Sen. Bill Wielechowski

Maddy summaryHB 10 requires the University of Alaska Board of Regents to include at least one full-time, tenured faculty member from one of the three main campuses (Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Southeast) as a regent. This faculty regent must be selected through campus elections by each university's faculty senate, with the governor appointing from the submitted list within 60 days. The bill also reduces the board's quorum requirement from seven to six regents for meetings. These changes directly affect the governance structure of the University of Alaska system, ensuring faculty representation on its governing board.

Maddy summaryHB 176, the Student Fee Transparency Act, requires the University of Alaska to provide enrolled students with 30 days' notice before imposing new fees or increasing existing ones. This notice must detail the fee amount, its purpose, and whether it's permanent or temporary with a set end date. The bill also mandates that the university issue itemized billing statements showing all tuition and fees charged to each student. These requirements take effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting all University of Alaska students.

Maddy summaryHB 16 amends Alaska's campaign finance laws by raising contribution limits for individuals and groups in state and local elections. It increases individual limits to $2,000 per election cycle (from $500 annually) and group limits to $5,000 annually for political parties, while adding new definitions for "election cycle" and tightening reporting rules. Crucially, it mandates the Alaska Public Offices Commission to automatically adjust all contribution limits every decade starting in 2031 using the Consumer Price Index for urban Alaska. The bill directly affects candidates, political committees, and donors participating in Alaska state/local elections. It focuses on updating financial thresholds to account for inflation while maintaining existing contribution caps for most scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 39 requires Alaska public school districts to provide parents of deaf or hard of hearing students with unbiased information about hearing technology, communication methods (like sign language or spoken language), and support services. It mandates that districts allow parents to choose the communication method for their child and deliver services using that method through trained professionals. The bill also requires the state to support programs for deaf students, including residential options, and sets procedures for school districts operating these programs while maintaining special education responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 174 establishes the Alaska Invasive Species Council within the Department of Fish and Game to coordinate state efforts in managing invasive species. The Council, composed of appointed representatives from state agencies (like Fish and Game and Environmental Conservation), tribes, universities, and conservation groups, will facilitate cooperation between government entities and organizations. Key duties include recommending policies on species importation and classification, guiding how state funds are allocated for invasive species responses, and providing technical assistance for regional management. This bill directly affects state agencies, tribal governments, and conservation organizations involved in preventing or managing invasive species across Alaska.

Maddy summaryHB 239 amends Alaska law to increase penalties for criminally negligent homicide committed while operating a motor vehicle and failing to stop or provide assistance after an accident. It upgrades this offense from a Class B felony to a Class A felony (with a 7-11 year sentencing range under AS 12.55.125(c)(D)), directly affecting drivers involved in collisions who violate existing duties to stop and assist under AS 28.35.050/060. The bill does not change the underlying duty to stop but significantly raises the criminal consequences for violating it. This adjustment specifically targets cases where a driver’s failure to stop causes death, making it a more serious felony than other negligent homicide scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 184 amends Alaska's Industrial Development and Export Authority to explicitly include financing for workforce housing projects in its purpose. The bill authorizes the Authority to provide financial support for constructing new housing developments with five or more dwelling units, using existing tools like bonds and loans. This change directly affects the Authority and housing developers, enabling them to address workforce housing shortages as part of the Authority's mission to promote economic welfare and reduce unemployment. The bill expands the Authority's existing role without creating new funding sources, focusing on applying current mechanisms to housing needs.

Maddy summaryHB 28 establishes a pilot program to help certain Alaska teachers and state employees repay student loans. It targets full-time public school teachers and state workers who completed degrees outside Alaska (with 12+ months Alaska residency before studying) or at the University of Alaska (with 12+ months outside Alaska before employment), provided they have qualifying student loans. Participants may receive annual grants of up to $8,000 (for loans ≥$24,000) or one-third of their loan balance (for smaller loans), capped at 125 grants yearly with a $1 million total annual limit. The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education will administer the program, require annual reports on its impact on recruitment/retention, and evaluate it through 2027 before the program expires January 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 4) commemorates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. founding on July 4, 2026, and encourages Alaskans to participate in related events. It urges educational institutions to strengthen civics education, focusing on foundational U.S. principles like liberty, federalism, and citizen participation. The resolution has no binding effect - it is a symbolic gesture to honor historical milestones and promote civic learning.

Maddy summarySB 187 prohibits Alaska public schools from serving meals containing seven specific artificial food dyes (including red dye 40, yellow dye 5, and blue dye 1) in school nutrition programs. The bill directly affects all public schools operating meal programs in Alaska, banning these dyes from any food or beverage served as part of those meals. Key provisions require schools to remove these certified FDA dyes from their menus by July 1, 2025, with the effective date specified in Section 2. The bill focuses solely on removing these dyes from school meals without addressing other food additives or nutritional standards.