2023-10-16                     House Journal                      Page 1204
HB 51                                                                                                                         
The following letter was dated August 26 and received August 29 at                                                              
11:14 a.m.:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Tilton:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority vested in me by Article II, Section 15, of the                                                              
Alaska Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 51 am S(efd add S)                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for use                                                           
    under federal law; relating to firefighting substances; and                                                                 
    providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
House Bill 51 does not provide alternatives to aqueous film forming                                                             
foam (AFFF) for firefighting. If AFFF is removed from a community,                                                              
residents will have no capabilities to fight a large-scale fire. When                                                           
balancing the environment and life and safety of Alaskans, this bill                                                            
falls short by removing a lifesaving tool from the toolbox.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Accordingly, because this bill offers no alternatives to AFFF leaving                                                           
Alaskans vulnerable to a preventable and unfortunate event to happen,                                                           
I have vetoed the bill. I encourage the legislature to find a sustainable                                                       
solution to this problem and not just a partial solution.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Additionally, I welcome Representative Wright to reintroduce the                                                                
original draft of this legislation, which helped Alaskan consumers                                                              
prepare for the upcoming transition of the heating, ventilation, air                                                            
conditioning, and refrigeration industry to the next generation of                                                              
refrigerants. I look forward to working with the legislature to address                                                         
                                                          rd                                                                    
this issue when we begin the second half of the 33 Alaska State                                                                 
Legislature in January.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"