Sen. Scott Kawasaki

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 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 summaryHJR 28 is a resolution passed by the Alaska State Legislature calling on the U.S. Congress to enact the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1748). It does not create new laws but urges federal action to protect minors under 17 from online risks like harmful content, addictive design, and excessive data collection. The resolution highlights that S. 1748 would require online platforms to implement default privacy settings, parental controls, and restrictions on targeting children with ads or data tracking. Alaska’s resolution directly affects children and teens using websites, apps, and social media by advocating for federal safeguards. This is a procedural resolution, not a policy change.

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 summaryHJR 18 is a resolution passed by the Alaska State Legislature expressing support for the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project. It recognizes the project as critical for Alaska’s economy, U.S. energy independence, and national security, and urges federal officials - including President Trump, Secretary of the Interior Douglas Burgum, and relevant agencies - to expedite approvals and coordination for the project. The resolution highlights that the project would create high-paying jobs, generate long-term revenue, and provide a direct energy corridor for global LNG exports without relying on adversarial nations. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact policy but formally advocates for federal action to advance the project.

Maddy summaryThis Alaska legislative resolution (HJR 20) calls on the U.S. Congress to establish two specific hiring goals for Department of Defense (DoD) construction projects: requiring that at least 10% of workers on these projects be in apprenticeship programs, and that at least 10% of those apprentices be veterans. It directly addresses veterans transitioning to civilian careers by targeting employment opportunities in military construction, which involves $18 billion in annual funding. The resolution urges Congress to pass legislation mandating these requirements for contractors and subcontractors on all domestic DoD construction projects. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses Alaska's support for veterans' employment without creating new federal law.

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 26 requires Alaska's Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to develop a statewide public and community transit plan in collaboration with transit operators, local governments, communities, and tribal entities. The bill mandates the department to study transportation alternatives while considering economic, environmental, and social impacts, including improvements to urban, rural, and remote transit systems. It adds a specific duty to create this comprehensive plan as part of the department's broader transportation planning responsibilities under existing law. The legislation directly affects how Alaska coordinates and plans public transit services across all regions of the state.

Maddy summaryHB 214 amends Alaska law to require individuals with suspended driver's licenses due to unpaid judgments to maintain proof of financial responsibility for one full year after the judgment is resolved (either paid or settled). This directly affects drivers whose licenses were suspended for failing to pay court-ordered judgments. The key change extends the required proof maintenance period from the previous requirement (which tied it to active driving privileges) to a fixed one-year timeline after the judgment is handled. The bill focuses on clarifying the duration for which financial proof must be kept, without altering the underlying suspension criteria.

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.