Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-02-17 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-02-17 House Journal Page 0197 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday February 17, 2025 Twenty-eighth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:44 a.m. Roll call showed 36 members present. Representatives Saddler and Schwanke had been excused from a call of the House today. Representative Underwood was absent and later excused (page 201). Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Dibert be excused from a call of the House today. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor David J. Elmore of Landmark Apostolic Church. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. With the deepest respect for the religious beliefs of all Alaskans, I offer the following prayer: Jesus, I come before you and I thank you for this legislative body today. I thank you for your many blessings and for your wisdom and guidance. I ask that you would anoint each and every person here as they gather to make decisions for the betterment of this great state and its people. Jesus, I ask that you would give them wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Give them a heart of love and peace for the people that they lead and represent. 2025-02-17 House Journal Page 0198 Jesus, I pray for a hedge of protection around them, protect them and keep them safe, encamp your angels around them. Lord, I pray for this session today, that it would be uninterrupted and that this legislative body would be unified like never before. Lord, I know that each person here has been called to serve for such a time as this, and I am grateful for their willingness to answer that call. Lord, I pray blessings, peace, and unity upon this body, the State of Alaska, and its people. It’s in Jesus' name I pray, Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Fields. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 25th, 26th, and 27th legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. COMMUNICATIONS The following were received: Dept. of Education & Early Development Annual Progress Report February 14 (as required by AS 14.03.078) Alaska State Commission for Human Rights 2024 Annual Report (as required by AS 18.80.150) Dept. of Revenue Tax Division Education Tax Credits Calendar Year 2024 Summary (as required by AS 43.05.010) 2025-02-17 House Journal Page 0199 Letters dated February 12 and 14 were received stating the Speaker made the following appointments: Alaska Aerospace Corporation Representative Stutes Citizen's Advisory Commission of Federal Management Areas in Alaska Representative Josephson Representative Rauscher Coordinated Care Demonstration Project Review Committee Representative Mina Representative Gray, alternate Education Commission of the States Representative Himschoot Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Board Representative Kopp Governor's Council on Human and Sex Trafficking Representative Gray Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center Policy Council Representative Stutes Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education Representative Carrick Renewable Energy Grant Fund Advisory Committee Representative Mears Representative Holland Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Board Representative Vance, alternate Statewide Broadband Advisory Board Representative Edgmon 2025-02-17 House Journal Page 0200 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HJR 5 The Education Committee considered: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 Urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reinstate the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 and make the funding mechanism in the Act permanent. The report was signed by Representatives Story and Himschoot, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Eischeid, Elam, Story, Himschoot The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Legislative Agency HJR 5 was referred to the Rules Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS Honoring - 2025 Alaska Business Hall of Fame Laureates By Senators Kaufman, Cronk; Representative Coulombe In Memoriam - Lindley Harris "Ketch" Ketchum By Senator Giessel INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 108 HOUSE BILL NO. 108 by Representative Rauscher, entitled: "An Act relating to participation of certain peace officers in the defined benefit and defined contribution plans of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Labor & Commerce, and Finance Committees. 2025-02-17 House Journal Page 0201 CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 65 The following was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 65 "An Act authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue revenue bonds to finance the replacement of the Alaska Railroad Corporation's passenger dock and related terminal facility in Seward, Alaska; and providing for an effective date." with the: Journal Page FIN RPT 9DP 183 FN1: ZERO(CED) 183 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Underwood be excused from a call of the House today. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 65 be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There being no objection, it was so ordered. HB 65 was read the third time. The question being: "Shall HB 65 pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 65 Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 36 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 4 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Burke, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Moore, Nelson, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Schrage, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance 2025-02-17 House Journal Page 0202 Excused: Dibert, Saddler, Schwanke, Underwood And so, HB 65 passed the House. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the roll call on the passage of the bill be considered the roll call on the effective date clause. There being no objection, it was so ordered. HB 65 was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citation on the calendar. There being no objection, the following citation was approved and sent to enrolling: In Memoriam - Fred Hupprich By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert UNFINISHED BUSINESS HJR 5 Representative Schrage added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 Urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reinstate the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 and make the funding mechanism in the Act permanent. HB 65 Representatives Saddler, Bynum, Elam, McCabe, Costello, Schrage, Nelson, Josephson, and Rauscher added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 65 "An Act authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue revenue bonds to finance the replacement of the Alaska Railroad Corporation's passenger dock and related terminal facility in Seward, Alaska; and providing for an effective date." 2025-02-17 House Journal Page 0203 ENGROSSMENT HB 65 HB 65 was engrossed, signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk, and transmitted to the Senate for consideration. ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:30 a.m., February 19. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk