Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-02-26 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0245 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday February 26, 2025 Thirty-seventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:36 a.m. Roll call showed 38 members present. Representative Dibert had been excused from a call of the House today. Representative Vance was absent and later excused (page 253). The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Tari Stage-Harvey of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Honoring the tradition of all, I share some of the commands from Jesus out of my tradition: Jesus says wake up over a dozen times. Wake up to the life you are living. Wake up because something is coming that is going to need all your energy and strength. Awaken, shake off the excuses, apathy, and lethargy, and engage wholeheartedly in the business before us. Jesus says peace be with you over 15 times and love 17 times. Peace and love - they are not feelings, but ways of wholeness and healing for the community. Peace and love are about seeing the big picture where all are fed, where justice prevails, and harmony triumphs. 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0246 Jesus says do not be afraid over 20 times. So be of good courage and do the bold thing, gird up your loins and seek justice, do not be afraid to love, to do the right thing, to make sacrifices. The command to pay attention occurs over 100 times in the gospels - more than any other command. Listen to your life, to each other, to the spirit. Open your eyes to pay attention to those who are often invisible, children, the elderly, the poor, the lost. As Frederick Buechner wrote, To love God means to pay attention. Be mindful. Be open to the possibility that God is with you in ways that, unless you have your eyes open, you may never glimpse. Wake up, peace and love be with you, do not be afraid and pay attention. Those are the commands and that is my prayer for you today. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Hall. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 35th and 36th legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. * * * * * Representative Johnson introduced Yaquina and Heceta Repnow, Guest Pages, from Palmer, Alaska. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE A message dated February 24 was read stating the Senate passed the following, and they are transmitted for consideration: 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0247 FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF SENATE BILLS SB 60 SENATE BILL NO. 60 by Senator Tobin, entitled: "An Act establishing May 12 as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day of Recognition." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services Committee. SB 79 SENATE BILL NO. 79 by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, entitled: "An Act relating to wage payments." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. COMMUNICATIONS The following were received: Dept. of Administration Monetary Terms of Agreement Between the State and the Alaska Correctional Officer Association February 24, 2025 (as required by AS 23.40.215) The Speaker referred the monetary terms to the Finance Committee. Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing Military Courtesy Licensing Biennial Report (as required by AS 08.01.063) 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0248 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HB 25 The State Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 25 "An Act relating to disposable food service ware; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Holland, Himschoot, Story, Carrick Amend (2): McCabe, Moore The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Environmental Conservation HB 25 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. SB 87 The Rules Committee considered: SENATE BILL NO. 87 "An Act disapproving the recommendations of the State Officers Compensation Commission; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representative Stutes, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Costello, Edgmon, Kopp, Schrage, Tilton, Stutes The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Legislative Agency SB 87 was returned to the Rules Committee. 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0249 REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES The House Special Committee on Fisheries reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Mary Swain as a member of the Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council. Rick Green as a member of the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. The report was signed by Representative Stutes, Chair; and Representatives Kopp, Edgmon, Himschoot, McCabe. HB 17 The House Special Committee on Military & Veterans' Affairs considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 17 "An Act relating to retirement benefits and military service." The report was signed by Representative Eischeid, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (7): Hall, Fields, Saddler, Gray, Allard, Nelson, Eischeid The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Indeterminate, Dept. of Administration HB 17 was referred to the Finance Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Sandy Fortier By Representatives Story, Hannan; Senator Kiehl 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0250 In Memoriam - Yéil Xhoosh John Wilson, Jr. By Representatives Story, Hannan; Senator Kiehl In Memoriam - Mark Edward Withrow By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HCR 3 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3 by Representative Rauscher: Establishing the Joint Legislative Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs and State Affairs Committees. HJR 11 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 by Representative Kopp: Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and Alaska. was read the first time and referred to the Resources Committee. INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 114 HOUSE BILL NO. 114 by Representative Carrick, entitled: "An Act relating to the Alaska permanent fund; relating to permanent fund dividends; relating to the use of state income from mineral lease rentals, royalties, royalty sale proceeds, federal mineral revenue sharing payments, and bonuses from mineral leases; relating to contributions from permanent fund dividends to the general and permanent funds; and providing for an effective date." 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0251 was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance Committees. HB 115 HOUSE BILL NO. 115 by Representative Gray, entitled: "An Act relating to increases in rent for dwelling units." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Labor & Commerce Committees. HB 116 HOUSE BILL NO. 116 by the House Special Committee on Fisheries by request of the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska's Seafood Industry, entitled: "An Act exempting from insurance regulation cooperative agreements entered into by two or more persons engaged in commercial fishing for the purpose of paying claims or losses." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Fisheries and the Labor & Commerce Committee. HB 117 HOUSE BILL NO. 117 by the House Special Committee on Fisheries, entitled: "An Act relating to commercial set gillnet fishing; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Fisheries and the Resources Committee. HB 118 HOUSE BILL NO. 118 by Representatives Vance and Underwood, entitled: "An Act establishing the Council on Human and Sex Trafficking; and providing for an effective date." 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0252 was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance Committees. HB 119 HOUSE BILL NO. 119 by Representatives Stapp, Carrick, Prax, Tomaszewski, Elam, Allard, and Schwanke, entitled: "An Act relating to an in-state natural gas pipeline developed by the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Resources Committees. HB 120 HOUSE BILL NO. 120 by Representatives McCabe and Coulombe, entitled: "An Act relating to the sale of the Alaska Railroad; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation and Finance Committees. 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 - Coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax By Representatives Underwood, Moore; Senator Yundt Honoring - Jack Hébert By Senator Hoffman In Memoriam - Carol Chan Christiansen By Representative Johnson 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0253 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House ratify the appointment of H. Conner Thomas to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The question being: "Shall the House ratify the appointment of H. Conner Thomas to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?" The roll was taken with the following result: Select Committee on Legislative Ethics Ratify - H. Conner Thomas YEAS: 38 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 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, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Underwood Excused: Dibert Absent: Vance And so, the appointment was ratified. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Vance 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 the House ratify the appointment of Carl Symons White to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The question being: "Shall the House ratify the appointment of Carl Symons White to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?" The roll was taken with the following result: Select Committee on Legislative Ethics Ratify - Carl Symons White 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0254 YEAS: 38 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 2 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, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Underwood Excused: Dibert, Vance And so, the appointment was ratified. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House ratify the appointment of Linda G. Cox, alternate, to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The question being: "Shall the House ratify the appointment of Linda G. Cox, alternate, to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?" The roll was taken with the following result: Select Committee on Legislative Ethics Ratify - Linda G. Cox, Alternate YEAS: 38 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 2 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, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Underwood Excused: Dibert, Vance And so, the appointment was ratified. The Chief Clerk notified the Senate. 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: 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0255 Representative Carrick – from noon to 6:00 p.m., February 28 Representative Eischeid – from: 6:00 a.m., March 7 to 10:00 p.m., March 9 noon, April 4 to 10:00 p.m., April 6 HJR 5 Representatives Holland, Tomaszewski, Stapp, Story, Burke, Johnson, Nelson, and Hall 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 49 Representative Galvin added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 49 "An Act relating to tobacco, tobacco products, electronic smoking products, nicotine, and products containing nicotine; raising the minimum age to purchase, exchange, or possess tobacco, a product containing nicotine, or an electronic smoking product; relating to the tobacco use education and cessation fund; relating to the taxation of electronic smoking products and vapor products; and providing for an effective date." HB 89 Representative Hannan added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 89 "An Act relating to gun violence protective orders; relating to the crime of violating a protective order; relating to a central registry for protective orders; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; amending Rules 4 and 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date." 2025-02-26 House Journal Page 0256 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 28. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 12:06 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk