Sen. Scott Kawasaki

Maddy summarySB 196 imposes a $0.98 monthly surcharge on all wireless phone numbers and landline telephone access lines in Alaska, collected by phone companies from customers. The funds collected are deposited into a new "behavioral health crisis services fund" managed by the Department of Health. This fund will directly support the operation and improvement of Alaska's 988 crisis hotline system, including staffing, technology, and infrastructure. The bill requires phone companies to separately bill customers for the surcharge, remit collected funds to the state within 60 days, and deduct only administrative costs (up to $150 or 1% of collected amount) before remittance.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes an amendment to the Alaska Constitution that would lower the vote threshold required to override a governor's veto from three-fourths to two-thirds for all bills, currently requiring a higher threshold for revenue and appropriation bills. It also establishes deadlines for reconsidering vetoes after legislative sessions end - requiring action within five days of the next regular or special session - and mandates that override votes be recorded in legislative journals. If approved, this change would affect how the Alaska legislature handles vetoed bills, altering the legislative process for enacting laws. The amendment must be submitted to voters at the next general election for ratification.

Maddy summarySB 243 removes silencers (devices that reduce firearm noise) from Alaska's legal definition of "prohibited weapon" by repealing a specific section of state law (AS 11.61.200(h)(1)(B)). This change directly affects firearm owners who currently need special permits to possess silencers, as they would no longer be classified as prohibited under this definition. The bill modifies the state's firearms regulations to clarify that these devices are not automatically banned, aligning with broader state law on firearm accessories. The bill is currently in committee review and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryHJR 14 is a symbolic resolution expressing legislative support for two key rail projects: the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension (connecting Port MacKenzie to Houston/Delta Junction) and the Northern Rail Extension (to Fort Greely). It encourages the Alaska Railroad to adopt a community-focused approach for future expansions and supports developing Arctic infrastructure. The resolution does not fund or mandate these projects but highlights their potential benefits, including reduced transportation costs for mining/agriculture, improved energy resilience, and better military logistics at Fort Greely. It reflects Alaska's strategic interest in Arctic infrastructure development.

Maddy summarySB 20 requires Alaska public schools to include hands-only CPR education in health classes for students in grades determined by the Department of Education. The bill mandates that the Department adopt age-appropriate curricula based on national emergency care guidelines, including hands-on practice and instruction on using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which may use video demonstrations if in-person training isn't feasible. Schools must offer this instruction, and it can be taught by certified CPR instructors, EMTs, or teachers with a current teaching certificate. The law takes effect on August 25, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 247 creates new criminal offenses for distributing and possessing "generated obscene child sexual abuse material," defined as computer-generated images or videos that appear to depict children engaged in sexual acts but were created without real children. The bill specifies that possessing 100 or more such items is prima facie evidence of intent to distribute, with distribution classified as a class B felony (or class A felony for repeat offenders). It establishes a legal standard requiring such material to appeal to a prurient interest, depict a child (via manipulation) in a patently offensive way, and lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. The bill does not address the other provisions mentioned in its title (teaching certificates, school bus drivers), as the provided text focuses solely on the criminal provisions.

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 summaryHB 101 lowers the age threshold for minors to file civil claims against sexual abusers from 18 to 16 years old. It also amends Alaska's murder statutes to specify that killing a child under 16 during certain crimes - such as sexual offenses, kidnapping, or assault - elevates the murder charge. These changes update legal standards to better protect child victims and clarify penalties for crimes involving minors. The bill focuses on concrete policy adjustments to strengthen legal remedies and accountability.

Maddy summarySB 238 adds an affirmative defense for library, school, and museum employees in criminal cases involving minor-related offenses (like distributing indecent material to minors), meaning they can argue they were acting within their job duties. It requires public libraries to adopt written policies for selecting and reviewing materials that prevent censorship based on content, origin, or viewpoint, and ensures materials remain available during reconsideration requests. The policy must include a clear process for patrons to request reviews - without removal during the review - and consider factors like relevance, demand, and condition. This bill directly affects public libraries, their staff, and patrons by establishing standardized, transparent rules for managing library collections.

Maddy summarySB 241 requires businesses to include all mandatory fees (excluding government taxes) in advertised prices for goods or services. This directly affects businesses that sell to consumers in Alaska by mandating full price transparency upfront. The key provision amends consumer protection law to prohibit advertising prices that omit these fees, ensuring consumers see the total cost at the point of purchase. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.