02/06/2026 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB81 | |
| HB4 | |
| HB262 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 262 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
February 6, 2026
1:01 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Andrew Gray, Chair
Representative Chuck Kopp, Vice Chair
Representative Genevieve Mina
Representative Mia Costello
Representative Jubilee Underwood
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Ted Eischeid
Representative Sarah Vance
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 81
"An Act restricting the release of certain records of
convictions; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 81(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 4
"An Act relating to write-in candidates for President and Vice-
President of the United States."
- MOVED HB 4 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 262
"An Act increasing the number of superior court judges in the
third judicial district; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 262 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 81
SHORT TITLE: ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) D.NELSON
02/03/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/03/25 (H) STA, JUD
02/27/25 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/27/25 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/06/25 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/06/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/06/25 (H) MINUTE(STA)
01/27/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
01/27/26 (H) Heard & Held
01/27/26 (H) MINUTE(STA)
01/29/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
01/29/26 (H) Moved CSHB 81(STA) Out of Committee
01/29/26 (H) MINUTE(STA)
01/30/26 (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 6DP 1NR
01/30/26 (H) DP: MCCABE, HOLLAND, ST. CLAIR,
HIMSCHOOT, STORY, CARRICK
01/30/26 (H) NR: VANCE
01/30/26 (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER JUD
02/02/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/02/26 (H) Heard & Held
02/02/26 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
02/06/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 4
SHORT TITLE: PRESIDENTIAL WRITE-IN VOTES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SADDLER
01/22/25 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (H) STA, JUD
02/11/25 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/11/25 (H) Heard & Held
02/11/25 (H) MINUTE(STA)
05/15/25 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
05/15/25 (H) Heard & Held
05/15/25 (H) MINUTE(STA)
05/17/25 (H) STA AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
05/17/25 (H) Moved HB 4 Out of Committee
05/17/25 (H) MINUTE(STA)
05/18/25 (H) STA RPT 6DP
05/18/25 (H) DP: VANCE, MCCABE, HOLLAND, STORY,
HIMSCHOOT, CARRICK
02/02/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/02/26 (H) Heard & Held
02/02/26 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
02/06/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 262
SHORT TITLE: NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST
01/23/26 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/23/26 (H) JUD, FIN
02/04/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/04/26 (H) Heard & Held
02/04/26 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
02/06/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As the prime sponsor, gave a summary of
CSHB 81(STA).
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, gave final comment on HB
4.
NANCY MEADE, General Counsel
Alaska Court System
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave final comment on HB 262 on behalf of
the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor by request of the
governor.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:01:05 PM
CHAIR GRAY called the House Judiciary Standing Committee meeting
to order at 1:01 p.m. Representatives Kopp, Costello,
Underwood, and Gray were present at the call to order.
Representative Mina arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 81-ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS
1:01:59 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 81, "An Act restricting the release of certain
records of convictions; and providing for an effective date."
[Before the committee was CSHB 81(STA).]
1:02:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, stated that CSHB 81(STA) would make certain
marijuana possession convictions confidential on basic
background checks while keeping them available for government
agencies and qualified people. Individuals who were at least 21
years of age at the time of the crime, possessed 1 ounce or less
of marijuana, and were not convicted of any other crime in the
same incident, would be able to request that the Department of
Public Safety (DPS) make this crime confidential on their
record. He stated that Alaskans are facing barriers to
employment, housing, licensing, and volunteer opportunities
making them less able to contribute fully to their community.
1:03:49 PM
CHAIR GRAY opined that people who were convicted of a crime that
is not illegal today should not be held back.
1:04:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report CSHB 81(STA) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection CSHB 81(STA) was
reported out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee.
CHAIR GRAY authorized Legislative Legal Services to make any
necessary technical and conforming changes.
1:04:53 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:04 p.m. to 1:06 p.m.
HB 4-PRESIDENTIAL WRITE-IN VOTES
1:06:54 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 4, "An Act relating to write-in candidates for
President and Vice-President of the United States."
1:07:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, thanked the committee for the robust conversation.
1:07:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA opined that the bill makes sense because the
ballot includes another line for a write in candidate.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP said he's proud of the bill sponsor for
thinking outside the box. He stated that the legislation
reflects the independent spirit of Alaskans.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER added that the bill came at the
suggestion of former Senator Rainy Phillips.
1:08:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report HB 4 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 4 was reported out of the House
Judiciary Standing Committee.
CHAIR GRAY authorized Legislative Legal Services to make any
necessary technical and conforming changes.
1:09:33 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:09 p.m. to 1:11 p.m.
HB 262-NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES
1:11:25 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 262, "An Act increasing the number of superior
court judges in the third judicial district; and providing for
an effective date."
1:11:45 PM
NANCY MEADE, General Counsel, Alaska Court System, on behalf of
the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor by request of the
governor, thanked the committee for acknowledging the need for a
new Superior Court judge in Palmer. She stated that she is
coming before the legislature reluctantly, as the Alaska Court
System (ACS) is careful with the state's resources, but the need
cannot be denied.
1:12:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP noted that the Department of Law (DOL)
submitted a fiscal note reflecting an associated cost of
$303,000. He stated his support for the bill.
1:13:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report HB 262 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 262 was reported out of the House
Judiciary Standing Committee.
CHAIR GRAY authorized Legislative Legal Services to make any
necessary technical and conforming changes.
1:14:42 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:14 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 262 Fiscal Note - LAW-3OA-02-06-26.pdf |
HJUD 2/6/2026 1:00:00 PM |
HB 262 |