Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-02-16 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1623 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday February 16, 2026 Twenty-eighth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:38 a.m. Roll call showed 38 members present. Representative Frier had been excused from a call of the House today. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Schwanke be excused from a call of the House today. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Reverend Guy Crockroft of Love In The Name of Christ. 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: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for this new day and for allowing us to live in this beautiful place called Alaska. Thank you for this governing body, the Alaska House of Representatives. May you richly bless each representative as they serve. Grant them the ability to work together productively, to give each other the benefit of the doubt, and to love one another. As Romans 13:10 says, Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1624 Lord, thank you for your promise that love never fails. In accordance with your unconditional love for all of us, may you help each representative today and throughout this session. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Ruffridge. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 25th, 26th, and 27th 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. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR SCR 12 A message dated February 13 was read 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. 12 Extending the governor's October 9, 2025, declaration of a disaster emergency in response to the 2025 West Coast Storm; and approving an amended financing plan. Legislative Resolve No. 23 COMMUNICATIONS The following were received: Dept. of Administration Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action 2026 Progress Report (as required by AS 39.28.020) 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1625 Dept. of Education & Early Development Annual Progress Report on School Performance February 15, 2026 (as required by AS 14.03.078) Dept. of Education & Early Development State Board of Education & Early Development Annual Report to the Alaska Legislature January 2026 (as required by AS 14.07.168) Dept. of Revenue Tax Division Education Tax Credits Calendar Year 2025 Summary (as required by AS 43.05.010) REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HB 258 The Resources Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 258 "An Act establishing a statewide spay and neuter assistance fund; establishing the statewide spay and neuter assistance program; relating to municipal control of feral domestic dogs and cats; relating to companion animal spay and neuter special request registration plates; relating to contributions from permanent fund dividends; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 258(RES) "An Act establishing a statewide spay and neuter assistance fund; establishing the statewide spay and neuter assistance program; relating to companion animal spay and neuter special request registration plates; relating to contributions from permanent fund dividends; and providing for an effective date." 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1626 The report was signed by Representatives Dibert and Frier, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (2): Fields, Elam No recommendation (2): Coulombe, Prax Amend (4): Hall, Mears, Dibert, Frier The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 258(RES): 1. Indeterminate, Dept. of Revenue 2. Fiscal, Dept. of Environmental Conservation HB 258 was referred to the Finance Committee. SB 6 The Education Committee considered: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 6(EDC) "An Act requiring education in the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders." and recommends it be replaced with: HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 6(EDC) (same title) The report was signed by Representatives Story and Himschoot, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Eischeid, Dibert, Story, Himschoot Do not pass (1): Schwanke No recommendation (1): Elam The following fiscal note(s) apply to HCS CSSB 6(EDC): 3. Zero, Dept. of Education & Early Development CSSB 6(EDC) was referred to the Finance Committee. 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1627 REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES HJR 27 The House Special Committee on Energy considered: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27 Supporting a comprehensive energy and economic strategy for the state; urging the federal government to disburse previously appropriated funds for energy and infrastructure projects; affirming the principle of energy equity and committing to a future-oriented energy strategy for the state; encouraging state agencies to aggressively pursue opportunities to develop and process critical minerals; directing state agencies to coordinate energy and economic planning; and championing a unified voice in support of the state's full development potential. and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27(ENE) Supporting a comprehensive energy and economic strategy for the state; affirming the principle of energy equity and committing to a future-oriented energy strategy for the state; encouraging state agencies to aggressively pursue opportunities to develop and process critical minerals; supporting the development of the hydrogen industry in the state; directing state agencies to coordinate energy and economic planning; and encouraging the creation of a task force to explore energy and mineral development, including hydrogen energy. The report was signed by Representatives Mears and Holland, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Kopp, Edgmon, Mears, Holland No recommendation (2): Ruffridge, Costello The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHJR 27(ENE): 1. Zero, Legislative Affairs Agency HJR 27 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1628 INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - W. Jeffery Brady By Senator Kiehl; Representatives Hannan, Story Honoring - Assemblyman Felix Rivera By Senator Gray-Jackson; Representatives Josephson, Galvin Honoring - The American Red Cross By Senators Tobin, Olson; Representative Jimmie Honoring - Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, 80th Anniversary By Senators Tobin, Claman In Memoriam - Vicki Lee Wallner By Senators Tilton, Rauscher In Memoriam - Thomas "Tom" Gordon Porter Jr. By Senator Tilton; Representative St. Clair INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 308 HOUSE BILL NO. 308 by Representative Gray, entitled: "An Act relating to release before trial; relating to limitation of driver's licenses; relating to operating a vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance Committees. HB 309 HOUSE BILL NO. 309 by Representatives G. Nelson and Kopp, entitled: 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1629 "An Act relating to the boundaries of the Jonesville Public Use Area; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs and Resources Committees. HB 310 HOUSE BILL NO. 310 by Representative Gray, entitled: "An Act establishing a bed tax; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. HB 311 HOUSE BILL NO. 311 by Representative Costello, entitled: "An Act relating to special registration plates commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 20 The following was read the second time: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Encouraging the United States Congress to establish hiring goals for apprentices and veteran apprentices. with the: Journal Page MLV RPT 5DP 1193 FN1: ZERO(LEG) 1193 L&C RPT 6DP 1582 FN2: ZERO(LEG) 1582 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1630 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that HJR 20 be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There being no objection, it was so ordered. HJR 20 was read the third time. Representatives Fields, Stapp, and D. Nelson moved and asked unanimous consent to abstain from voting because of a conflict of interest. Objection was heard, and they were required to vote. The question being: "Shall HJR 20 pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: HJR 20 Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 38 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 2 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, St. Clair, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Excused: Frier, Schwanke And so, HJR 20 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 - Chief Greg Coon By Representatives Carrick, Schrage, Prax Honoring - Bassett Army Community Hospital By Representative Stapp, Gray 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1631 Honoring - Education Trust of Alaska, 25th Anniversary By Representative Carrick Honoring - Valley Performing Arts, Golden 50th Season By Senator Tilton Honoring - Gene's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 80th Anniversary By Senator Myers; Representatives Tomaszewski, Stapp In Memoriam - William Francis Ho'opai III By Representative Mina; Senators Dunbar, Tobin In Memoriam - John "JC" Clark By Representatives Galvin, Fields In Memoriam - Chad Rick Cameron By Senator Tilton; Representative Johnson In Memoriam - Dr. David Alan Stech By Senator Myers; Representatives Carrick, Stapp In Memoriam - John Paul Immel By Senator Myers; Representatives Tomaszewski, Stapp In Memoriam - Dr. Mohabbat Ahmadi By Senator Myers; Representative Carrick 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 Hannan – from 7:00 p.m., April 10 to 10:00 p.m., April 12 HJR 20 Representatives Allard, Josephson, and Bynum added as cosponsors to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Encouraging the United States Congress to establish hiring goals for apprentices and veteran apprentices. 2026-02-16 House Journal Page 1632 HB 147 Representatives Moore and Underwood were removed as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 147 "An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy." HB 301 Representative Hannan added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 301 "An Act relating to and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression." ENGROSSMENT HJR 20 HJR 20 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 18. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:22 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk