2025-02-10                     House Journal                      Page 0158
HB 86                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 86 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                    
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to unauthorized publication and use of                                                                     
    communications; and relating to eavesdropping."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and                                                                
Judiciary Committees.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Zero, Dept. of Public Safety                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2025-02-10                     House Journal                      Page 0159
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 3 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill requiring all parties to a                                                               
conversation to consent to the recording of that conversation.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Alaska’s Constitution explicitly recognizes privacy as a fundamental                                                            
right. Under current law, only one party to a conversation must                                                                 
consent to be monitored or recorded, allowing any participant to                                                                
record without the others’ knowledge. This bill requires the knowledge                                                          
and consent of all parties, thereby protecting individuals’ right to                                                            
privacy.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Current law provides several exceptions to the consent requirement                                                              
and this bill preserves all of them. It also includes updated language,                                                         
consistent with relevant caselaw, to ensure that law enforcement can                                                            
continue criminal investigations using tools already available to them,                                                         
such as body-worn cameras and audio recorders.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Alaska has long been a staunch protector of individual privacy rights.                                                          
The surreptitious recording of conversations is an unacceptable                                                                 
intrusion of privacy. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this                                                           
measure.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"