Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-03-04 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1771 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday March 4, 2026 Forty-fourth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:38 a.m. Roll call showed 40 members present. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Dani Cherian of Valley Church. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for this new day! Father I ask, and seek you this morning for the needs of our leaders, and I thank you that your name is a banner of protection. Psalm 28: 6-7: Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Please give wisdom to those who ask and bless their efforts. Please be their strength and guard them. Let this day be pleasing to you. I ask that you bless every representative, their staff, and families as they make decisions for the needs of the State of Alaska. Let your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1772 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Story. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 42nd and 43rd 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 March 2 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 Labor & Commerce Committee: State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Sterling Strait – Anchorage Appointed: 3/1/2022 Term Expired: 3/1/2026 Reappointed: 3/1/2026 Term Expires: 3/1/2030 Board of Nursing Michael Collins – Wasilla Appointed: 6/22/2023 Term Expired: 3/1/2026 Reappointed: 3/1/2026 Term Expires: 3/1/2030 Board of Pharmacy Sara Rasmussen – Anchorage Appointed: 3/1/2023 Term Expired: 3/1/2026 Reappointed: 3/1/2026 Term Expires: 3/1/2030 Resumes for the appointments are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. COMMUNICATIONS The following were received: Alaska Court System Travel for Justices, Judges, Magistrate Judges & Affidavit Information FY 2025 (as required by AS 22.20.310) 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1773 Alaska Court System Appellate & Trial Courts 2025 Time to Disposition Report (as required by AS 22.20.310) REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HCR 10 The State Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10 Proposing an amendment to the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature relating to resolutions. The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (3): Holland, Himschoot, Story Do not pass (1): St. Clair No recommendation (2): Vance, Carrick Amend (1): McCabe The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Legislative Agency HCR 10 was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 130 The State Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 130 "An Act relating to flexible time credit for classified employees in the executive branch who are not eligible for overtime compensation." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 130(STA) (same title) 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1774 The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (2): Story, Carrick Do not pass (2): McCabe, St. Clair No recommendation (3): Vance, Holland, Himschoot The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 130(STA): 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration 2. Zero, Dept. of Administration HB 130 was referred to the Finance Committee. HB 290 The State Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 290 "An Act relating to delivery of resolutions by the governor." The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Holland, Himschoot, Story, Carrick Do not pass (1): St. Clair No recommendation (1): Vance Amend (1): McCabe The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Legislative Agency HB 290 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1775 INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Mary McQuilkin By Representatives Eischeid, Mears; Senator Wielechowski Honoring - Ken Varee By Representatives Eischeid, Galvin; Senator Wielechowski Honoring - Brittany Hanson By Representative Eischeid; Senators Wielechowski, Tobin Honoring - Mt. McKinley Bank, 60th Anniversary By Representative Stapp Honoring - Lieutenant Ryan Browning By Senator Stevens; Representative Vance Honoring - Jeremy Swayman By Senators Claman, Merrick; Representative Hall Honoring - Tony and Amber White By Senator Cronk; Representative Schwanke INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 374 HOUSE BILL NO. 374 by the House Education Committee, entitled: "An Act relating to the base student allocation; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance Committees. HB 375 HOUSE BILL NO. 375 by the House Rules Committee by request, entitled: 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1776 "An Act relating to minimum paid sick leave requirements for individuals employed in seasonal seafood processing." was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs and Labor & Commerce Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 20 The following was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 20 "An Act relating to fees for paper documents; and relating to unfair trade practices." with the: Journal Page L&C RPT 3DP 3NR 1279 FN1: ZERO(CED) 1279 JUD RPT CS(JUD) NEW TITLE 5DP 1NR 1568 FN2: ZERO(CED) 1568 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original bill: 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." There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 20(JUD) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There being no objection, it was so ordered. CSHB 20(JUD) was read the third time. 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1777 The question being: "Shall CSHB 20(JUD) pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 20(JUD) Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 26 NAYS: 14 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Johnson, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Saddler, Schrage, St. Clair, Story, Stutes, Vance Nays: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Hannan, McCabe, Moore, Prax, Ruffridge, Schwanke, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood And so, CSHB 20(JUD) passed the House. Representative Kopp moved the effective date clause. The question being: "Shall the effective date clause be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 20(JUD) Third Reading Effective Date YEAS: 40 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Carrick, Costello, Coulombe, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Elam, Fields, Foster, Frier, 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, Vance And so, the effective date clause was adopted. CSHB 20(JUD) was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1778 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 - Barbara Riley, MD By Representative Edgmon; Senator Hoffman Honoring - Evelyn Ooten By Representatives Gray, Allard; Senator Gray-Jackson 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 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., March 6 to 10:00 p.m., March 8 Representative Schwanke – from: 8:50 p.m., March 13 to 9:20 p.m., March 15 8:30 p.m., March 20 to 5:20 p.m., March 22 8:30 p.m., April 2 to 9:30 p.m., April 6 Representative Elam – from noon, March 5 to 9:30 p.m., March 8 Representative Edgmon – from 1:00 p.m., March 5 to 9:30 p.m., March 6 Representative Stutes – from 1:00 p.m., March 5 to 9:30 p.m., March 6 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1779 Representative Carrick – from: 8:30 p.m., April 2 to 9:00 a.m., April 7 9:30 a.m., April 17 to 5:20 p.m., April 19 HB 20 Representative Josephson added as a cosponsor to: 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." HB 25 Representative Foster added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 25 "An Act relating to disposable food service ware; and providing for an effective date." HB 203 Representative Schwanke added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 203 "An Act relating to the use of certain trawl or dredge fishing gear in state water; and providing for an effective date." HB 233 Representative Hall added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 233 "An Act prohibiting certain mining activities within the watershed of the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve." HB 235 Representative Foster added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 235 "An Act relating to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; relating to thermal remediation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination; and providing for an effective date." 2026-03-04 House Journal Page 1780 HB 253 Representative Jimmie added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 253 "An Act relating to the fisheries enhancement loan program; and providing for an effective date." HB 332 Representative Foster added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 332 "An Act relating to microplastic testing; and relating to a microplastic strategy plan." ENGROSSMENT HB 20 CSHB 20(JUD) 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., March 5. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:32 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk