Legislature(2025 - 2026)ADAMS 519

05/14/2025 01:30 PM House FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Recessed to 5/15 at 9:00 am --
+ SB 64 ELECTIONS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ HB 174 REAA FUND: MT. EDGECUMBE, TEACHER HOUSING TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 174 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 105 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 105 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 96 CHILD CARE: TAX CREDITS TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 96 Out of Committee
                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                       May 14, 2025                                                                                             
                         2:23 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:23:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  called the House Finance  Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 2:23 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Andy Josephson, Co-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Calvin Schrage, Co-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Jamie Allard                                                                                                     
Representative Jeremy Bynum                                                                                                     
Representative Alyse Galvin                                                                                                     
Representative Sara Hannan                                                                                                      
Representative Nellie Unangiq Jimmie                                                                                            
Representative DeLena Johnson                                                                                                   
Representative Will Stapp                                                                                                       
Representative Frank Tomaszewski                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Alyse  Galvin, Sponsor;  Representative Robyn                                                                    
Niayuq Burke,  Sponsor; Paul LaBolle,  Staff, Representative                                                                    
Neal Foster; Senator Bill  Wielechowski, Chair, Senate Rules                                                                    
Committee;    David    Dunsmore,   Staff,    Senator    Bill                                                                    
Wielechowski.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mike  Coons, Self,  Wasilla;  Trevor  Storrs, President  and                                                                    
CEO,  Alaska   Children's  Trust,  Anchorage;   Dr.  Shirley                                                                    
Holloway,   NAMI   Alaska,  Anchorage;   Heather   Heineken,                                                                    
Director  of Finance  and  Support  Services, Department  of                                                                    
Education  and  Early  Development; Melissa  Patack,  Motion                                                                    
Picture Association,  Los Angeles, CA; David  Johnson, Self,                                                                    
Wasilla; Alex Koplin, Self, Homer; Carol Beecher, Director,                                                                     
Division of Elections, Office of the Lieutenant Governor.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 105    PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          HB  105 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with five                                                                    
          "do  pass"  recommendations,  one  "do  not  pass"                                                                    
          recommendation,   and  four   "no  recommendation"                                                                    
          recommendations and with one  new zero fiscal note                                                                    
          from  the  Department  of Health;  one  previously                                                                    
          published fiscal  impact note: FN1 (EED);  and one                                                                    
          previously published zero fiscal note: FN2 (DFC).                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB 174    REAA FUND: MT. EDGECUMBE, TEACHER HOUSING                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          HB 174 was REPORTED out  of committee with six "do                                                                    
          pass"     recommendations     and    three     "no                                                                    
          recommendation"   recommendations  and   with  one                                                                    
          previously  published  fiscal   impact  note:  FN1                                                                    
          (EED).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 64(FIN) am                                                                                                                 
          ELECTIONS                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 64(FIN)  am was HEARD  and HELD  in committee                                                                    
          for further consideration.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SB 96     CHILDCARE: TAX CREDITS                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          SB  96 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with three                                                                    
          "do  pass"  recommendations,  one  "do  not  pass"                                                                    
          recommendation,  and five  "amend" recommendations                                                                    
          and  with  two  previously published  zero  fiscal                                                                    
          notes:   FN1  (LWF)   and  FN3   (CED);  and   one                                                                    
          previously  published  indeterminate fiscal  note:                                                                    
          FN2 (REV).                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the meeting agenda.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 96                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to education tax  credits for certain                                                                    
     payments and contributions  for childcare and childcare                                                                    
     facilities;  relating to  the  insurance tax  education                                                                    
     credit,  the income  tax education  credit, the  oil or                                                                    
     gas  producer   education  credit,  the   property  tax                                                                    
     education   credit,  the   mining  business   education                                                                    
     credit,  the fisheries  business education  credit, and                                                                    
     the  fisheries resource  landing tax  education credit;                                                                    
     providing  for  an  effective   date  by  amending  the                                                                    
     effective  date of  secs. 1,  2,  and 21,  ch. 61,  SLA                                                                    
     2014; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:24:27 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:24:54 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked for a motion on the bill.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Schrage MOVED  to REPORT  SB 96  out of  committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SB 96  was REPORTED  out of committee  with three  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations, one "do not  pass" recommendation, and five                                                                    
"amend"  recommendations and  with two  previously published                                                                    
zero  fiscal  notes:  FN1  (LWF)  and  FN3  (CED);  and  one                                                                    
previously published indeterminate fiscal note: FN2 (REV).                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:25:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 105                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to mental health education."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:26:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ALYSE GALVIN,  SPONSOR,  reviewed the  bill.                                                                    
She  stressed  that  mental  health  education  is  a  vital                                                                    
component to  education. She explained  that the  bill aimed                                                                    
to  ensure  that it  was  treated  with  the same  level  of                                                                    
importance as  physical education.  The bill put  together a                                                                    
group who were experts in  the field, and would establish an                                                                    
age-appropriate   curriculum  that   districts  may   choose                                                                    
whether to  use in their  schools. She stated that  the bill                                                                    
would create  a tool to approach  mental health differently.                                                                    
She remarked that it was a collaborative effort.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster recalled that the  bill currently had public                                                                    
testimony OPEN, from the previous  meeting. He remarked that                                                                    
there was a testifier that  may not have received notice. He                                                                    
noted that there were no amendments.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin stated  that  there may  be a  former                                                                    
Commissioner Holloway on the line to testify.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster did not see the testifier online.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum had some  suggestions for the author of                                                                    
the  legislation,  and  stated   that  he  would  offer  any                                                                    
amendments on the floor.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  did not support the  legislation. She                                                                    
felt  that the  bill had  too much  overreach. She  remarked                                                                    
that teachers  were government employees. She  stressed that                                                                    
they  were  not  doctors  or guidance  counselors.  She  was                                                                    
alarmed that  there would  be an  addition to  what teachers                                                                    
do,  which  she  felt  was   to  teach  the  STEM  (science,                                                                    
technology,  engineering   and  mathematics)   courses.  She                                                                    
remarked that  she had mental  health class as a  child, but                                                                    
noted that it was much  different than what would be offered                                                                    
in the  current time.  She was  alarmed at  the legislation.                                                                    
She felt that there would  be repercussions to the bill. She                                                                    
felt  that  parents  should  not   have  to  optout  of  the                                                                    
curriculum, but rather should have to opt-in.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Hannan  supported   the  legislation.   She                                                                    
stressed  that   creating  a  curriculum  did   not  require                                                                    
educators  to   diagnose  or  do  doctors'   referrals.  She                                                                    
explained  that  there would  be  a  curriculum that  showed                                                                    
students  that  mental  health, like  physical  health,  had                                                                    
symptoms of distress before  disorders to provide awareness.                                                                    
She stated that she had  taught psychology for twenty years,                                                                    
and recalled  that depression symptoms varied  greatly among                                                                    
people.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum   surmised  that  the   bill  provided                                                                    
guidelines  for the  state Board  of Education  to establish                                                                    
the appropriate  instruction for mental health.  He noted an                                                                    
elaborate list  of direction, and wondered  whether that was                                                                    
necessary for  the board when  the school  districts already                                                                    
autonomy over the selection of  curriculum. He also wondered                                                                    
why there was a necessity to notify parents.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin  clarified that  the concept  was that                                                                    
parents must be notified in  advance of the curriculum being                                                                    
discussed. She stressed that there  was a desire for parents                                                                    
to  be understanding  and a  part of  the conversation.  She                                                                    
remarked that  the experts felt  that it was best  to inform                                                                    
the parents. She wondered whether  the prescriptive part was                                                                    
on page 3 of the bill.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum replied affirmatively.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:36:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  responded  that   it  had  been  put                                                                    
together  by  the  Alaska   Mental  Health  Trust  Authority                                                                    
(AMHTA). She also noted that  there were some districts were                                                                    
already accomplishing  it and did  not need a tool,  but the                                                                    
idea was to remain flexible.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:37:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum stated  that he  would follow  up with                                                                    
additional questions outside of the committee                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Josephson  spoke to some anxiety  people felt about                                                                    
the bill, that he did  not think was necessary. He supported                                                                    
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster noted  that someone  was online  for public                                                                    
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MIKE  COONS,  SELF,   WASILLA  (via  teleconference),  spoke                                                                    
against the bill.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster recognized Senator Mike Shower in the room.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard did not know  how many parents were in                                                                    
the  room  and on  the  committee.  She  was  a mom  of  two                                                                    
daughters. She  relayed that when the  school district tried                                                                    
to impose  Bree's law she had  not been in support.  She did                                                                    
not  think it  was appropriate  for government  employees to                                                                    
provide mental  health education,  and she  believed parents                                                                    
should  be  able  to  opt  in instead  of  opt  out  of  the                                                                    
curriculum.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:47:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster re-OPENED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
TREVOR STORRS,  PRESIDENT AND CEO, ALASKA  CHILDREN'S TRUST,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified  in support of the                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp did  not  know  why putting  something                                                                    
voluntary in  statute made sense.  He asked about  using the                                                                    
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual  of Mental Disorders (DSM)                                                                    
for diagnosing the children.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Storrs replied  that mental  health  education was  not                                                                    
about diagnosis. It was about  dealing with stress, anxiety,                                                                    
social media,  and not about  taking psychology 101.  It was                                                                    
about how to  self-regulate, and about dealing  with the day                                                                    
to day mental health wellbeing.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:51:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp liked  Mr. Storrs  definition. He  was                                                                    
struggling to see it in relation to the bill.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard was following  along the same lines as                                                                    
Representative Stapp. She respected  Mr. Storrs. She did not                                                                    
see his words and thought process in the bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DR.   SHIRLEY   HOLLOWAY,   NAMI  ALASKA,   ANCHORAGE   (via                                                                    
teleconference),  spoke in  support of  the bill.  She hoped                                                                    
the bill  passed. She  stated it was  not an  opportunity to                                                                    
diagnose a  child. She encouraged  the committee  to getting                                                                    
the bill passed in the current year to help students.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:54:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  asked what  exactly would be  into the                                                                    
schools  through   the  bill.  He  asked   about  the  exact                                                                    
activities of the pilot program.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Dr.  Holloway replied  that there  had  been activities  and                                                                    
prompts  for questioning,  interactions,  and engagement  in                                                                    
multiple categories, based on teachers' observations.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  provided a  specific example.  When he                                                                    
was  seven years  old his  mother passed  away. He  had been                                                                    
depressed,  and was  referred to  the  school counselor.  He                                                                    
asked what the activities and prompts would be occurring.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Holloway  could not  imagine other  than there  would be                                                                    
help to  discuss how to  talk about someone's death  and did                                                                    
it get  discussed with the  class. She remarked that  it was                                                                    
an opportunity to talk about loss and how it felt.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:57:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Schrage  remarked  that   the  committee  did  not                                                                    
receive  any  amendments to  the  bill,  but felt  that  his                                                                    
concerns could be addressed on  the floor. He wanted to move                                                                    
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Allard  disagreed,   and   felt  that   the                                                                    
discussions  could take  place  in  committee. She  stressed                                                                    
that  it should  not be  rushed out  of committee.  She felt                                                                    
that Dr.  Holloway did not  give an adequate  description of                                                                    
the curriculum.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dr.  Holloway  replied  that  she had  lost  a  daughter  to                                                                    
suicide. She  had an  opportunity to  talk with  many people                                                                    
about their situations.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard queried Ms. Holloway's specialty.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Dr.  Hollway  replied  that  her   PHD  was  in  educational                                                                    
leadership.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  surmised that  the testifier  was not                                                                    
an expert in the field.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Holloway  replied that she  worked in the  mental health                                                                    
field but was not an expert in mental health.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:02:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard felt that  there were no teachers that                                                                    
would be experts in the mental health field.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Holloway stated that was the reason for the guidelines.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Schrage  MOVED to  REPORT HB  105 out  of committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard OBJECTED.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp felt  that the  intention of  the bill                                                                    
was positive. He remarked that  school districts already had                                                                    
the  ability to  provide the  curriculum. He  understood the                                                                    
need for curriculum, but did  not want adverse diagnosis for                                                                    
the child. He  hoped to get an example of  how it worked, in                                                                    
order to give a clear point of view on the bill.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum  understood the concept and  stated his                                                                    
understanding of the goal of  the bill was to provide course                                                                    
works that  included the topic  of mental health.  He shared                                                                    
that after Iraq the Army  recognized that suicides were very                                                                    
high. The Army  had directed everyone to  go through suicide                                                                    
prevention  training,  there  had been  some  pushback,  but                                                                    
after the fifth time they realized it was meaningful.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Bynum,    Galvin,    Jimmie,   Hannan,    Schrage,                                                                    
Josephson, Foster                                                                                                               
OPPOSED: Tomaszewski, Allard, Stapp                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (7/3).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HB 105  was REPORTED  out of committee  with five  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations, one "do not  pass" recommendation, and four                                                                    
"no recommendation"  recommendations and  with one  new zero                                                                    
fiscal note  from the Department  of Health;  one previously                                                                    
published fiscal impact note:  FN1 (EED); and one previously                                                                    
published zero fiscal note: FN2 (DFC).                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 174                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act   relating   to  the   regional   educational                                                                    
     attendance  area and  small  municipal school  district                                                                    
     fund;  relating  to  Mt.  Edgecumbe  High  School;  and                                                                    
     relating to teacher housing."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:08:46 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:11:24 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked for an introduction of the bill.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ROBYN  NIAYUQ  BURKE, SPONSOR,  thanked  the                                                                    
committee for  hearing the bill.  She relayed that  the bill                                                                    
would  amend  Regional  Educational Attendance  Area  (REAA)                                                                    
fund  language   to  include  both  major   maintenance  and                                                                    
construction  at  Mt.  Edgecumbe   High  School;  and  major                                                                    
maintenance for teacher housing  in regional education areas                                                                    
and small  municipal areas as  allowable uses for  the fund.                                                                    
The legislation would remove the  $70 million cap on funding                                                                    
value.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:14:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked for a review of the fiscal note.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
PAUL  LABOLLE, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE NEAL  FOSTER, reviewed                                                                    
the  Department of  Education and  Early Development  fiscal                                                                    
note, OMB component 2737.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster clarified  the control  code and  noted the                                                                    
fund source is general funds.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster moved to questions from the committee.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  thanked the  sponsor for  bringing the                                                                    
bill forward. He supported the bill.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Tomaszewski  asked   if   there  were   any                                                                    
requirements to attend Mt. Edgecumbe.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Burke replied  that  anyone  was welcome  to                                                                    
attend. Mt. Edgecumbe was a public boarding school.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:18:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Tomaszewski asked  if  there  was a  maximum                                                                    
number of students. He asked if there was a waiting list.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Burke  replied  that there  were  about  400                                                                    
students  in  attendance,  because there  was  limited  dorm                                                                    
space.  She  believed  the  department  said  they  received                                                                    
around  600  applicants  per  year.   She  deferred  to  the                                                                    
department for detail.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan  stated that working at  Mt. Edgecumbe                                                                    
was her first job out of college.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum  appreciated the  bill. He  agreed with                                                                    
Representative Stapp.  He recognized  it was a  state school                                                                    
and  the  responsibility  of  maintaining  the  school  fell                                                                    
directly on  the state. He  asked for verification  that the                                                                    
bill  did  not  take  away the  state's  responsibility  for                                                                    
maintenance.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Burke replied affirmatively.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:21:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Jimmie stated that  Mt. Edgecumbe seemed like                                                                    
a  prestigious school,  and felt  that it  was important  to                                                                    
maintain   the   school.   She   queried   the   year   that                                                                    
Representative Burke graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Burke replied  that she  graduated from  Mt.                                                                    
Edgecumbe in 2009.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard commented on  the generations of those                                                                    
in  attendance of  Mt. Edgecumbe  related to  Representative                                                                    
Burke.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Burke  stated once an Edgecumbe  brave always                                                                    
an  Edgecumbe  brave.  She   shared  information  about  her                                                                    
family.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:23:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum looked at the  FY 26 cost in the fiscal                                                                    
note.   He   noted   the   building   maintenance   facility                                                                    
specialist, and  whether it  was connected  with residential                                                                    
design and  construction. He  asked if it  was a  worst case                                                                    
fiscal note.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Burke  noted  that an  individual  from  the                                                                    
department was  on the  line, but the  intent was  to figure                                                                    
out  how  to include  housing  under  major maintenance  for                                                                    
REAAs.  She  remarked  that  there was  a  number  of  rural                                                                    
districts  had housing,  but the  question  was whether  the                                                                    
expertise needed for the future.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum remarked  that  being  state owned  it                                                                    
seemed  there  were  resources available  that  may  not  be                                                                    
available.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:27:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HEATHER HEINEKEN, DIRECTOR OF  FINANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES,                                                                    
DEPARTMENT   OF  EDUCATION   AND   EARLY  DEVELOPMENT   (via                                                                    
teleconference), relayed  there were  two parts to  the bill                                                                    
one position  was specific, but  the other did not  have any                                                                    
technical expertise.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum stated that  the explanation made sense                                                                    
to him.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp   MOVED  to  REPORT  HB   174  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB  174 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with six  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations     and     three    "no     recommendation"                                                                    
recommendations  and with  one  previously published  fiscal                                                                    
impact note: FN1 (EED).                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) am                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act relating  to  elections;  relating to  voters;                                                                    
     relating  to voting;  relating  to voter  registration;                                                                    
     relating  to election  administration; relating  to the                                                                    
     Alaska Public Offices  Commission; relating to campaign                                                                    
     contributions;  relating  to  the  crimes  of  unlawful                                                                    
     interference with voting in  the first degree, unlawful                                                                    
     interference  with an  election, and  election official                                                                    
     misconduct;    relating   to    synthetic   media    in                                                                    
     electioneering  communications;  relating  to  campaign                                                                    
     signs;  relating  to  voter registration  on  permanent                                                                    
     fund   dividend    applications;   relating    to   the                                                                    
     Redistricting  Board; relating  to  the  duties of  the                                                                    
     commissioner   of  revenue;   and   providing  for   an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:32:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked for an introduction of the bill.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BILL WIELECHOWSKI,  CHAIR, SENATE  RULES COMMITTEE,                                                                    
introduced  the legislation.  He  stated that  the bill  had                                                                    
been in  the works for  many years, and  included provisions                                                                    
from ten  different bills that  had been introduced  by many                                                                    
different legislators and the governor's office.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:34:29 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:35:56 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster   noted  that   the  bill  was   large  and                                                                    
substantial.  His intent  was to  hear  the introduction  at                                                                    
present, and may come back later if possible.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DAVID DUNSMORE,  STAFF, SENATOR BILL  WIELECHOWSKI, provided                                                                    
a  PowerPoint presentation  titled "SB  64 Election  Reform"                                                                    
(copy  on  file).  He  began  with slide  2,  "SB  64  is  a                                                                    
Comprehensive Election Reform Package":                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Cleans up Alaska's voter rolls                                                                                             
     Removes barriers to voting                                                                                                 
     Faster and more transparent results reporting                                                                              
     Ballot tracking barcodes for absentee ballots                                                                              
     Bans the use of undisclosed deepfakes to  influence                                                                        
     elections                                                                                                                  
     Additional provisions to modernize Alaska's  election                                                                      
     laws                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  addressed slide 3, "SB  64 Includes Provisions                                                                    
from   Bills  Proposed   by   Republican,  Democratic,   and                                                                    
Independent Legislators in Recent Legislatures":                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     32nd Legislature                                                                                                           
     • SB 39 (Sen. Shower)                                                                                                      
     • HB 66 (Rep. Tuck)                                                                                                        
     • HB 157 (Rep. Rasmussen)                                                                                                  
     • HB 267 (Rep. Schrage)                                                                                                    
     • HB 286/ SB 167 (Governor)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     33rd Legislature                                                                                                           
     • SB 1 (Sen. Shower)                                                                                                       
     • SB 5 (Sen. Shower)                                                                                                       
     • SB 7 (Sen. Shower)                                                                                                       
     • SB 19 (Sen. Kawasaki)                                                                                                    
     • HB 37 (Rep. Schrage)                                                                                                     
     • HB 129 (House Judiciary)                                                                                                 
     • SB 138 (Senate State Affairs)                                                                                            
     • HB 358 (Rep. Cronk)                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore pointed to slide 4, "SB 64 includes several                                                                        
provisions from HB 63/ SB 70 introduced by the governor                                                                         
this year":                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Repeals the requirement that poll  worker pay be set by                                                                    
     regulation                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Repealing  the requirement  that absentee  ballots that                                                                    
   arrive after the deadline be counted during recounts                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Allowing cover  sheets for  absentee ballot  packets to                                                                    
     be submitted electronically                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Adding becoming  ineligible for  a PFD  to the  list of                                                                    
    criteria that triggers a voter roll clean-up notice                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Beginning  absentee ballot  review 12  days before  the                                                                    
     election, governor  originally propose 10 days  but the                                                                    
     Senate extended it to 12 days                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Stopping special needs ballots  from being rejected due                                                                    
     to mistakes by poll workers or representatives                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Requiring  postpaid   return  envelopes   for  absentee                                                                    
     ballots                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:39:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore turned to slide 5, "Voter  registration list                                                                       
clean-up":                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     In   2022  it   was  estimated   that  Alaska's   voter                                                                    
     registration  list  was equal  to  106  percent of  the                                                                    
     adult   population.  SB 64  streamlines the  process of                                                                    
     removing voters who have left the state.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Adds several indications of residency in another state                                                                     
     to  the  list  of   factors  that  trigger  notice  and                                                                    
     clarifies the definition of residency for voting.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Voters who  do not verify their  registration are moved                                                                    
     to inactive status. Inactive voters  will not appear on                                                                    
     precinct  registers   although  their  votes   will  be                                                                    
    counted, and their registration reactivated if they                                                                         
     vote or request an absentee ballot.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:39:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore turned to slide 6, "Current Voter List                                                                             
Maintenance Process":                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     •  Every January  DOE mails  nonforwardable notices  to                                                                    
     voters who have not  voted, updated their registration,                                                                    
     or signed  a petition  within two general  elections or                                                                    
     who have had mail from DOE returned to sender.                                                                             
     •  If  the  voter  does not  respond  confirming  their                                                                    
     address,   DOE  mails   a  second   forwardable  notice                                                                    
     informing the voter  that if they do  not confirm their                                                                    
     address  within  45  days their  registration  will  be                                                                    
     inactivated.                                                                                                               
     •   Inactive   voters    registrations   are   canceled                                                                    
     completely if  the voter does  not vote or  contact DOE                                                                    
     within two general elections.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore looked at slide 7, "Expedited process under SB
64":                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     • DOE will mail  a single forwardable notice requesting                                                                    
     voters confirm their address within 45 days                                                                                
     • SB 64  expands the number of voters who  will be sent                                                                    
     notices to  include voters who  there is  evidence have                                                                    
     claimed residency in another state                                                                                         
     •  This   process  remains   in  compliance   with  the                                                                    
    requirements of the National Voter Registration Act                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:41:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore moved to slide 8, "SB 64 requires notices be                                                                       
sent when DOE learns a voter?.":                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     • Registers to vote in another state                                                                                       
     • Receives a driver's license in another state                                                                             
     • Registers a vehicle in another state                                                                                     
     • Receives public assistance from another state                                                                            
     • Serves on a jury in another state                                                                                        
     • Obtains  a resident  hunting or fishing  license from                                                                    
     in another state                                                                                                           
     •  Pays resident  tuition for  a  public university  in                                                                    
     another state                                                                                                              
     •  Receives a  residential  property  tax exemption  in                                                                    
     another state                                                                                                              
     •  Receives a  benefit only  available to  residents of                                                                    
     another stat                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:41:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore turned to slide 9, "Annual Review of Master                                                                        
Voter List":                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Requires DOE  to hire  a nationally  recognized subject                                                                    
    matter expert to review the voter registration list                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Expert   will  prepare   an   annual   report  to   the                                                                    
     Legislature   making   recommendations  for   improving                                                                    
     Alaska's list management practices                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore addressed slide 10, "Clarifies the definition                                                                      
of residency and process to challenge a voter's residency":                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     This  bill  clarifies that  a  voter's  residence is  a                                                                    
     place  where they  have an  articulable and  reasonable                                                                    
     plan to return to whenever they are absent.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     It  also establishes  that  the  presumption a  voter's                                                                    
     registered  address  is  accurate can  be  rebutted  by                                                                    
     evidence that they reside at another location.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:42:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore moved to slide 11, "Voter ID reforms":                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     • Adds  tribal IDs  to the list  of acceptable  IDs for                                                                    
     voting and voter registration                                                                                              
     • Removes  hunting and fishing  licenses from  the list                                                                    
     of acceptable identification                                                                                               
     •  Requires  that  utility  bills,  government  checks,                                                                    
     paychecks,  or  other   government  documents  must  be                                                                    
     issued  within  the   last  60  days  to   be  used  as                                                                    
     identification                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tomaszewski asked if a state or other                                                                            
picture ID was required to vote.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied  that Alaska did not  require a picture                                                                    
ID. Alaska's voter registration cards were not picture ID.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Tomaszewski asked  if  the  bill included  a                                                                    
provision  stating that  a  person needed  a  photo ID  when                                                                    
voting.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied in the negative.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum asked  whether the  presentation would                                                                    
include current acceptable processes,  and what was actually                                                                    
being removed from law.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied  that there was not a  slide with those                                                                    
specific ID requirements. The voter  ID provisions showed up                                                                    
several places in statute.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum would  coordinate  with  staff on  the                                                                    
alignment for  proper preparation for the  debate portion of                                                                    
the bill process.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:45:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  moved to slide  12, "Codifies a  procedure for                                                                    
voters to cancel their registration":                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Currently  the  Division  of Elections  will  cancel  a                                                                    
     voter's  registration if  they request,  but it  is not                                                                    
     required by statute.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Voters would  be allowed  to cancel  their registration                                                                    
     in person or electronically.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     The  process for  cancelling  a  registration would  be                                                                    
     posted at polling places.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore addressed slide  13, "Updating election related                                                                    
crimes":                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     • Adds  opening or  tampering with ballot  envelopes or                                                                    
     packages,  and hacking  election equipment  or software                                                                    
     to the crime of unlawful interference with an election                                                                     
     • Adds  knowingly disclosing  results before  the polls                                                                    
     close or  any confidential election information  to the                                                                    
     crime  of election  official  misconduct  in the  first                                                                    
     degree                                                                                                                     
     • Both of these crimes are class C felonies                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore highlighted slide 14, "Codifies Data Sharing                                                                       
Between PFD Division and DOE":                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Data  will  be shared  monthly  for  purposes of  voter                                                                    
     registration,   confirming   residence  of   a   voter,                                                                    
     identifying  duplicate registrations,  detecting voters                                                                    
     who moved, and detecting ineligible voters                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Data  will  include  addresses, whether  the  applicant                                                                    
     opted out  of voter  registration, and names  of people                                                                    
     attesting to the applicant's residency                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     SB 64  also codifies  PFD applicant's right  to opt-out                                                                    
     of registering to vote or updating their registration                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:47:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore turned to slide 15, "SB 64 removes barriers to                                                                     
voting":                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Repeals the witness  signature requirement for absentee                                                                    
     by mail ballots                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Stops  special   needs  ballots  from   being  rejected                                                                    
     because of mistakes by poll workers or representatives                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Creates a ballot curing process                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
    Requires secure ballot drop boxes be made available                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Requires postage  paid return  postage for  absentee by                                                                    
     mail envelopes                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore discussed slide 16, "Repeals the witness                                                                           
signature requirement for by-mail ballots":                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     • In the 2022 special primary election, 2,724 ballots                                                                      
     were rejected  because of a missing  witness signature-                                                                    
     1.7 percent of all ballots cast.                                                                                           
     •   Witness  signature   rejections  disproportionately                                                                    
     affected rural Alaska and military voters.                                                                                 
     •  In District  38, 10.9  percent of  all ballots  cast                                                                    
     were  rejected for  missing witness  signatures in  the                                                                    
     2022 special primary.                                                                                                      
     • In the  2024 general election, District  18, which is                                                                    
     mostly  Joint Base  Elmendorf-Richardson,  had more  by                                                                    
     mail ballots rejected than any other district.                                                                             
     • There is no indication of any misconduct with these                                                                      
     rejected ballots.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum  // Senate  minority members.  He asked                                                                    
if the bill was compiled by a taskforce //                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore responded  that the  provisions to  repeal the                                                                    
witness signature // there had been  a bill by a previous //                                                                    
He concluded slide 16 //                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:50:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore  moved to  slide  17,  "The witness  signature                                                                    
requirement  provides   no  meaningful   election  integrity                                                                    
protection":                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     •  DOE  has testified  that  they  do not  verify  that                                                                    
     witness signatures meet  the statutory requirement that                                                                    
     they be from a person at least 18.                                                                                         
     • The  Division accepts as  valid any mark made  in the                                                                    
     witness signature portion of the envelope.                                                                                 
     •  There is  no practical  way  for DOE  to verify  the                                                                    
     identity  and age  of witnesses  from other  states and                                                                    
     countries.                                                                                                                 
     • The  absentee by-mail envelope does  not even provide                                                                    
     space for  the witness to  print their name  or provide                                                                    
     their date of birth.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster would  recess  the meeting.  He would  keep                                                                    
public testimony open throughout the process.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:52:08 PM                                                                                                                    
RECESSED                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:59:10 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  OPENED public testimony and  would leave it                                                                    
open throughout  the process. He  intended to hear  the bill                                                                    
the  following  day  at  both meetings.  He  wanted  to  get                                                                    
through  the bill  introduction during  the current  meeting                                                                    
and review fiscal notes. He  realized there was some urgency                                                                    
to see  the bill move  during the current year  while making                                                                    
sure to do the due diligence.  He had been encouraged to set                                                                    
an amendment deadline for the  following evening, but it was                                                                    
very  soon.  People  seemed  to  be  okay  with  setting  an                                                                    
amendment deadline of Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard wondered  if  the amendment  deadline                                                                    
could  be pushed  to  Saturday  at noon.  She  had not  been                                                                    
briefed on the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  stated he would  set an  amendment deadline                                                                    
of  noon  on  Saturday  with   the  intent  of  hearing  the                                                                    
amendments and reporting the bill out later that day.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
6:04:29 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
6:04:40 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  reviewed  the  public  testimony  call  in                                                                    
numbers.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:05:36 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:14:48 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  am  deadline  for  Saturday  at  12pm  but                                                                    
requested submission of the amendments as soon as possible.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
7:17:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MELISSA PATACK, MOTION PICTURE  ASSOCIATION, LOS ANGELES, CA                                                                    
(via  teleconference),  testified  to propose  an  amendment                                                                    
section 64  of the bill starting  on page 26.   She referred                                                                    
to the "deceptive synthetic media  section" of the bill. She                                                                    
remarked that  the amendments aligned  with laws  adopted in                                                                    
several other  states. She stated  that the  first amendment                                                                    
would add  a timeframe to  the provision, which  was "within                                                                    
ninety  days of  an  election." She  furthered  that in  the                                                                    
paragraph  that   exempted  certain  services,   that  other                                                                    
applications were  also exempted  as long  as they  were not                                                                    
the creator of the synthetic deceptive media.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp  remarked  that  the  synthetic  media                                                                    
would ban "memes", and felt  that he was struggling with the                                                                    
intention of the section.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Patack  responded  that that  parody  and  satire  were                                                                    
protected by  the first amendment,  but remarked  that there                                                                    
may be synthetic portrayal in the future.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum  asked the testifier to  follow up with                                                                    
her suggestions via email.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:22:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID JOHNSON,  SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference),  did not                                                                    
like the  bill. He said  he was knowledgeable  about voting,                                                                    
and remarked  that dead people  were voting. He  stated that                                                                    
the problem  was not  solved, and felt  that the  hand count                                                                    
portion  was excluded.  He stressed    that correct  numbers                                                                    
were important.  He asked  to look at  a logic  and accuracy                                                                    
test, and felt that the  machines could be breached. He felt                                                                    
that  there  was no  transparency,  and  stressed that  non-                                                                    
citizens should not be voting                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
7:29:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard asked him to email her his remarks.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Johnson  said the email  would not work. He  would email                                                                    
Senator Shower.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp asked  if  he considered  the bill  an                                                                    
election reform bill or a voter fraud bill.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Johnson responded  that no one was  held accountable for                                                                    
voting.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:31:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALEX   KOPLIN,  SELF,   HOMER  (via   teleconference),  felt                                                                    
opposite as the previous  testifier and supported elections,                                                                    
and  felt  that  the  division  was doing  a  good  job.  He                                                                    
appreciated   the  collaboration   and  compromise   of  the                                                                    
legislators.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Stapp    appreciated   the    comments   on                                                                    
incrementalism.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
7:36:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore continued the presentation on page 18:                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Alaska Law Generally Allows Self-Certification of                                                                          
     Documents, and the Division of Elections Accepts Self-                                                                     
     Certification of Petition Booklets                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard   asked  about   it  disenfranchising                                                                    
military voters.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied that in  the previous general election,                                                                    
the  district  that  had  the  highest  number  of  rejected                                                                    
absentee  ballots  was  a   district  with  mostly  military                                                                    
voters.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Allard  asked   what  was   the  proof   or                                                                    
statistics from the Division of  Elections on that assertion                                                                    
of disenfranchisement.  She wondered whether it  was because                                                                    
of lack of witness signature on the ballot.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore responded in the affirmative.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  thought  they should  still  do  the                                                                    
witness signature.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp asked what  mechanism could be utilized                                                                    
instead of the witness signature.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore responded  that it  would be  the same  as the                                                                    
current mechanism  for special needs ballots  and questioned                                                                    
ballots,  which was  to verify  the identifiers  provided by                                                                    
the voters.  He furthered that the  Senate Finance Committee                                                                    
added the  sharing of  the names of  those who  had attested                                                                    
for availability for investigation.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp  wondered  whether there  was  a  link                                                                    
between  permanent  fund  dividend  (PFD)  fraud  and  voter                                                                    
fraud. He asked for an elaboration on that mechanism.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  replied that  it was the  data sharing  on the                                                                    
PFD application.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:41:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  asked  about  active  duty  military                                                                    
members,  and   the  assertion  of   the  lack   of  witness                                                                    
signature.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  responded that the Division  of Elections only                                                                    
provided the data at the district level.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked why the largest  city requested                                                                    
that there were signatures on  the ballot, and why the state                                                                    
would counter that request.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  responded that  it did  not require  a witness                                                                    
signature. He  stated that  the municipality  used signature                                                                    
verification software. He stated  that the fiscal notes were                                                                    
cost-prohibitive on that software.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  surmised  that the  Municipality  of                                                                    
Anchorage did not support witness signatures on ballots.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore replied  that he  did  not know  how recent  a                                                                    
change that took place.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  disagreed. She queried what  were the                                                                    
security measures  in place to  ensure that someone  was not                                                                    
forging a signature.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied that the  voter was required to provide                                                                    
an identifier that would be  verified in the ballot process.                                                                    
He stated that the process was already in place.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard surmised that  there was nothing added                                                                    
as security for the absentee ballot.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  responded that there  had been no  evidence of                                                                    
the  witness  signature  providing  election  integrity.  He                                                                    
shared that there was no verification of witness signature.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
7:45:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked what  the proof was  that there                                                                    
was no proof of fraud.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  responded that the  last point was  that there                                                                    
had  not been  any  evidence of  fraud  being prevented  but                                                                    
there was evidence of voters  ballots being thrown out for a                                                                    
technical error on the witness signature.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard asked  why it  would not  be stricter                                                                    
for the  Division of Elections to  implement verification of                                                                    
the witness signature.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore  responded  that the  law  required  that  the                                                                    
witness be  over 18 years old.  He stated that there  was no                                                                    
possibility  on  the envelope  for  the  witness to  provide                                                                    
further verification measures.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard   stressed  that  other   states  did                                                                    
enforce the  witness verification. She stressed  that voters                                                                    
were  disenfranchised, because  those  individuals were  not                                                                    
notified  that   their  ballot  was   determined  to   be  a                                                                    
rejection.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore responded  that it  was in  the bill  included                                                                    
ballot curing,  and the  division did  sent people  a letter                                                                    
when their letter was thrown out.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  asked how  they  knew  it was  voter                                                                    
fraud if they did not check the signature.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  responded that ballots  would not  be rejected                                                                    
for the  lack of  witness signature,  but would  be rejected                                                                    
for an identifier.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  thought  it would  allow  people  to                                                                    
commit voter fraud  due to the bill, because of  the lack of                                                                    
witness signature.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
7:50:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum wondered  if  there  were options  for                                                                    
voters to  have their  vote be counted  if their  ballot was                                                                    
rejected by the Division of Elections.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  replied that the  division determined  that to                                                                    
be a prohibition against voting twice.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum asked  about the signature verification                                                                    
issue, and  argued that the  fiscal note issue was  really a                                                                    
matter   of  policy.   He   wondered   whether  there   were                                                                    
discussions   about   adding   further   witness   signature                                                                    
verification requirements in the law.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore did  not think that discussions came  up in the                                                                    
Senate.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum felt that  the issue was more important                                                                    
that the  fiscal note. He  wondered about the design  of the                                                                    
ballots.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:55:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore  asked if  he  was  talking about  the  ballot                                                                    
envelope or the ballot itself.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum replied that  he was concerned with the                                                                    
ballot envelope.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore replied  there were  no  specifics in  statute                                                                    
about the envelope.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum  felt  that  the  instruction  process                                                                    
could be clearer for voters.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore stated that there  were no specifications about                                                                    
the ballot envelope in statute.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
7:57:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Josephson  expressed  concern about  the  rejected                                                                    
ballots due  to the lack  of witness signature.  He wondered                                                                    
whether there  were circumstances where there  was a witness                                                                    
signature,  that  was never  verified,  and  the ballot  was                                                                    
accepted as  a valid  ballot. He  wondered whether  a ballot                                                                    
was  rejected  due to  a  lack  of witness  signature,  even                                                                    
though the person was an actual person submitting a ballot.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore agreed, and replied in the affirmative.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Josephson looked forward to correcting that issue.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Jimmie  wondered  how  someone  be  able  to                                                                    
obtain  a required  witness signature  from an  adult 18  or                                                                    
older to validate their ballot.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore responded  that the  youth ambassador  program                                                                    
was  available,  but  they  would  not  meet  the  statutory                                                                    
requirements for a witness signature.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore  replied that  there  was  not an  attempt  to                                                                    
enforce  the  witness   signature  verification,  because  a                                                                    
witness may not be a registered voter.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:01:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  wondered  if  there  was  a  way  to                                                                    
investigate voter fraud through the division.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:02:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROL BEECHER,  DIRECTOR, DIVISION  OF ELECTIONS,  OFFICE OF                                                                    
THE LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOR (via teleconference),  the Division                                                                    
of Elections  did not investigate, rather  there were issues                                                                    
referred  to the  Department  of Law  to  make the  decision                                                                    
whether to investigate.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard  asked  if  there was  input  by  the                                                                    
division that  the witness signature should  be removed from                                                                    
statute.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Beecher  responded  that  the  division  did  not  make                                                                    
policy, but rather commented on the outcome of the policy.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Allard   wondered   whether   the   witness                                                                    
signature  was  beneficial  to the  ballot  submission.  She                                                                    
queried the cost of the witness signature.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Beecher   responded  that  the  cost   of  the  witness                                                                    
verification  for Anchorage,  which was  estimated to  be $1                                                                    
million   for  each   witness  verification   machines.  She                                                                    
restated that  it was not the  role of the division  to make                                                                    
policy statements.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked if she personally  thought that                                                                    
the witness  signature helped or  did not help  the Division                                                                    
of Elections.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Beecher responded  that the  witness  signature was  in                                                                    
statute  and had  been  for many  years.  She stressed  that                                                                    
there had been no evidence of fraud.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard asked  if  fraud  had been  committed                                                                    
with the witness signature.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Beecher  responded that  they had  turned over  what was                                                                    
something untoward  on a  witness signature,  which resulted                                                                    
in prosecution.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:07:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked if it  was $1 million  for each                                                                    
machine.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Beecher responded  that it  was  based on  the cost  of                                                                    
machines that  the municipality had,  so  the  regions would                                                                    
be the ones that had to have the machine.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard remarked on  the large cost difference                                                                    
between $5 million and $12 million.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum requested  the number  of machines  in                                                                    
the Municipality of Anchorage.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Beecher responded that there was only one machine.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum felt  that not  having any  connecting                                                                    
information could  be problematic.  He wondered  whether the                                                                    
ballot  curing  would solve  the  problem  of an  incomplete                                                                    
ballot.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore responded  in the  affirmative.  He felt  that                                                                    
there would  still be a requirement  of the voter to  take a                                                                    
proactive step.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Bynum  asked  what  the  timeframe  was  for                                                                    
ballots to be sent out.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore  responded that the  ballot could be  mailed 45                                                                    
days before the election.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:11:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Jimmie  stated that  in rural Alaska  in 2022                                                                    
there was  13.74 percent rejection  rate. She  stressed that                                                                    
it  was significantly  higher than  the  state average.  She                                                                    
felt that it indicated disenfranchisement.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore agreed.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard remarked  that the  rural communities                                                                    
could "count the  tapes" and "send the  tapes." She surmised                                                                    
that there  could be an  adjustment date, and felt  that the                                                                    
deadline should be changed to the day of the election.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied that votes  cast in precincts in mostly                                                                    
rural districts did  a hand count on site.  He remarked that                                                                    
there  were not  subsequent counts,  but there  were several                                                                    
villages that were not included in the counts.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked if  most ballots  were impacted                                                                    
due to lack of witness signatures.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied in the affirmative.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked why they could  not get witness                                                                    
signatures.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:15:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Jimmie stressed  that  the weather  impacted                                                                    
the transportation of the ballots.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  surmised that most  rural communities                                                                    
voted by absentee ballot.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Dunsmore  responded  that there  were  some  in  person                                                                    
precincts,  but  some villages  did  not  have access  to  a                                                                    
precinct. He  also stressed the problem  of staffing polling                                                                    
places.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  felt that  the state was  failing the                                                                    
constituents. She  asked how many  people in rural  voted by                                                                    
absentee, due to  not having reasonable access  to a polling                                                                    
place.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore replied that he did not know the data.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  asked if she could  pose the question                                                                    
to Ms. Beecher.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Beecher responded  that she  would follow  up with  the                                                                    
specific,  and shared  that  there  were permanent  absentee                                                                    
voting sites.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Allard asked  if  voters could  call in  and                                                                    
vote on the phone.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Beecher responded  that they  could not  vote over  the                                                                    
phone but could vote via fax.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard wondered whether  they voted on sample                                                                    
ballots.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Beecher would follow up on that question.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:20:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bynum commented that  the election system was                                                                    
overall very complicated for many different reasons.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Jimmie commented  that  absentee voting  was                                                                    
important in rural areas.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard  was concerned  that the maker  of the                                                                    
bill was using  the military as an excuse, but  felt that it                                                                    
did not line up with her percentages.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Dunsmore would verify the information.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:24:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan asserted that  there were a variety of                                                                    
ways for Alaskans to participate  in voting. Ser husband had                                                                    
never  voted  in person  because  he  was always  commercial                                                                    
fishing and it was not possible.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Johnson  was nervous  that they could  do due                                                                    
diligence they  needed to  do in  the next  few days  on the                                                                    
bill, and  did not think  there was  enough time to  work on                                                                    
it.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster stated  that  he would  recess the  meeting                                                                    
until 9 the next morning.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster   reviewed  the  meeting  agenda   for  the                                                                    
following morning.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB  64  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
[Although he  said adjourned, he  intended to  say recessed.                                                                    
The meeting was treated  as recessed. The meeting reconvened                                                                    
the  following morning  at 9:13  a.m.  See separate  minutes                                                                    
dated 5/15/25 for detail.]                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
RECESSED                                                                                                                        
8:31:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
1 HB 174 sponsor statement ver A 4.29.25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 174
3 HB 174 sectional analysis ver A 4.29.25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 174
SB064 Letters of Opposition Rec'd by 5.13.25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB064 Sectional Analysis ver L.A, 5-13-25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB064 Letters of Support Rec'd by 5.13.25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB064 Sponsor Statement ver L.A, 5.13.25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB064 Sponsor's Powerpoint updated 5.14.25 v2.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB 64 Public Testimony Rec'd by 051525AM.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
SB 64
HB 132 Public Testimony Rec'd by 051425.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 132
CSHB 132(L&C) Sectional Analysis ver I, 03.28.25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 132
CSHB 132(L&C) Sponsor Statement ver N, 03.28.2025.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 132
CSHB 132(L&C) Summary of Changes ver I, 03.28.25.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 132 MANA Payday Jubilee Report 2-24.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 132 Payday Loans Presentation HFIN 04142025.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 132 Public Testimony Rec'd by 041525.pdf HFIN 5/14/2025 1:30:00 PM
HB 132