Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-03-02 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1759 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday March 2, 2026 Forty-second Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:37 a.m. Roll call showed 39 members present. Representative Tomaszewski had been excused from a call of the House today. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Father Maxim Gibson of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. In deepest respect for the religious beliefs of each person here, I invite you into a time of prayer and reflection. Let us pray: Lord, have mercy. O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten son of the eternal Father, thou hast said, Without me you can do nothing. In faith I embrace thy words, O Lord, and bow before thy goodness. Help me to complete the work I am about to begin for thine own glory: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Stapp. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 39th, 40th, and 41st legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1760 * * * * * Representative Ruffridge introduced Tizita Rudstrom, Guest Page, from Soldotna. COMMUNICATIONS The following was received: Statewide Suicide Prevention Council Annual Report 2025 (as required by AS 44.29.360) REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HB 246 The Education Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 246 "An Act relating to allocations for the special education service agency; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Story and Himschoot, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Eischeid, Dibert, Story, Himschoot No recommendation (3): Elam, Schwanke, Underwood The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Education & Early Development HB 246 was referred to the Finance Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and taken up as a Special Order of Business: In Memoriam - Craig Johnson By Senators Tilton, Rauscher 2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1761 The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Barbara Riley, MD By Representative Edgmon; Senator Hoffman Honoring - Evelyn Ooten By Representatives Gray, Allard Honoring - Denali Elementary School, 75th Anniversary By Representative Stapp In Memoriam - Mary Louise Seemel By Representative Gray; Senator Dunbar In Memoriam - Dr. Connie Jo Sanders By Senator Claman; Representative Hall SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the notice and publication requirements be waived and the citation, In Memoriam - Craig Johnson, 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 - Craig Johnson By Senators Tilton, Rauscher CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HCR 9 The following was read the second time: 2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1762 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. with the: Journal Page STA RPT CS(STA) 5DP 2NR 1567 FN1: ZERO(LEG) 1567 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original resolution: CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9(STA) (same title) There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Stapp: Page 1, lines 4-6: Delete lines 4-6 Insert “WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence was voted on July 2, 1776, adopted July 4, 1776, and formally engrossed and signed by a majority of delegates on August 2, 1776; the July 4, 1776, adoption in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the date that typically signifies the founding of the United States of America; and” Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Objection was heard and withdrawn. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representatives Elam and G. Nelson: Page 1, line 15: Delete "Ceasar" Insert "Caesar" 2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1763 Representative Elam moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. Objection was heard and withdrawn. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 2 was adopted. Representative Stapp rose to a point of order regarding the germaneness of the debate. The Speaker ruled debate could continue. The question being: "Shall CSHCR 9(STA) am pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHCR 9(STA) am Second Reading Final Passage YEAS: 38 NAYS: 1 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Underwood, Vance Nays: Jimmie Excused: Tomaszewski And so, CSHCR 9(STA) 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: Honoring - Interior Grappling Academy & Student Wrestler Development Program By Representatives Tomaszewski, Prax; Senator Myers 2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1764 Honoring - Tyler Aklestad & Nick Olstad (Team 7), 2026 Iron Dog Champions By Senators Tilton, Rauscher In Memoriam - Melissa & Mark Hortman By Senators Tobin, Dunbar; Representative Josephson 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 Moore – from 8:00 a.m., April 2 to 10:30 a.m., April 6 Representative Carrick – from: 8:50 p.m., March 6 to 9:00 a.m., March 9 8:30 p.m., March 20 to 9:00 a.m., March 23 HCR 9 Representatives Costello, Hannan, Josephson, Kopp, Story, and Saddler added as cosponsors to: CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9(STA) am Honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America. HB 96 Representative Costello added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 96 "An Act establishing the Home Care Employment Standards Advisory Board; relating to payment for personal care services; and providing for an effective date." HB 124 Representative Allard, citing Uniform Rule 39(b), moved and asked unanimous consent that the following be referred to the Judiciary Committee: 2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1765 HOUSE BILL NO. 124 "An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; and providing for an effective date." Representative Carrick objected. The question being: "Shall HB 124 be referred to the Judiciary Committee?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 124 Refer to Judiciary Committee YEAS: 19 NAYS: 20 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, Kopp, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes Excused: Tomaszewski And so, the motion failed. HB 124 is in the Finance Committee. HB 157 Representative Costello added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 157 "An Act relating to the effect of a decree of adoption or termination of parental rights on the legal relationship between a person and the person's siblings; and providing for an effective date." HB 301 Representative Story 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." 2026-03-02 House Journal Page 1766 ENGROSSMENT HCR 9 CSHCR 9(STA) am 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. The following meetings today were changed: Judiciary Committee CHANGED TO: 5 min. after adjournment of Law Finance Subcommittee State Affairs Committee CHANGED TO: 5 min. after adjournment of Law Finance Subcommittee ADJOURNMENT Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:30 a.m., March 4. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 12:51 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk