02/14/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB34 | |
| HB20 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
February 14, 2025
3:17 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair
Representative Carolyn Hall, Co-Chair
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Julie Coulombe
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative David Nelson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 34
"An Act establishing the Alaska Innovation Council; and relating
to financial disclosures for members of the Alaska Innovation
Council."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 20
"An Act relating to fees for paper documents; and relating to
unfair trade practices."
- HEARD & HELD
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CHILD CARE UPDATE
- REMOVED FROM AGENDA
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 34
SHORT TITLE: AK INNOVATION COUNCIL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HOLLAND
01/22/25 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (H) L&C, FIN
01/29/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
01/29/25 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
02/10/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/10/25 (H) Heard & Held
02/10/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/14/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 20
SHORT TITLE: PROHIBIT FEES FOR PAPER DOCUMENTS
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) L&C, JUD
02/14/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
JON BITTNER, Executive Director
Alaska Small Business Development Center
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of HB 34.
NORRIS KRUEGER, PhD, Executive Director
Leadership Council Member
Ecosystem Builder
Boise, Idaho
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of and answered
questions during the hearing on HB 34.
LAURA ODEN, Owner/Founder
Pandere Shoes
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of and answered
questions during the hearing on HB 34.
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 20.
NOAH WILKINS, Intern
Representative Dan Saddler
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As intern to Representative Saddler, prime
sponsor of HB 20, gave the sectional analysis.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:17:07 PM
CO-CHAIR ZACK FIELDS called the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:17 p.m.
Representatives Coulombe, Saddler, Burke, Carrick, Hall, and
Fields were present at the call to order.
HB 34-AK INNOVATION COUNCIL
3:17:26 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 34, "An Act establishing the Alaska Innovation
Council; and relating to financial disclosures for members of
the Alaska Innovation Council."
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced the committee would hear invited
testimony.
3:18:05 PM
JON BITTNER, Executive Director, Alaska Small Business
Development Center (ASBDC), gave invited testimony in support of
HB 34. He began by stating that ASBDC has been in operation for
over 30 years, with 8 offices around Alaska. He stated ASBDC's
goal is to help start and support small businesses in Alaska.
He stated that approximately 99 percent of businesses in Alaska
qualify as small businesses under the definition used by the
Small Business Administration (SBA). He explained that ASBDC
provides a variety of services to support small businesses,
including individual advising, workshops, training, the Alaska
State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), the Tribal SSBCI
consortium, and various buy-local programs.
MR. BITTNER stressed the importance of small businesses, noting
that small businesses in Alaska drive new job creation and the
existing workforce. He asserted that small businesses help
diversify the economy, making it more stable and robust. He
stated that ASBDC approves of any efforts to focus attention on
how to support small businesses in communities across the state.
He stated that ASBDC supported HB 34.
3:20:32 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS opened public testimony on HB 34.
3:21:38 PM
NORRIS KRUEGER, PhD, Executive Director, Leadership Council
Member, Ecosystem Building Leadership Network (EBLN), testified
in support of HB 34. He stated that the biggest complaint he
hears from innovators is that governments are not listening to
them. He asserted that, if executed well, HB 34 would be an
inexpensive way to both guide policy and give voice to
innovators in Alaska. He shared that he was involved in efforts
in Idaho to create a similar innovation plan approximately 20
years ago, called the Idaho State Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Strategy. He shared an anecdote about Canada's
efforts to focus on innovation policy. He concluded by
reiterating that [HB 34] is "a huge opportunity for a very small
amount of money to make a real difference for the people ... in
the trenches ... whether a start-up founder [or] a small
business owner."
DR. KRUEGER, in response to a question from Representative
Saddler regarding credentials, stated that he has a research PhD
in entrepreneurship, and he is on the leadership network of the
EBLN. Additionally, Dr. Krueger said he mentors start-ups and
advocates for innovation-friendly policies at the state and
national level.
3:28:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what benefits small businesses in
Alaska would receive with the passage of HB 34.
3:28:52 PM
DR. KRUEGER responded that a dozen major surveys of small
business owners concluded that small business owners would like
to be heard, as opposed to being told what to do by government
entities. He offered an anecdote to Google Mapping, arguing
that too often in economic planning, every "route" is carefully
planned without a destination, whereas, in Google Mapping, the
beginning and end of a journey are clearly defined.
3:31:18 PM
LAURA ODEN, Owner/Founder, Pandere Shoes, testified in support
of HB 34. She explained that Pandere Shoes makes expandable
footwear for individuals with medical conditions. She stated
that she has owned multiple businesses and been involved in the
startup community in Alaska for 10 years. She stated that she
had mentored and counseled many start-ups in Alaska.
MS. ODEN emphasized the inconsistency in support for small
businesses/start-ups in Alaska. She offered appreciation that
the Alaska Innovation Council would have stakeholders with
dedicated annual meetings. She opined that Alaska businesses
could use intentional planning and support on the state level.
She is in support of HB 34.
3:33:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked which types of supports small
businesses in Alaska need the most.
MS. ODEN responded that she understood that [identifying needed
types of support] to be a function of the proposed Alaska
Innovation Council. She provided some personal examples of
support: having the right person to talk to; having the right
person to network with; and financial support. She offered her
belief that one of the biggest needs for small businesses/start-
ups is access to loans. She stated, for example, that a person
could get a $150,000 loan for a start-up but not a $15,000 loan.
3:35:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether support requested would be
"advice" or "money." Further, he questioned what the council
could offer that current public and/or private institutions
cannot.
MS. ODEN replied that entrepreneurs are always in need of
advice, money, and people. She said she is unsure what type of
support the council would offer via the state. She stated that
she could offer what her business needs but could not speak to
every small business in Alaska.
3:37:12 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS, after ascertaining that there was no one else
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 34.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that HB 34 was held over.
HB 20-PROHIBIT FEES FOR PAPER DOCUMENTS
3:37:26 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 20, "An Act relating to fees for paper
documents; and relating to unfair trade practices."
3:37:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 20. He began that, historically, utility,
gas, or insurance bills were typically bills paid via mail with
a paper check. He continued that, with the advent of the
Internet, many transactions have been made online. He described
some advantages of online payment: automation, efficiency,
decreased costs, and increased profit margins.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER continued that many businesses are
essentially requiring transactions to be done online or pay a
fee, which can be variable. He provided an example, noting that
it is common to pay a few hundred dollars annually in fees. He
asserted that older individuals, who are less likely to conduct
online transactions and more likely to be on fixed incomes, are
disproportionately affected by paper fees. Further, he noted
that Internet connectivity in Alaska is unreliable, and those
with inconsistent Internet access could face higher fees.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that HB 20 would prohibit
businesses from charging customers different rates based on
paperless versus paper transaction statements. He stated that
it poses no cost to the state and no additional cost to
businesses. He concluded by asserting that HB 20 would generate
significant benefits to consumers/constituents.
3:40:42 PM
NOAH WILKINS, Intern, Representative Dan Saddler, Alaska State
Legislature, as intern to Representative Saddler, prime sponsor
of HB 20, gave the sectional analysis [included in the committee
file], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Section 1: Page 1, lines 3-11
Section 1 amends AS 21.36 by adding a new section, AS
21.36.525, which prohibits insurers from
charging an additional fee or different rate for
individuals who prefer to receive paper copies of
invoices,
statements and other documents.
This section does not, however, prevent an insurer
from charging a fee for providing duplicate copies of
any documents previously provided.
Section 2: Page 1, lines 12-15, & page 2, lines 1-4
Section 2 amends AS 45.45 by adding a new section, AS
45.45.940, which prohibits businesses from
charging an additional fee or a different rate for
individuals who prefer to receive paper copies of
invoices, statements and other documents.
This section does not, however, prevent a business
from charging a fee for providing duplicate copies of
any documents previously provided.
Section 2 defines "business" by the meaning given in
AS 43.70.110, which states a business is "a for
profit or nonprofit entity engaging or offering to
engage in a trade, a service, a profession, or an
activity
with the goal of receiving a financial benefit in
exchange for the provision of services, or goods or
other
property."
Section 3: Page 2, lines 5-6
Section 3 adds to the list of unlawful business acts
and practices in Title 45 to include violations of AS
45.45.940, established in Section 2 of this bill.
3:42:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked whether there are any state
departments that charge for receiving paper documents. Further,
she asked whether state departments, should they charge for
receiving paper documents, would be covered under the proposed
legislation.
3:43:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER responded that HB 20 is narrowly focused
on businesses, and the State of Alaska does not fall under that
definition.
[HB 20 was held over.]
3:43:57 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS set amendment deadlines for SB 15, HB 49, and HB
74 for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 17.
3:44:38 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
3:44 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 20 version N.pdf |
HL&C 2/14/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 20 |
| HB 20 Sponsor Statement version N 1.31.25.pdf |
HL&C 2/14/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 20 |
| HB 20 Sectional Analysis version N 1.31.25.pdf |
HL&C 2/14/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 20 |
| HB 20 Supporting Document - ADN Article 2.4.25.pdf |
HL&C 2/14/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 20 |
| HB020-DCCED-DOI-02-13-25.pdf |
HL&C 2/14/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 20 |
| HB 34 Public Comment Received 2.14.25.pdf |
HL&C 2/14/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 34 |