara Hannan

Maddy summarySB 24 raises Alaska's minimum age to purchase, possess, or exchange tobacco products, electronic smoking devices, and nicotine products from 19 to 21 years. It prohibits individuals under 21 from possessing these products, with exceptions for FDA-approved nicotine cessation products prescribed by a healthcare professional or provided through state-approved programs. The bill also updates rules for vending machines in licensed businesses and includes provisions related to funding for tobacco education and cessation programs and taxation of electronic smoking products.

Maddy summaryHJR 39 is a resolution passed by the Alaska State Legislature urging the federal government to waive a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee for international educators hired by Alaska schools. It directly affects Alaska school districts - particularly rural and remote ones facing teacher shortages in subjects like math, science, and special education - who currently employ nearly 500 international educators. The resolution cites that the fee increase threatens to force schools to pay millions or lose needed teachers, impacting over 5,000 students currently without adequate staffing. This is a non-binding request to federal officials (including the President, Education Secretary, and Homeland Security Secretary), not a law that would change visa fees itself.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution from Alaska's legislature honors the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence signing (July 4, 1776) and encourages Alaskan residents to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026. It commemorates the founding principles and historical significance of the Declaration without creating new laws or affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryHB 48 updates funding rules for Alaska's civil legal services fund, which provides legal aid to low-income residents. The bill limits annual appropriations to funds from the general state budget and up to 10% of court filing fees collected in the previous fiscal year (reducing the prior cap from 25%). It specifies that funds must support organizations serving individuals with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. The bill clarifies the fund remains part of the general state budget, not a dedicated account, and does not create new funding sources.

Maddy summaryHB 193 establishes a paid parental leave program in Alaska, allowing eligible workers to take paid time off for childbirth, adoption, or foster placement within 12 months. The program is funded by a 0.15% payroll contribution from employees (credited against their unemployment insurance payments), with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development administering claims and verifying eligibility using documents like birth certificates or adoption papers. Employees must earn at least $2,500 in wages across two calendar quarters to qualify. The bill also includes provisions for the fund to support unemployment benefits, but its primary focus is creating the new paid leave program.

Maddy summaryHB 301 amends Alaska's anti-discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in covered contexts like housing and employment. It adds new definitions to the statute, clarifying that "gender identity or expression" includes a person's self-image or behavior regardless of sex assigned at birth, and expands "sex" to include both sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill directly affects Alaskans by extending legal protections against discrimination in areas governed by the existing anti-discrimination statute. The legislation focuses on updating definitions within current law rather than creating new enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 233 prohibits metallic sulfide mining (such as mining for gold, copper, or other metals from sulfide-bearing rock) within the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve watershed. The bill directly affects mining operations in this area, aiming to protect the region's salmon fisheries and water systems. Key provisions ban these specific mining activities to prevent pollution of rivers, groundwater, and aquatic habitats connected to Bristol Bay. This aligns with legislative findings that the watershed supports a $2.2 billion annual fishery economy, 15,000 jobs, and cultural practices of Alaska Native communities. The bill does not address other mining types or activities outside the designated watershed.

Maddy summaryHB 49 raises Alaska's minimum age for purchasing, possessing, or exchanging tobacco products, electronic smoking devices, and nicotine products from 19 to 21 years old. It prohibits individuals under 21 from possessing these items, with exceptions for FDA-approved nicotine cessation products prescribed by a healthcare provider or provided through state-approved programs. The bill also updates vending machine rules, allowing them only in specific licensed venues with strict supervision or in controlled workplace areas requiring clear warning signs. These changes aim to reduce youth access to nicotine products while maintaining medical use pathways.

Maddy summaryHB 33 amends Alaska's ethics rules for members of the Board of Fisheries and Board of Game. It clarifies that these members are not disqualified from participating in board discussions if they have personal or family financial interests in fish or game-related businesses, but they must refrain from voting if a supervisor or majority determines their involvement would violate ethics laws. The bill requires members to disclose conflicts in writing and allows the supervisor or board to decide whether voting is permitted, ensuring transparency while permitting deliberation. This procedural change directly affects board members managing fisheries and wildlife resources, with no substantive policy shifts beyond ethics compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 300 establishes a new daily meal and incidental expense allowance for Alaska state officials and employees on official travel. It sets a $82 daily rate for the first 30 days of travel and reduces it to $45 per day after the 30th day. The allowance will automatically adjust every three years starting July 2029 based on changes to Alaska's Consumer Price Index. This policy directly affects state workers traveling for official business, covering costs for meals and minor expenses during trips.