Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
05/17/2025 08:30 AM House RULES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB152 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 152 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RULES STANDING COMMITTEE
May 17, 2025
10:19 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Louise Stutes, Chair
Representative Chuck Kopp, Vice Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Mia Costello
Representative Cathy Tilton
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 152
Renaming Ruby Airport as Harold Esmailka Airport; and providing
for an effective date.
- MOVED SB 152 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 152
SHORT TITLE: HAROLD ESMAILKA AIRPORT AT RUBY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) CRONK
03/31/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/31/25 (S) TRA, STA
04/10/25 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/10/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/10/25 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
04/15/25 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/15/25 (S) Moved SB 152 Out of Committee
04/15/25 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
04/18/25 (S) TRA RPT 3DP 2NR
04/18/25 (S) DP: BJORKMAN, TOBIN, KIEHL
04/18/25 (S) NR: STEDMAN, SHOWER
05/06/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/25 (S) Heard & Held
05/06/25 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/08/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/25 (S) Moved SB 152 Out of Committee
05/08/25 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/09/25 (S) STA RPT 5DP
05/09/25 (S) DP: KAWASAKI, YUNDT, WIELECHOWSKI,
GRAY-JACKSON, BJORKMAN
05/09/25 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
05/09/25 (S) VERSION: SB 152
05/10/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/10/25 (H) RLS
05/17/25 (H) RLS AT 8:30 AM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR MIKE CRONK
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented SB 152.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:19:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES called the House Rules Standing
Committee meeting to order at 10:19 a.m. Representatives Vance,
Costello, Tilton, Schrage, Kopp, and Stutes were present at the
call to order. Representative Edgmon arrived as the meeting was
in progress.
SB 152-HAROLD ESMAILKA AIRPORT AT RUBY
10:20:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES announced that the only order of business
would be SENATE BILL NO. 152, "An Act renaming Ruby Airport as
Harold Esmailka Airport; and providing for an effective date."
10:20:30 AM
SENATOR MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor,
presented SB 152. He offered brief highlights of segments of
the sponsor statement [included in the committee file], which
read in its entirety as follows [original punctuation provided]:
One of our most important obligations as a State
Legislature is to honor Alaska's community leaders and
extraordinary citizens. SB 152 would recognize the
contributions of Harold Esmailka to the community of
Ruby and Alaska's aviation industry by renaming Ruby
Airport to Harold Esmailka Airport.
Harold Esmailka, of Ruby, is a pioneer in Alaskan
aviation. Over his lengthy career as a pilot, Harold
flew across Alaska and has gotten to know people in
dozens of Alaskan communities. In 1954, after
concluding his service in the U.S. Army, Harold bought
his first airplane - a 65-horsepower Aeronca Chief.
Ten years later he and his wife, Florence, settled in
Ruby and opened the Ruby Trading Company general
store, which provided groceries and goods for the
community.
In 1970, Mr. Esmailka opened Harold's Air Service,
which grew to service 63 Alaskan villages and had 28
aircraft in its fleet. Harold's Air Service provided
medivac services to Alaska's Interior and grew so
large that he moved its base to Galena to accommodate
its commercial needs. In 1982, Harold sold Harold's
Air Service with plans to retire but his heart
called him back to the skies; just four years later he
purchased Tanana Air Service and built the company
into a small trailblazer for Interior aviation.
Harold based Tanana Air Service out of Fairbanks,
where it provided mail, cargo, passenger
transportation services to more than 80 communities.
While Harold operated Tanana Air Service, he provided
free transportation to the brothers, sisters, and
clergy in Fairbanks Catholic Diocese as they traveled
to local villages.
SB 152 renames the Ruby Airport to the Harold Esmailka
Airport, paying homage to an incredible father,
husband, veteran, entrepreneur, and Alaskan aviation
legend.
10:22:39 AM
CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on SB 152. After
ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she closed
public testimony.
10:22:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report SB 152 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection SB 152 was reported out of the
House Rules Standing Committee.
10:23:37 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Rules Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB152 ver N.pdf |
HRLS 5/17/2025 8:30:00 AM |
SB 152 |
| SB152 Sponsor Statement ver N.pdf |
HRLS 5/17/2025 8:30:00 AM |
SB 152 |
| SB152 Sectional Analysis ver N.pdf |
HRLS 5/17/2025 8:30:00 AM |
SB 152 |
| SB152 Research Legends in Alaska Aviation 4.3.25.pdf |
HRLS 5/17/2025 8:30:00 AM |
SB 152 |
| SB 152 Fiscal Note DOT 5.16.25.pdf |
HRLS 5/17/2025 8:30:00 AM |
SB 152 |