Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-02-21 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0221 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. 2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0222 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. 2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0223 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. 2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0224 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 2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0225 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. 2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0226 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. 2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0227 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 2025-02-21 House Journal Page 0228 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