02/03/2026 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB26 | |
| SB129 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 129 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 3, 2026
1:31 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Kelly Merrick, Chair
Senator Forrest Dunbar, Vice Chair
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Donald Olson
Senator Robert Yundt
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 26(TRA) AM
"An Act relating to the duties of the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities; and relating to a
statewide public and community transit plan."
- MOVED CSHB 26(TRA) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 129
"An Act establishing a 30-day deadline for the payment of
contracts under the State Procurement Code; establishing
deadlines for the payment of grants, contracts, and
reimbursement agreements to nonprofit organizations,
municipalities, and Alaska Native organizations; relating to
payment of grants to named recipients that are not
municipalities; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 129 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 26
SHORT TITLE: STATEWIDE PUBLIC & COMMUNITY TRANSIT PLAN
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MINA
01/22/25 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (H) CRA, TRA
02/27/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/27/25 (H) Heard & Held
02/27/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/18/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/18/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/18/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/20/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/20/25 (H) Moved CSHB 26(CRA) Out of Committee
03/20/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/21/25 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 4DP 1DNP 1AM
03/21/25 (H) DP: HOLLAND, HALL, HIMSCHOOT, MEARS
03/21/25 (H) DNP: PRAX
03/21/25 (H) AM: RUFFRIDGE
03/27/25 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/27/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/27/25 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/01/25 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/01/25 (H) Heard & Held
04/01/25 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/10/25 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/10/25 (H) Moved CSHB 26(TRA) Out of Committee
04/10/25 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/11/25 (H) TRA RPT CS(TRA) 5DP 2DNP
04/11/25 (H) DP: MOORE, MINA, STUTES, EISCHEID,
CARRICK
04/11/25 (H) DNP: MCCABE, TILTON
05/02/25 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/02/25 (H) VERSION: CSHB 26(TRA) AM
05/05/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/05/25 (S) CRA, TRA
05/15/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/15/25 (S) Heard & Held
05/15/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
05/20/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/20/25 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
01/27/26 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/27/26 (S) Heard & Held
01/27/26 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
02/03/26 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 129
SHORT TITLE: PAYMENT OF CONTRACTS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KAWASAKI
03/12/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/12/25 (S) CRA, L&C
04/01/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/01/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/01/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
04/08/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/08/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/08/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
04/29/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/29/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/29/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
02/03/26 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
CLAIRE WARNCKE, Staff
Representative Genevieve Mina
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that she was available to answer
questions on HB 26.
SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, District P
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 129.
JENNA COLQUHOUN, Staff
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on SB 129.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:45 PM
CHAIR MERRICK called the Senate Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Yundt, Olson, and
Chair Merrick. Senator Dunbar arrived immediately thereafter.
CHAIR MERRICK announced an at ease, reconvened the meeting, and
noted the arrival of Senator Dunbar.
HB 26-STATEWIDE PUBLIC & COMMUNITY TRANSIT PLAN
1:32:43 PM
CHAIR MERRICK announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 26(TRA) am "An Act relating to the duties of the Department
of Transportation and Public Facilities; and relating to a
statewide public and community transit plan."
CHAIR MERRICK said this is the third hearing of HB 26 in the
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee. She invited the
bill sponsor's staff to make comments.
1:33:11 PM
CLAIRE WARNCKE, Staff, Representative Genevieve Mina, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, testified that she was
available to answer questions on HB 26.
1:33:21 PM
CHAIR MERRICK found no discussion or questions.
CHAIR MERRICK solicited the will of the committee.
1:33:29 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report CSHB 26(TRA) am, work order 34-
LS0276\I.A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s) and authorized Legislative Legal
Services to make conforming changes.
1:33:46 PM
CHAIR MERRICK found no objection and CSHB 26(TRA) am was
reported from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing
Committee.
1:33:51 PM
At ease.
SB 129-PAYMENT OF CONTRACTS
1:35:29 PM
CHAIR MERRICK reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 129 "An Act establishing a 30-
day deadline for the payment of contracts under the State
Procurement Code; establishing deadlines for the payment of
grants, contracts, and reimbursement agreements to nonprofit
organizations, municipalities, and Alaska Native organizations;
relating to payment of grants to named recipients that are not
municipalities; and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR MERRICK said this is the fourth hearing of SB 129 in the
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee. She invited the
bill sponsor to put himself on the record to briefly reintroduce
the bill.
1:35:52 PM
SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, District P, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 129, expressed appreciation to
committee members for their willingness to move the bill
forward. He said SB 129 is a good business bill and a good
government bill. He explained that the intent of SB 129 is to
improve efficiency and ensure State contractors are paid in a
timely manner.
1:36:24 PM
CHAIR MERRICK invited committee members to ask questions.
1:36:29 PM
SENATOR YUNDT sought confirmation that SB 129 defines prompt
payment as 30 days.
1:36:40 PM
JENNA COLQUHOUN, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, answered in the affirmative,
stating 30 days is the deadline.
1:36:50 PM
SENATOR YUNDT expressed appreciation for the bill's intent but
raised concerns about the pressure a 30-day deadline could place
on accounting offices. He said that during a given month,
accounting offices experience periods of heavy workload, and
coupled with holidays, the 30-day deadline could create
complications. He indicated that he recommended an amendment
extending the deadline to 45 to 59 days and said it is something
to consider to improve the bill.
1:37:48 PM
CHAIR MERRICK solicited the will of the committee.
1:37:50 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report SB 129, work order [34-LS0690\N,]
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s) and authorized Legislative Legal Services to make
conforming changes.
1:38:07 PM
At ease.
1:38:23 PM
[CHAIR MERRICK reconvened the meeting.]
SENATOR DUNBAR clarified that the work order number is 34-
LS0690\N.
1:38:35 PM
CHAIR MERRICK found no objection and SB 129 was reported from
the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
1:38:59 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Merrick adjourned the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting at 1:39 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB129 - Public Testimony Rec'd SCRA 2.2026.pdf |
SCRA 2/3/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |