Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-03-24 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0523 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday March 24, 2025 Sixty-third Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:35 a.m. Roll call showed 38 members present. Representative Vance had been excused from a call of the House today. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Jimmie be excused from a call of the House today. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Douglas K. Mertz of the Juneau Friends Meeting. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. With deep respect for the beliefs of all persons, I offer these words: God, help us to focus on what is important. Help us to let go of all the little things that don't matter. Help us to let go of what blocks the spirit. Help us to focus on what promotes justice and peace. Help us to embrace respect for all voices in this chamber and for all voices in our great land. Help us to have courage in the face of adversity. Amen. 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0524 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Moore. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 60th, 61st, and 62nd legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. * * * * * Representative Ruffridge introduced his children Ellison and Lillian Ruffridge, Guest Pages, from Soldotna. COMMUNICATIONS The following was received: Department of Law Monetary Terms of Agreement Between the State and the Alaska Vocational Technical Center Teachers' Association (as required by AS 23.40.215 and AO 356) The Speaker referred the monetary terms to the Finance Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and taken up later as a Special Order of Business: Honoring - Dorine Grace McCall By Senators Kaufman, Merrick; Representative Saddler The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Emily Robinson By Representatives Moore, Schwanke; Senator Cronk In Memoriam - Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" Sharp By Representative Prax; Senator Myers 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0525 SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the notice and publication requirements be waived and the citation, Honoring - Dorine Grace McCall, 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 - Dorine Grace McCall By Senators Kaufman, Merrick; Representative Saddler INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HCR 4 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4 by Representative Saddler: Proclaiming May 2025 as Myositis Awareness Month. was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services Committee. HJR 15 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15 by Representatives Holland, Coulombe, and Fields: Urging the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources, division of forestry and fire protection, the Department of Public Safety, municipalities of the state and relevant wildfire planning and response agencies, and the Alaska delegation in Congress to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season. was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs Committee. 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0526 INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 151 HOUSE BILL NO. 151 by Representatives Galvin and Fields, entitled: "An Act relating to continuous eligibility for medical assistance for children under six years of age; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Finance Committees. HB 152 HOUSE BILL NO. 152 by Representative Galvin, entitled: "An Act establishing an education tax on the income of individuals, partners, shareholders in S corporations, trusts, and estates; repealing tax credits applied against the tax on individuals under the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance Committees. HB 153 HOUSE BILL NO. 153 by Representative Holland, entitled: "An Act relating to generation of electricity from renewable energy resources; relating to a renewable portfolio standard; relating to power cost equalization; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Energy and the Resources Committee. HB 154 HOUSE BILL NO. 154 by Representatives Mears and Fields, entitled: "An Act relating to the summer electronic benefits transfer program for children." 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0527 was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Finance Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 121 The following was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 121 "An Act relating to the practice of accounting; and providing for an effective date." with the: Journal Page L&C RPT 5DP 1NR 477 FN1: ZERO(CED) 477 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that HB 121 be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There being no objection, it was so ordered. HB 121 was read the third time. The question being: "Shall HB 121 pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 121 Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 38 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Burke, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Moore, Nelson, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Underwood Excused: Jimmie, Vance And so, HB 121 passed the House. 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0528 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the roll call on the passage of the bill be considered the roll call on the effective date clause. There being no objection, it was so ordered. HB 121 was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. SECOND READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 11 The following was read the second time: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and Alaska. with the: Journal Page RES RPT CS(RES) 7DP 1NR 475 FN1: ZERO(H.RES) 475 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original resolution: CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11(RES) (same title) There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Stapp: Page 4, line 2, following "measures": Insert "or tolls" Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Representative Josephson objected and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representative McCabe: 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0529 Page 3, following line 20: Insert new material to read: "WHEREAS the Alaska-Canada Highway and other vital road connections serve as critical lifelines for the movement of goods, people, and services between Alaska and the rest of the United States through Canadian territory, fostering economic stability and security for both regions; and WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature is deeply concerned by any threats or actions by Canada to shut down roads into Alaska, including the Alaska-Canada Highway, which would disrupt this essential connectivity and undermine the spirit of cooperation enshrined in our shared history and agreements; and WHEREAS such actions could jeopardize funding commitments, including those for the repair and maintenance of the Shakwak road, a project vital to the safety and economic well-being of Alaskans and Canadians alike, as well as threaten the broader framework of Canada- Alaska agreements that support trade, infrastructure, and mutual prosperity; and WHEREAS maintaining open and reliable transportation links is fundamental to honoring the economic, cultural, and strategic partnership between Alaska and Canada, as reinforced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and decades of collaboration; and" Representative McCabe moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. Representative Kopp objected and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 2 was adopted. Amendment No. 3 was offered by Representative Himschoot: Page 2, following line 24: Insert new material to read: "WHEREAS the vast, glaciated Taku, Stikine, Unuk, Salmon, and other transboundary rivers that flow from the boreal forest of British Columbia into Southeast Alaska have been centers of culture and commerce for thousands of years for people on both sides of the Alaska and Canada border, and the State of Alaska, the Province of British Columbia, the United States, Canada, Indigenous governments, and communities have the opportunity to work together to steward 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0530 shared resources, while also ensuring commitments outlined in current agreements are upheld; and" Representative Himschoot moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 3 be adopted. There being no objection, Amendment No. 3 was adopted. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHJR 11(RES) am be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There being no objection, it was so ordered. CSHJR 11(RES) am was read the third time. The question being: "Shall CSHJR 11(RES) am pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHJR 11(RES) am Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 33 NAYS: 4 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Burke, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Moore, Nelson, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Underwood Nays: Allard, Elam, Prax, Tilton Excused: Jimmie, Vance Absent: Johnson And so, CSHJR 11(RES) 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: 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0531 Honoring - Ron Meehan By Representatives Eischeid, Mina; Senator Wielechowski Honoring - May Ramirez-Xiong By Representative Eischeid; Senators Wielechowski, Gray-Jackson Honoring - Brandon Boylan By Representative Carrick Honoring - Kueni Ma'ake By Representatives Story, Hannan; Senator Kiehl Honoring - Northland Youth Choir, 25th Anniversary By Representatives Tomaszewski, Prax; Senator Cronk Honoring - Alaska Literacy Program (ALP), 50th Anniversary By Representatives Mina, Gray; Senator Dunbar Honoring - Filipino Community of Anchorage, Alaska Inc., 60th Anniversary By Representatives Mina, Eischeid; Senator Gray-Jackson Honoring - Ursa Major Distilling, 10th Anniversary By Representative Carrick Honoring - Michelle Odlin By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes Honoring - Mariya Lovishchuck By Senator Kiehl; Representatives Story, Hannan Honoring - Ashley Conlon By Senators Tobin, Claman; Representative Hall Honoring - Fairbanks Drama Association and Fairbanks Children's Theatre, 60th Anniversary By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert Honoring - Fairbanks Montessori School, 60th Anniversary By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0532 Honoring - The Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska, 50th Anniversary By Senator Kawasaki; Representatives Dibert, Carrick In Memoriam - Kameron Hartvigson By Representatives Underwood, Moore, Coulombe In Memoriam - Donna Gilbert By Senator Myers; Representatives Prax, Tomaszewski In Memoriam - Kay Marie Sanders By Senator Myers; Representative Prax In Memoriam - Peter Charles Evans By Senators Myers, Cronk; Representative Stapp UNFINISHED BUSINESS Pursuant to AS 24.55.020, the Speaker appointed the following members to meet with appointees from the Senate to form the ombudsman selection committee: Representative Kopp Representative Josephson Representative Tomaszewski HJR 11 Representative Rauscher removed as a cosponsor and Representatives Hannan, Josephson, Himschoot, Galvin, Stutes, and Schrage added as cosponsors to: CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11(RES) am Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and Alaska. HB 36 Representative Mina added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 36 "An Act relating to the placement of foster children in psychiatric hospitals; relating to the care of children in state custody placed in 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0533 residential facilities outside the state; and amending Rule 12.1(b), Alaska Child in Need of Aid Rules of Procedure." HB 121 Representatives Nelson, Stapp, Story, Costello, and Galvin added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 121 "An Act relating to the practice of accounting; and providing for an effective date." HB 143 Representative Schwanke added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 143 "An Act relating to the privacy of firearm transactions; relating to discrimination against firearm retailers by financial institutions and payment networks; relating to the disclosure of financial records by financial institutions and payment networks; and amending Rules 65 and 82, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure." HB 147 Representative Schwanke added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 147 "An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy." ENGROSSMENT HJR 11 CSHJR 11(RES) am was engrossed, signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk, and transmitted to the Senate for consideration. HB 121 HB 121 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. 2025-03-24 House Journal Page 0534 ADJOURNMENT Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:30 a.m., March 26. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:50 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk