Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-03-05 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0289 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday March 5, 2025 Forty-fourth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:40 a.m. Roll call showed 39 members present. 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, Reverend Guy Crockroft of Love INC Juneau. 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: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for this new day and for allowing us to live in this beautiful place called Alaska. Thank you for this body, the Alaska House of Representatives. May you richly bless each representative as they serve and grant them the ability to love each other, even when they have strong differences of opinion. As the Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0290 is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Verse 13 adds, And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Lord, in accordance with your unconditional love, may you help each representative as they work together for the betterment of all Alaskans. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Holland. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 42nd and 43rd legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE A message dated March 3 was read stating the Senate transmitted the following for consideration: FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF SENATE RESOLUTIONS SSCR 1 SENATE SPECIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 by the Senate Rules Committee: Disapproving Executive Order No. 136. was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0291 A message dated March 3 was read stating the Senate passed the following, and it is transmitted for consideration: FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF SENATE BILLS SB 43 SENATE BILL NO. 43 by Senator Gray-Jackson, entitled: "An Act establishing the month of March as Women's History Month." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee. COMMUNICATIONS Letters of disclosure received from the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, as required by AS 24.60, were published in House Journal Supplement No. 2 and House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 5. Messages dated March 3 and 4 were received stating the Speaker made the following appointments: National Conference on State Legislatures (NCSL) Task Forces Agriculture Representative Mears Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Privacy Representative Holland Health Innovations Representative Mina Higher Education Representative Story Energy Supply Representative Hall 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0292 Military and Veterans Affairs Representative Gray State and Local Taxation Representative Schrage The following were received: Dept. of Administration Division of Risk Management FY 2025 Report (as required by AS 37.05.287) Dept. of Fish & Game Division of Commercial Fisheries Alaska Salmon Fisheries Enhancement Annual Report 2024 (as required by AS 16.05.092) Department of Law Monetary Terms of Agreement Between the State and the Teachers Education Association – Mt. Edgecumbe Monetary Terms of Agreement Between the University of Alaska and United Academics (as required by AS 23.40.215 and AO 356) The Speaker referred the monetary terms to the Finance Committee. Dept. of Natural Resources Determination to Take Oil and Gas Royalty In-Value Annual Report (as required by AS 38.05.182) REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES The Transportation Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0293 James Cunningham Don Habeger as members of the Board of Marine Pilots. The report was signed by Representatives Carrick and Eischeid, Co- chairs, and Representatives McCabe, Moore, Mina, and Stutes. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES HJR 8 The House Special Committee on Military & Veterans' Affairs considered: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8 Encouraging the United States Congress to award the Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War the Congressional Gold Medal. and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8(MLV) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Eischeid, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Saddler, Hall, Gray, Allard, Nelson, Eischeid No recommendation (1): Fields The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHJR 8(MLV): 1. Zero, Legislative Affairs Agency HJR 8 was referred to the Rules Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and taken up as a Special Order of Business: 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0294 Honoring - Diane Carpenter By Senator Hoffman The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Commemorating - Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15, 2025 By Representative Edgmon Honoring - Marti Guzman By Representative Mina; Senators Tobin, Gray-Jackson Honoring - Joseph "Joe" Principe By Representatives Nelson, Stapp; Senator Tobin Honoring - JAMHI Health & Wellness, Inc., 40th Anniversary By Representatives Hannan, Story; Senator Kiehl Honoring - Alaska National Guard First Scouts By Representatives Nelson, Foster; Senator Olson Honoring - Lucky Wishbone 70th Anniversary By Representative Nelson; Senator Tobin Honoring - Eduard Zilberkant By Senators Myers, Cronk; Representative Schwanke In Memoriam - Donald D. Church By Representative Schwanke; Senator Yundt In Memoriam - William R. Church By Representative Schwanke; Senator Yundt In Memoriam - John Augustus Rego By Representative Schwanke; Senator Cronk In Memoriam - Donnell Edward Erickson By Representatives Moore, Foster 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0295 In Memoriam - Ellen Jean Newkirk By Senator Wielechowski; Representatives Mears, Eischeid In Memoriam - Dorothy Ann Hunter By Senator Wielechowski; Representatives Mears, Eischeid In Memoriam - Linda Bright By Senator Wielechowski; Representatives Mears, Eischeid In Memoriam - Calvin Robert Schaefer By Senator Wielechowski; Representatives Mears, Eischeid In Memoriam - David "Sandy" Jamieson By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Carrick In Memoriam - Alfred "Al" Ketzler, Sr. By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert In Memoriam - Ruth Gronlid Benson By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert In Memoriam - Nicole Nordstrand By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the notice and publication requirements be waived and the citation, Honoring - Diane Carpenter, be taken up as a Special Order of Business. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citation. There being no objection, the following citation was approved and sent to enrolling: Honoring - Diane Carpenter By Senator Hoffman 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0296 INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 38 SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 38 by Representative Saddler, entitled: "An Act relating to supplemental employee benefits; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. HB 123 HOUSE BILL NO. 123 by Representative McCabe, entitled: "An Act relating to vehicle rental taxes; relating to the issuance of subpoenas related to tax records; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. HB 124 HOUSE BILL NO. 124 by Representative Carrick, entitled: "An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance Committees. HB 125 HOUSE BILL NO. 125 by Representatives Jimmie and Foster, entitled: "An Act relating to membership of the Board of Fisheries." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Fisheries and the Resources Committee. 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0297 HB 126 HOUSE BILL NO. 126 by Representative Foster, entitled: "An Act relating to the reinstatement of Native corporations; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs and the Community & Regional Affairs Committee. HB 127 HOUSE BILL NO. 127 by Representative Foster, entitled: "An Act relating to the overtime pay exemption for certain newspaper employees." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Labor & Commerce Committees. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the following member be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the member was excused as noted: Representative Bynum – from: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., March 10 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., March 17 HJR 8 Representative Saddler added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8 Encouraging the United States Congress to award the Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War the Congressional Gold Medal. HB 69 Representatives Stutes and Foster added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 69 "An Act relating to education funding; and providing for an effective date." 2025-03-05 House Journal Page 0298 HB 96 Representative Dibert 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." SB 43 Representatives Galvin and Hannan added as cross sponsors to: SENATE BILL NO. 43 "An Act establishing the month of March as Women's History Month." ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:00 a.m., March 6. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 12:05 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk