Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-10-15 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1427 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION FIRST SPECIAL SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday October 15, 2025 Final Supplement MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR SCR 101 A message dated September 29 was received stating the Governor noted the following resolution and is transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's office for permanent filing: SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 101 Authorizing the Senate and the House of Representatives to recess for a period of more than three days. Legislative Resolve No. 22 SB 54 The following letter was dated September 22: "Dear Speaker Edgmon: Under the authority vested in me by Article II, Section 15, of the Alaska Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill: CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 54(FIN) "An Act relating to registered interior designers and interior design; relating to project costs for the construction, enlargement, or improvement of airports; extending the termination date of the 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1428 State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; relating to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; establishing requirements for the practice of registered interior design; relating to the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, and registered interior design; relating to the scope of the certification requirements for architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and registered interior designers; relating to immunity for design professionals; relating to the cost of construction for recreation centers; relating to liens for labor or materials furnished; relating to the procurement of landscape architectural and interior design services; relating to the cost of construction of safe water and hygienic sewage disposal facilities in villages; and providing for an effective date." SB 54 goes well beyond a routine extension of the AELS Board. SB 54 would remove certified installers from most residential wastewater work and restrict them to only very small commercial systems. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation warns that this change would halt planned installations, force many small systems to be routed to licensed professional engineers, and add roughly $1,000 to $2,000 per system, with the sharpest impacts in rural Alaska where engineers are scarce. That means higher costs, longer waits, and fewer homes and businesses getting sanitation. The bill would also repeal AS 36.30.270(e) and force qualifications- based selection only for design-build procurements, barring any consideration of price. Eliminating competitive pricing in design-build will drive up project costs and reduce flexibility across state construction. Finally, SB 54 expands the AELS Board to thirteen members and creates a new licensure track for “registered interior designers.” Interior design is not a regulated practice in Alaska today; the bill does not define “interior design,” and there is no public-safety rationale for creating a new title and bureaucracy. The expansion increases cost and confusion without a demonstrated benefit. 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1429 Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor" SB 113 The following letter was dated September 27: "Dear Speaker Edgmon: Under the authority vested in me by Article II, Section 15, of the Alaska Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill: SENATE BILL NO. 113 "An Act relating to the Multistate Tax Compact; relating to apportionment of income to the state; relating to highly digitized businesses subject to the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing for an effective date." The state’s fiscal outlook has deteriorated in the face of decreasing oil prices and ongoing reductions in federal spending. In response to the state’s fiscal condition, several tax proposals have been introduced during this legislative session. However, a truly durable fiscal plan must include not only revenues but also clear guardrails: spending limits, statutory and regulatory reviews, and policies that make Alaska the most competitive state in the nation for investment and new business growth. Equally important is the need to evaluate all current state spending and government functions – not only for efficiency, but for their relevance and long-term impact. Any serious effort to stabilize Alaska’s fiscal future must also focus on diversifying our economy and creating new industries, which in turn broadens the economic base for potential revenue. This bill is a simple tax bill that does not consider the comprehensive fiscal approach outlined above. In addition, a component of this bill raises serious constitutional concerns because it singles out a class of highly digitized out-of-state businesses engaged in electronic commerce and imposes a less favorable tax system on them. States are prohibited from 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1430 discriminating against interstate commerce. Additionally, by singling out electronic commerce, the bill may run afoul of the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act, which requires that states not tax e-commerce less favorably than similar industries not engaged in e-commerce. For these reasons, I will not sign standalone tax measures without a complete fiscal framework. I could foresee incorporating the elements of this bill, which would withstand constitutional scrutiny, into a comprehensive fiscal approach this coming year. I agree that Alaska needs to stabilize its finances, and I plan on having a robust discussion this upcoming session on a sustainable fiscal plan, complete with elements outlined above, but it must protect Alaskans, and provide the resources to run government in a responsible manner, and survive constitutional scrutiny. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor" A Declaration of Disaster Emergency regarding late August storm flooding dated August 29 and an amendment to the declaration dated September 11 with accompanying letters were received. The declaration and letters were copied to the Finance Committee Co- chairs and are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. A Declaration of Disaster Emergency dated September 24 and accompanying letter dated October 3, regarding landslides in Elfin Cove, were received. The declaration and letter were copied to the Finance Committee Co-chairs and are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. The following letter dated September 24 was received: "Dear President Stevens and Speaker Edgmon: On August 6, 2024, I declared a State Disaster Emergency for the City and Borough of Juneau to assist in response to historic flooding from a glacial dam outburst that impacted more than 100 homes, businesses, and public infrastructure in the valley along Mendenhall Lake and River. The declaration authorizes funds to be made available for the 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1431 State’s public assistance program for emergency response and protective measures and temporary and permanent infrastructure repairs, the State’s individual assistance program to repair or replace damaged homes and essential personal property, and temporary housing to support homeowners and renters displaced from their homes, and for administrative and disaster management expenses. The 2024 August Juneau Glacier Flood Disaster was declared a Federal Disaster by the President of the United States on October 16, 2024. I am requesting an initial Federal Authorization of $3,953,880 based on the joint FEMA-State preliminary damage assessment. The total estimated disaster-related permanent response and recovery costs for this disaster have been identified in the joint FEMA-State preliminary damage assessment that was conducted; however, additional damage may come to light once the work is evaluated for specific disaster awards. Therefore, I request concurrence from the Legislature to increase the funding limitation for this disaster to $3,953,880 of Federal Authorization, along with an increase of $333,670 to the original $4,000,000 from the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) pursuant to Alaska Statute (AS) 26.23.020(i) and (k), and per AS 26.23.025(a). The current balance of the DRF is $17,116,978.21, and a supplemental appropriation is not required at this time. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) will continue to work with all jurisdictions and state agencies to determine community response and recovery needs. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor" The following letter dated October 1 was received: "Dear President Stevens and Speaker Edgmon: On August 25, 2024, I declared a State Disaster Emergency for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough to assist in response to a landslide over an area covering portions of 3rd through 1st Avenues that killed 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1432 one, injured three, damaged homes and infrastructure, and required ongoing search, rescue, evacuation, sheltering, debris removal, and an emergency geological survey. The declaration authorizes funds to be made available to support the State’s public assistance program, covering emergency response, protective measures, and both temporary and permanent infrastructure repairs. The authorization also provides for the State’s individual assistance program to repair or replace damaged homes and essential personal property, offer temporary housing for displaced homeowners and renters, and cover administrative and disaster management costs. The 2024 August Ketchikan Landslide Disaster was declared a Federal Disaster by the President of the United States on November 13, 2024. I am requesting an initial Federal Authorization of $3,611,375 based on the joint FEMA-State preliminary damage assessment. The total estimated disaster-related permanent response and recovery costs for this disaster have been identified in the joint FEMA-State preliminary damage assessment that was conducted; however, additional damage may come to light once the work is evaluated for specific disaster awards. Therefore, I request concurrence from the Legislature to increase the funding limitation for this disaster to $3,611,375 of Federal Authorization, along with an increase of $649,660 to the original $1,000,000 from the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) pursuant to Alaska Statute (AS) 26.23.020(i) and (k), and per AS 26.23.025(a). The current balance of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is $17,116,978.21, and a supplemental appropriation is not required at this time. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) will continue to work with all jurisdictions and state agencies to determine community response and recovery needs. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor" 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1433 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. 8 and House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 10. The following were received: Dept. of Health Health Information Exchange System 2024 Progress and Recommendations Report August 28, 2025 (as required by AS 18.23.315) Dept. of Health 2025 Alaska Opioid Legislative Report (as required by AS 17.20.085) Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Power Cost Equalization Endowment Fund Financial Statements June 30, 2025 and 2024 (as required by AS 37.13.310) Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities Alaska Marine Highway System 2045 Comprehensive Long-Range Plan (as required by AS 19.65.011) Messages dated September 3 and 23 were received stating the Speaker made the following appointments: Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board (AS 19.65.210) Glen Gardner, Jr. Citizen's Advisory Commission on Federal Management Areas in Alaska (AS 41.37.170) Frank Woods 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1434 HB 53 A letter dated September 30, to Speaker Edgmon and President Stevens from the Division of Legislative Finance was received identifying the fiscal notes included in the packet that accompanied the conference committee with limited powers of free conference report (page 1312) for the following, which was adopted by the House and Senate May 20: CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 53(brf sup maj fld H) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; making supplemental appropriations; and providing for an effective date." The following fiscal notes were itemized in the letter: [Includes only bills that passed the House and Senate.] HB 57-SCHOOLS: COMM. DEVICES/CLASS SIZE/FUNDING 5. Fiscal, Senate Finance Committee/Dept. of Education & Early Development (published 4/25) 6. Fiscal, Senate Finance Committee/Dept. of Education & Early Development (published 4/25) 7. Fiscal, Senate Finance Committee/Dept. of Education & Early Development (published 4/25) SB 95-CHILD CARE: ASSISTANCE/GRANTS 2. Fiscal, Conference Committee on HB 53/Dept. of Health (published 9/30) SB 97-BIG GAME GUIDE PERMIT PROGRAM 7. Fiscal, Conference Committee on HB 53/Dept. of Natural Resources (published 9/30) The Legislative Finance letter and fiscal note packet were transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 10:45 a.m., October 1. * * * * * 2025-10-15 House Journal Page 1435 This final supplement completes the record of legislation for the First Session and First Special Session of the Thirty-fourth Alaska State Legislature. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk