Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-04-02 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0589 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday April 2, 2025 Seventy-second Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:51 a.m. Roll call showed 40 members present. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Major Petr Janousek of the Salvation Army. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Dear Heavenly Father, Prophet Habakkuk once said, Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my savior. The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights. And so, I pray, O Lord, remind us today of the real values in life. Remind us of the things which remain - which are faith, hope, and love. Because that is the ultimate will for every one of us - to believe, to hope, to love, and to be loved by you. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Ruffridge. 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0590 CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 70th and 71st legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR A letter dated April 1 was read stating that, in accordance with AS 39.05.080 and art. III, secs. 26 and 27, Constitution of the State of Alaska, the Governor submits the following names for legislative confirmation of appointment to the positions noted. The Speaker referred the following to the House Special Committee on Fisheries and the Resources Committee: Board of Fisheries Olivia Irwin – Nenana Appointed: 7/1/2025 Expires: 7/1/2028 The Speaker referred the following to the Resources Committee: Board of Game Allen Barrette – Fairbanks Appointed: 7/1/2019 Expired: 7/1/2022 Reappointed: 7/1/2022 Expires: 7/1/2025 Reappointed: 7/1/2025 Expires: 7/1/2028 Carrie Ann Mueller – Palmer Appointed: 7/1/2025 Expires: 7/1/2028 Resumes for the appointments are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HB 50 The Labor & Commerce Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 50 "An Act relating to snow classics." 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0591 The report was signed by Representatives Hall and Fields, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Burke, Coulombe, Carrick, Nelson, Hall, Fields The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Revenue HB 50 was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 56 The Finance Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 56 "An Act making supplemental appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 56(FIN) "An Act making supplemental appropriations and capital appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Josephson, Foster, and Schrage, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Hannan, Galvin, Jimmie, Josephson, Foster, Schrage Do not pass (2): Bynum, Allard No recommendation (3): Johnson, Stapp, Tomaszewski HB 56 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0592 HB 118 The Judiciary Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 118 "An Act establishing the Council on Human and Sex Trafficking; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 118(JUD) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Underwood, Vance, Costello, Gray No recommendation (2): Eischeid, Mina The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 118(JUD): 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Public Safety HB 118 was referred to the Finance Committee. SB 50 The Community & Regional Affairs Committee considered: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 50(L&C) "An Act relating to the comprehensive plans of first and second class boroughs." The report was signed by Representatives Himschoot and Mears, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Holland, Hall, Himschoot, Mears No recommendation (1): Ruffridge 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0593 The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development CSSB 50(L&C) was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and taken up as a Special Order of Business: Honoring - Rayme Lawrence Vinson By Representatives Hannan, Story; Senator Kiehl Honoring - Elizabeth Ripley By Representatives Moore, Johnson; Senator Hughes In Memoriam - Dr. Paul Dunscomb By Senator Kaufman; Representatives Coulombe, Stapp The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Mike "Stedy" Stedman By Senators Stedman, Kiehl; Representative Story Honoring - Terry Holliday By Senators Stedman, Merrick; Representative Saddler Honoring - Jerry Clemens Ball By Senators Stedman, Hoffman; Representative Edgmon Honoring - Toolik Field Station, 50th Anniversary By Senators Myers, Olson; Representative Carrick In Memoriam - Skye Rench By Representatives Tilton, Moore 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0594 In Memoriam - Sean Kendall By Representatives Tilton, Fields In Memoriam - James "Scooter" Lyman Welch By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert In Memoriam - Ellen Ayotte By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert In Memoriam - David Alan Colwell By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes In Memoriam - Gerald "Jerry" Duane Haugeberg By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert In Memoriam - Kimberly Kay Fisher By Senator Myers; Representatives Carrick, Tomaszewski In Memoriam - Glenn Shaw By Senator Myers; Representatives Carrick, Tomaszewski In Memoriam - Mother Emma Randolph Avery By Senators Myers, Gray-Jackson, Kawasaki In Memoriam - Gerald "Jerry" Alan McBeath By Senators Kawasaki, Myers; Representative Carrick In Memoriam - Richard Tilly By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Carrick In Memoriam - Anne Dolores Shinkwin 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 citations, Honoring - Rayme Lawrence Vinson, Honoring - Elizabeth Ripley, and In Memoriam - Dr. Paul Dunscomb, be taken up as a Special Order of Business. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0595 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citations. Representative Stapp objected to the citation, In Memoriam - Dr. Paul Dunscomb, offered remarks, and withdrew the objection. Representative Hannan objected to the citation, Honoring - Rayme Lawrence Vinson, offered remarks, and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, the following citations were approved and sent to enrolling: Honoring - Rayme Lawrence Vinson By Representatives Hannan, Story; Senator Kiehl Honoring - Elizabeth Ripley By Representatives Moore, Johnson; Senator Hughes In Memoriam - Dr. Paul Dunscomb By Senator Kaufman; Representatives Coulombe, Stapp INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HR 5 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 5 by the House State Affairs Committee: Urging Governor Dunleavy and the Department of Administration to release all copies of the statewide salary study. was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee. INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 166 HOUSE BILL NO. 166 by Representative Rauscher, entitled: "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public education; and relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention." 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0596 was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance Committees. HB 167 HOUSE BILL NO. 167 by Representatives Foster and Schwanke, entitled: "An Act renaming Ruby Airport as Harold Esmailka Airport; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation Committee. HB 168 HOUSE BILL NO. 168 by Representative Johnson, entitled: "An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance Committees. HB 169 HOUSE BILL NO. 169 by Representative Tomaszewski, entitled: "An Act relating to a municipal property tax exemption for real property owned and occupied as the primary residence and permanent place of abode by a resident 65 years of age or older, a disabled veteran, or the widow or widower of a resident 65 years of age or older or a disabled veteran; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs and Finance Committees. HB 170 HOUSE BILL NO. 170 by Representative Burke, entitled: "An Act relating to a failure to report a violent crime." 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0597 was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary Committees. HB 171 HOUSE BILL NO. 171 by Representative Elam, entitled: "An Act relating to interchange fees on tax and gratuity; and relating to the Alaska Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR THIRD READING OF SENATE BILLS SB 15 The following, which was advanced to third reading from the March 31 calendar (page 583), was read the third time: HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 15(L&C) "An Act relating to the sale of alcohol; relating to the posting of warning signs for alcoholic beverages; and providing for an effective date." Representative Johnson moved and asked unanimous consent to abstain from voting because of a conflict of interest. Objection was heard, and she was required to vote. The question being: "Shall HCS SB 15(L&C) pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: HCS SB 15(L&C) Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 32 NAYS: 8 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Burke, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0598 Nays: Allard, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, Rauscher, Tilton, Underwood, Vance And so, HCS SB 15(L&C) passed the House. 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. HCS SB 15(L&C) 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 - Governor Sean Parnell By Representatives Johnson, Coulombe, Saddler Honoring - Jeff Cook By Representative Prax; Senator Myers In Memoriam - Roger Grummett By Representatives Story, Hannan; Senator Kiehl In Memoriam - John K. Sliwinski By Representatives Kopp, Costello, Johnson In Memoriam - George & Judith Moerlein By Senator Giessel; Representative Hannan 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., April 11 to 10:00 p.m., April 13 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0599 The Speaker removed the House Special Committee on Fisheries referral (page 495) for the following Governor's appointee: Board of Game John Wood HJR 15 Representative Schrage added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15 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. HB 11 Representative Eischeid added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 11 "An Act relating to contributions and donations from permanent fund dividends." HB 16 Representative Holland added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 16 "An Act amending campaign contribution limits for state and local office; directing the Alaska Public Offices Commission to adjust campaign contribution limits for state and local office once each decade beginning in 2031; and relating to campaign contribution reporting requirements." HB 28 Representative Himschoot added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 28 "An Act establishing a student loan repayment pilot program; and providing for an effective date." 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0600 HB 40 Representative Vance added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 40 "An Act relating to school athletics, recreation, athletic teams, and sports." HB 77 Representatives McCabe and Kopp added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 77 "An Act making the theft of mail or an article within mail theft in the second degree." HB 148 The Speaker removed the Health & Social Services Committee referral and added a Finance Committee referral for the following: HOUSE BILL NO. 148 "An Act relating to insurance; and providing for an effective date." HB 148 is in the Labor & Commerce Committee. HB 165 Representative Fields added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 165 "An Act relating to maximum classroom sizes in public schools; relating to the duties of school districts; and providing for an effective date." SB 15 Representative Bynum added as a cross sponsor to: HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 15(L&C) "An Act relating to the sale of alcohol; relating to the posting of warning signs for alcoholic beverages; and providing for an effective date." 2025-04-02 House Journal Page 0601 ENGROSSMENT SB 15 HCS SB 15(L&C) 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 10:30 a.m., April 3. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:52 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk