Legislature(2025 - 2026)

2025-02-21 House Journal

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                              HOUSE JOURNAL                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                        ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                        THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                              FIRST SESSION                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                    Friday             February 21, 2025                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                            Thirty-second Day                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker                                                                
Edgmon at 10:42 a.m.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Roll call showed 38 members present.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
following members be excused from a call of the House. There being                                                              
no objection, the members were excused as noted:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Dibert - today                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Elam - from today until 10:00 p.m., February 23.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Representative Tilton.                                                              
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:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
    Heavenly Father, we come before you today as grateful                                                                       
    citizens of a state we are proud to call home, but also as                                                                  
    humble people of faith. We come to you today seeking vision,                                                                
    wisdom, and discernment that only you can bestow, a                                                                         
    reclaiming of the honor and nobility of public service, and a                                                               
    sensitivity to those in need.                                                                                               

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    We pray to be more like you, Lord, gracious and merciful,                                                                   
    slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. You never                                                                   
    summon us, Lord, to a duty without supplying us the grace to                                                                
    do it. You don't call upon the qualified, you qualify the called.                                                           
    That blessed assurance consoles us.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    We look to you, Lord, as we honor those who have paid the                                                                   
    ultimate price for our country so that we may be free. We                                                                   
    thank you Lord, that such men and women exist that ask that                                                                 
    you bless them and pour your love on their families.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
    We pray peace on those who have lost a loved one; strength                                                                  
    and healing on those battling cancer, addiction, and other                                                                  
    diseases; and celebration on momentous occasions such as                                                                    
    birthdays, anniversaries, and new life.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
    God of power and might, wisdom and justice, through you,                                                                    
    authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and                                                                    
    judgement decreed. Assist with your spirit of counsel and                                                                   
    fortitude the members of this body. May we always seek the                                                                  
    ways of righteousness, justice, and mercy. God grant that we                                                                
    may be enabled by your powerful protection to lead our state                                                                
    with honesty and integrity.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
    We pray these things with thanksgiving, and that all the                                                                    
    praise, honor, and glory be to you.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Galvin.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                      CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
journal for the 30th and 31st legislative days and Senate and House                                                             
Joint Journal Supplement No. 4 be approved as certified by the Chief                                                            
Clerk.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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                             COMMUNICATIONS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The following were received:                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development                                                                            
Alaska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program                                                                                     
2024 Report                                                                                                                     
February 2025                                                                                                                   
(as required by AS 17.30.200)                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Dept. of Public Safety                                                                                                          
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault                                                                                 
2024 Annual Report                                                                                                              
(as required by AS 18.66.050)                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                     REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
HB 10                                                                                                                         
The State Affairs Committee considered:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 10                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to the Board of Regents of the University of                                                               
    Alaska."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the                                                                
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (3):  Holland, Himschoot, Carrick                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
No recommendation (3):  McCabe, Moore, Story                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Fiscal, University of Alaska                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
HB 10 was referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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HB 21                                                                                                                         
The State Affairs Committee considered:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 21                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to voter preregistration for minors at least 16                                                            
    years of age; and relating to confidentiality of voter registration                                                         
    and preregistration records of minors at least 16 years of age."                                                           
                                                                                                                                
and recommends it be replaced with:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
    CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 21(STA)                                                                                               
    (same title)                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the                                                                
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (4):  Holland, Himschoot, Story, Carrick                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Do not pass (2):  McCabe, Moore                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 21(STA):                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Fiscal, Dept. of Administration                                                                                              
2. Fiscal, Office of the Governor                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HB 21 was referred to the Judiciary Committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB 69                                                                                                                         
The Finance Committee considered:                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 69                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to education funding; and providing for an                                                                 
    effective date."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representatives Foster, Josephson, and                                                                 
Schrage, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations:                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (5):  Hannan, Galvin, Foster, Josephson, Schrage                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Do not pass (4):  Tomaszewski, Stapp, Allard, Johnson                                                                           

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No recommendation (1):  Jimmie                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Amend (1):  Bynum                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Zero, Dept. of Education & Early Development                                                                                 
2. Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development/Fund                                                                          
 Capitalization                                                                                                                 
3. Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HB 69 was referred to the Rules Committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                        INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules                                                               
Committee for placement on the calendar:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Brenna Schaake                                                                                                       
By Senator Myers; Representatives Carrick, Tomaszewski                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Jacob Daniel Wasielewski                                                                                          
By Senators Wielechowski, Kaufman                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Tim Tilsworth                                                                                                     
By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Carrick                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
               INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE                                                                    
                          OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HJR 10                                                                                                                        
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10 by Representatives Schrage                                                                        
and Fields:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
    Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska                                                             
    relating to the Alaska permanent fund and to appropriations from                                                            
    the Alaska permanent fund.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Judiciary, and                                                       
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                

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               INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE                                                                    
                             OF HOUSE BILLS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB 110                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 110 by Representatives Gray and Story, entitled:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to a social work licensure compact; relating to                                                            
   the practice of social work; and providing for an effective date."                                                          
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and                                                                
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HB 111                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 111 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to finfish farms and finfish farm products; and                                                            
    providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                                                          
Fisheries and the Resources Committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Zero, Dept. of Environmental Conservation                                                                                    
2. Zero, Dept. of Fish & Game                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 20 follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am pleased to transmit a bill authorizing and regulating                                                        
finfish farms and finfish farm products. Currently, Alaska law                                                                  
prohibits the farming of finfish, except for private nonprofit (PNP)                                                            
salmon hatcheries. Authorizing finfish farming would introduce a new                                                            
industry to Alaska, creating jobs, increasing food security for                                                                 
residents, and contributing to economic growth.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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This bill authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and                                                             
Game (DFG), in consultation with the Commissioner of the                                                                        
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), to permit the                                                                   
cultivation and sale of certain finfish in natural or artificial inland,                                                        
closed-system bodies of water.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
With a finfish farm permit, a permittee may operate a finfish farm and                                                          
acquire, hold, offer, transfer, or sell finfish stock and finfish farm                                                          
products, subject to DFG regulations and DEC oversight. The bill                                                                
defines finfish as any bony fish belonging to the Osteichthyes class,                                                           
excluding pink, chum, sockeye, coho, chinook, and Atlantic salmon.                                                              
All finfish in finfish farms must remain sterile, and no artificial                                                             
propagation is authorized.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 112                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 112 by Representative Bynum, entitled:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act making a special appropriation to the Department of                                                                 
    Education and Early Development for public education that                                                                   
    appropriates the same base student allocation equivalent funding                                                            
    appropriated for fiscal year 2025; and providing for an effective                                                           
    date."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                   CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                          LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
House approve the citations on the calendar.  There being no                                                                    
objection, the following citations were approved and sent to enrolling:                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Lesli Loann Carl Sirstad                                                                                             
By Representatives Story, Hannan; Senator Kiehl                                                                                 

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Honoring - Susan "Arhnaq" Malutin                                                                                               
By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                           UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
HB 69                                                                                                                         
Representative Costello, citing Uniform Rule 18, moved and asked                                                                
unanimous consent that the following be withdrawn from the Rules                                                                
Committee and placed on the calendar for the next legislative day:                                                              
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 69                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to education funding; and providing for an                                                                 
    effective date."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson objected.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stutes rose to a point of order regarding relevance of                                                           
the debate.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The Speaker cautioned members to confine remarks to the motion                                                                  
before the House.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The question being:  "Shall HB 69 be withdrawn from the Rules                                                                   
Committee and placed on the calendar for the next legislative day?"                                                             
The roll was taken with the following result:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
HB 69                                                                                                                           
Bill to Calendar from Rules                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:  18   NAYS:  20   EXCUSED:  2   ABSENT:  0                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Yeas:  Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Johnson, McCabe, Moore,                                                               
Nelson, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, Stapp, Tilton,                                                            
Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Nays:  Burke, Carrick, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Galvin,                                                                
Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp,                                                                
Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Excused:  Dibert, Elam                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
And so, the motion failed.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                

2025-02-21                     House Journal                      Page 0229
HJR 5                                                                                                                         
Representatives Fields and Himschoot added as cosponsors 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 20                                                                                                                         
Representative Fields added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 20                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to fees for paper documents; and relating to                                                               
    unfair trade practices."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB 74                                                                                                                         
Representative Fields added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 74                                                                                                           
    "An Act establishing the crime of airbag fraud."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HB 96                                                                                                                         
Representative Fields added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 96                                                                                                           
    "An Act establishing the Home Care Employment Standards                                                                     
    Advisory Board; relating to payment for personal care services;                                                             
    and providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                              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 24.  There being no                                                                    
objection, the House adjourned at 11:49 a.m.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                             Crystaline Jones                                                                   
                                             Chief Clerk