Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-02-06 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1565 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday February 6, 2026 Eighteenth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:38 a.m. Roll call showed 39 members present. Representative Frier had been excused from a call of the House today. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Greg White of First Baptist Church. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Having respect for all cultures of Alaskans, I pray according to my faith: Heavenly Father, In Jesus' name, I come to you. In today’s prayer, I yield, as usual, my heart to you, Lord. What you want, I choose to want. I set aside my thoughts, actions, attitudes, wants, and desires for you. What you want is better and higher and greater than what I want. What you want is best. Help me to see clearly, to listen closely, and to walk with you. This I pray for me but also for this representative body. In Jesus' name, Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Moore. 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1566 CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 16th and 17th legislative days and House Journal Supplement No. 10 be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR A letter dated February 4 was received requesting concurrence from the Legislature to extend the conditions of the 2025 West Coast Storm Disaster emergency in accordance with AS 26.23.020. The letter was copied to the Finance Committee Co-chairs and is on file in the Chief Clerk's office. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE A message dated February 4 was read stating the Senate accepted the invitation to meet in joint session in the House Chamber at 11:00 a.m., March 31 to hear the annual address by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski. COMMUNICATIONS The following were received: Dept. of Administration Office of Administrative Hearings Annual Report January 31, 2026 (as required by AS 44.64.020) Alaska Court System FY 2025 Annual Report FY 2025 Statistical Report (as required by AS 22.20.310) Alaska Task Force for the Regulation of Psychedelic Medicines Final Recommendations Report June 2025 (as required by Chapter No. 60, SLA 2024) 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1567 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES The Judiciary Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to the House for ratification: Deborah Fancher Chase Berenson, alternate as members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair; and Representatives Underwood, Eischeid, Vance, Mina, and Kopp. HCR 9 The State Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9 Honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America. and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9(STA) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (5): St. Clair, Holland, Himschoot, Story, Carrick No recommendation (2): Vance, McCabe The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHCR 9(STA): 1. Zero, Legislative Agency HCR 9 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1568 HB 20 The Judiciary Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 20 "An Act relating to fees for paper documents; and relating to unfair trade practices." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 20(JUD) "An Act relating to fees for paper documents; relating to unfair trade practices; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (5): Underwood, Eischeid, Kopp, Mina, Vance No recommendation (1): Gray The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 20(JUD): 2. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 20 was referred to the Rules Committee. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House ratify the appointment of Deborah Fancher to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The question being: "Shall the House ratify the appointment of Deborah Fancher to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?” The roll was taken with the following result: Select Committee on Legislative Ethics Ratify - Deborah Fancher YEAS: 38 NAYS: 1 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1569 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Underwood Nays: Vance Excused: Frier And so, the appointment was ratified. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House ratify the appointment of Chase Berenson, alternate, to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The question being: "Shall the House ratify the appointment of Chase Berenson, alternate, to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?” The roll was taken with the following result: Select Committee on Legislative Ethics Ratify - Chase Berenson (alternate) YEAS: 38 NAYS: 1 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Underwood Nays: Vance Excused: Frier And so, the appointment was ratified. The Senate ratified the appointments (page 1552). The Chief Clerk notified the Senate. 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1570 INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and taken up as a Special Order of Business: In Memoriam - Johnnie Ticket Sr. By Representatives Frier, Foster; Senator Olson The following citation was introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Legislative Information Offices, 50th Anniversary By Senator Gray-Jackson; Representatives Josephson, Galvin SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the notice and publication requirements be waived and the citation, In Memoriam - Johnnie Ticket Sr., 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: In Memoriam - Johnnie Ticket Sr. By Representatives Frier, Foster; Senator Olson INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 294 HOUSE BILL NO. 294 by Representative Gray, entitled: "An Act relating to health care insurance deductibles." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1571 HB 295 HOUSE BILL NO. 295 by Representatives McCabe and Fields, entitled: "An Act relating to allowable absences for eligibility for a permanent fund dividend; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance Committees. HB 296 HOUSE BILL NO. 296 by Representative Mears, entitled: "An Act relating to leases of state land for agricultural purposes; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR THIRD READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 176 The following, which was advanced to third reading from the February 4 calendar (page 1558), was read the third time: HOUSE BILL NO. 176 "An Act relating to notice of new fees and fee increases from the University of Alaska; relating to billing statements from the University of Alaska; and providing for an effective date." The question being: "Shall HB 176 pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 176 Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 36 NAYS: 3 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1572 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, G.Nelson, Prax, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Moore, D.Nelson, Ruffridge Excused: Frier And so, HB 176 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. HB 176 was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citation on the calendar. There being no objection, the following citation was approved and sent to enrolling: In Memoriam - Balin Miller By Representative Johnson UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the following members be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the members were excused as noted: Representative Bynum – from 6:00 a.m., February 13 to 9:30 p.m., February 15 Representative Vance – from noon, February 6 to 10:00 p.m., February 8 Representative Saddler – from 6:30 p.m., February 11 to 10:30 p.m., February 15 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1573 HB 47 Representative Prax added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 47 "An Act relating to crime and criminal procedure; relating to generated obscene child sexual abuse material; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; relating to teaching certificates; and relating to licensing of school bus drivers." HB 124 Representative Mina added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 124 "An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; and providing for an effective date." HB 133 Representatives Frier, Dibert, and Schrage added as cosponsors 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." HB 161 Representative Schwanke added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 161 "An Act relating to minimum paid sick leave requirements; and providing for an effective date." HB 176 Representative Galvin added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 176 "An Act relating to notice of new fees and fee increases from the University of Alaska; relating to billing statements from the University of Alaska; and providing for an effective date." 2026-02-06 House Journal Page 1574 HB 195 Representative Story added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 195 "An Act relating to the prescription and administration of drugs and devices by pharmacists; relating to reciprocity for pharmacists; and providing for an effective date." HB 202 Representatives Coulombe, Foster, and Elam added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 202 "An Act designating giant cabbage as the official state vegetable; and providing for an effective date." HB 257 Representative Costello added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 257 "An Act relating to the regulation of residential solar energy generation and portable solar generation devices." ENGROSSMENT HB 176 HB 176 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., February 9. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:14 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk