Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-03-17 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0473 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday March 17, 2025 Fifty-sixth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:41 a.m. Roll call showed 39 members present. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Foster be excused from a call of the House today. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Representative Hannan. 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: Today is St. Patrick’s Day. May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door. May your home always be too small to hold all your friends. May good luck be with you wherever you go, and may your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out. May the road rise up to meet you. 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0474 May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Mears. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 53rd, 54th, and 55th legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. COMMUNICATIONS The following was received: Dept. of Revenue Tax Division Annual Alaska Salmon Price and Production Reports March 12, 2025 https://tax.alaska.gov/programs/programs/reports/index.aspx?60624 (as required by AS 43.80.060) REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES The Judiciary Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Bill Satterberg as a member of the Commission on Judicial Conduct. Jedediah Cox as a member of the Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar. Dorene Lorenz Jessie Ruffridge as members of the State Commission for Human Rights. 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0475 Daniel Carothers Timothy Collins David Ross as members of the Alaska Police Standards Council. Robert Urata as a member of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair; and Representatives Vance, Underwood, Eischeid, Costello, and Mina. HJR 11 The Resources Committee considered: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and Alaska. and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11(RES) (same title) The report was signed by Representatives Dibert and Burke, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (7): Fields, Hall, Elam, Rauscher, Mears, Dibert, Burke No recommendation (1): Coulombe The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHJR 11(RES): 1. Zero, House Resources Committee HJR 11 was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 25 The Labor & Commerce Committee considered: 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0476 HOUSE BILL NO. 25 "An Act relating to disposable food service ware; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 25(L&C) "An Act relating to disposable food service ware and containers provided by customers; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Hall and Fields, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Carrick, Burke, Hall, Fields No recommendation (2): Nelson, Coulombe The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 25(L&C): 1. Zero, Dept. of Environmental Conservation HB 25 was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 79 The Resources Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 79 "An Act naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park." The report was signed by Representatives Dibert and Burke, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (8): Fields, Coulombe, Hall, Elam, Rauscher, Mears, Dibert, Burke The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Natural Resources HB 79 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0477 HB 121 The Labor & Commerce Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 121 "An Act relating to the practice of accounting; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Hall and Fields, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (5): Coulombe, Burke, Nelson, Hall, Fields No recommendation (1): Carrick The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 121 was referred to the Rules Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Lem Wheeles By Senators Claman, Tobin; Representative Hall INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 137 HOUSE BILL NO. 137 by Representative Carrick, entitled: "An Act relating to permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support; and relating to applications and qualifications for permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support." 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0478 was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance Committees. HB 138 HOUSE BILL NO. 138 by Representative Mina, entitled: "An Act establishing a behavioral health crisis services surcharge; establishing the behavioral health crisis services fund; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services, Labor & Commerce, and Finance Committees. HB 139 HOUSE BILL NO. 139 by Representative Stapp, entitled: "An Act relating to renting the governor's mansion; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance Committees. HB 140 HOUSE BILL NO. 140 by the House Labor and Commerce Committee, entitled: "An Act establishing the Department of Agriculture; relating to the establishment of the Department of Agriculture; transferring functions of the Department of Natural Resources related to agriculture to the Department of Agriculture; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 5 The following was read the second time: 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0479 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. with the: Journal Page EDC RPT 4DP 200 FN1: ZERO(LEG) 200 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that HJR 5 be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There being no objection, it was so ordered. HJR 5 was read the third time. The question being: "Shall HJR 5 pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: HJR 5 Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 35 NAYS: 4 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Burke, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Moore, Nelson, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Underwood Nays: Allard, McCabe, Tilton, Vance Excused: Foster And so, HJR 5 passed the House and was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. THIRD READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 6 The following, which was advanced to third reading from the March 17 calendar (page 465), was read the third time: 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0480 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6 Urging the United States Congress to safeguard the Universal Service Fund to ensure continued funding for essential programs that support critical broadband and telecommunication infrastructure and services for low-income rural residents of the state. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that HJR 6 be returned to second reading for the specific purpose of considering Amendment No. 2. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representative Costello: Page 2, lines 11 - 12: Delete "approximately 137,600 rural students" Insert "many of the more than 108,000 students in the state" Page 2, line 18: Delete "would result in approximately" Insert "could result in up to" Representative Costello moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. Objection was heard and withdrawn. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 2 was adopted. HJR 6 am was automatically in third reading. The question being: "Shall HJR 6 am pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: HJR 6 am Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 33 NAYS: 6 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Burke, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Moore, Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Underwood 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0481 Nays: Allard, McCabe, Rauscher, Saddler, Tilton, Vance Excused: Foster And so, HJR 6 am passed the House and was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. 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 - Ticasuk Brown Elementary School By Representatives Stapp, Dibert; Senator Kawasaki Honoring - Urbach's Clothier By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes Honoring - 2025 Alaska Journal of Commerce, Top 40 Under 40 Recipients By Senator Kawasaki In Memoriam - James Martin Lindoff Jr., L'too da xaan Representative Himschoot; Senators Kiehl, Stedman 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 Stapp – from 7:00 a.m., March 21 to 10:00 p.m., March 23 HJR 5 Representatives Mears, Stutes, Hannan, Josephson, and Jimmie added as cosponsors to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 Urging the United States Congress and the President of the United 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0482 States to reinstate the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 and make the funding mechanism in the Act permanent. HJR 11 Representatives Holland and Gray added as cosponsors to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and Alaska. HB 11 Representative Tomaszewski added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 11 "An Act relating to contributions and donations from permanent fund dividends." HB 125 Representative Kopp added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 125 "An Act relating to membership of the Board of Fisheries." HB 133 Representative Kopp added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 133 "An Act establishing a 30-day deadline for the payment of contracts under the State Procurement Code; establishing deadlines for the payment of grants, contracts, and reimbursement agreements to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and Alaska Native organizations; relating to payment of grants to named recipients that are not municipalities; and providing for an effective date." ENGROSSMENT HJR 5 HJR 5 was engrossed, signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk, and transmitted to the Senate for consideration. 2025-03-17 House Journal Page 0483 HJR 6 HJR 6 am 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 10:45 a.m., March 18 for a joint session. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:28 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk