HJR 31: Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to whose rights are protected under the Constitution and prohibiting corporate contributions and expenditures in state and local elections.
00 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 31 01 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to whose 02 rights are protected under the Constitution and prohibiting corporate contributions and 03 expenditures in state and local elections. 04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. Article I, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read: 06 Section 1. Inherent Rights. This constitution is dedicated to the principles 07 that all natural persons have a natural right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, 08 and the enjoyment of the rewards of their own industry; that all natural persons are 09 equal and entitled to equal rights, opportunities, and protection under the law; and that 10 all natural persons have corresponding obligations to the people and to the State. 11 * Sec. 2. Article I, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended by adding a new section 12 to read: 13 Section 26. Rights Belong to Natural People. The rights and 14 privileges protected and extended to persons by this constitution are the rights 15 and privileges of natural persons only. Subject to the limitations of Section 15
01 of Article XII, a corporation, limited liability company, or other artificial 02 person may exercise only the powers or privileges prescribed by law. 03 * Sec. 3. Article XII, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended by adding a new 04 section to read: 05 Section 15. Contributions and Expenditures Made to Influence 06 an Election. Except for a group organized under State law for the 07 principal purpose of influencing the outcome of one or more elections, a 08 corporation, limited liability company, or other artificial person may not 09 make a contribution or an expenditure to influence a State or local 10 election. Limited liability is the only power the legislature may prescribe 11 for a group organized for the principal purpose of influencing the outcome 12 of one or more elections. The freedom of the press may not be abridged 13 under this section. 14 * Sec. 4. Article XV, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended by adding new 15 sections to read: 16 Section 30. Applicability of Amendments Providing for Rights 17 and Limiting Contributions and Expenditures Made to Influence an 18 Election. The 2026 amendments relating to natural persons and 19 contributions and expenditures made to influence an election apply only to 20 a contract or other legal obligation entered into by a corporation, limited 21 liability company, or other artificial person after the amendments become 22 effective. 23 Section 31. Implementation of Amendment Limiting 24 Contributions and Expenditures Made to Influence an Election. The 25 legislature shall, in the first regular legislative session following January 1, 26 2027, enact sanctions for, and procedures to dissolve, a corporation, 27 limited liability company, or other artificial person that violates Section 15 28 of Article XII. 29 * Sec. 5. The amendments proposed by this resolution shall be placed before the 30 voters of the state at the next general election in conformity with art. XIII, sec. 1, 31 Constitution of the State of Alaska, and the election laws of the state.