2025-03-26                     House Journal                      Page 0546
HB 158                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 158 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to professional licensing; relating to temporary                                                           
    licenses for certain professions; and providing for an effective                                                            
    date."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                                                          
Military & Veterans' Affairs and the Labor & Commerce Committee.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic                                                                               
 Development                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated March 24 follows:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that consolidates temporary                                                              
professional licensing requirements and enhances license portability                                                            
for servicemembers and their spouses.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
This bill establishes a single, streamlined temporary license,                                                                  
administered by the Department of Commerce, Community, and                                                                      
Economic Development (DCCED), replacing the various temporary                                                                   
privileges found across Alaska’s professional licensing laws. This                                                              
improves the existing system, which requires a prospective applicant                                                            
to navigate a web of differing department and board-issued temporary                                                            
license types to identify the appropriate process to obtain a temporary                                                         
license. This new license grants a qualified applicant holding a valid                                                          
out-of-state license the ability to practice in the state for a specified                                                       
period (generally 180 days).                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
In addition to addressing temporary licensure, this bill brings Alaska                                                          
into compliance with federal professional license portability under the                                                         
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). It directs DCCED to issue,                                                              
within 30 days of receiving a completed application, a professional                                                             

2025-03-26                     House Journal                      Page 0547
license to a servicemember or spouse who holds an out-of-state license                                                          
and relocates to Alaska under military orders.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"