Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-03-05 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1783 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Thursday March 5, 2026 Forty-fifth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:31 a.m. Roll call showed 39 members present. Representative D. Nelson was absent and later excused (page 1789). The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Antone Ferrell of Calvary Fellowship Church. 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: Let us pray, Almighty God, as we gather in this chamber today, the quiet weight of the snow falls outside these windows, transforming our rugged landscape into a tapestry of white. We are told that every winter, nearly one septillion snowflakes fall from the sky - a trillion trillion individual crystals. In the natural world, a single snowflake is fragile and fleeting; it can be lost in a moment. But when they gather together, they have the power to reshape the mountains of Southeast Alaska and provide the very water that sustains our life. We ask that you help us to see that same beauty in the people of this great land. Just as no two of those trillion trillion 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1784 crystals share the same molecular structure, no two Alaskans carry the same story, the same burdens, or the same dreams. Help us to appreciate our differences as strengths and to see the unique value in one another. As these representatives begin the difficult work of this session, we ask for a spirit of peace and clarity. Grant them the serenity to accept the things they cannot change, the courage to change the things they can, and the wisdom to know the difference. May their decisions today be as intentional as the architecture of the snow, and may they work with a sincere heart for the well-being of every Alaskan. We ask for your guidance and a blessing upon this session. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Stutes. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 44th legislative day be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE A message dated March 4 was read stating the Senate passed the following, and they are transmitted for consideration: FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF SENATE BILLS SB 89 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 89(2d L&C) by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, entitled: "An Act relating to physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to health care providers; and 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1785 relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in contracts between certain health care providers and health care insurers." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Labor & Commerce Committees. SB 140 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 140(FIN) by the Senate Finance Committee, entitled: "An Act relating to a matching grant program for fire station construction and renovation; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HB 208 The Resources Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 208 "An Act relating to the regulation of liquefied natural gas import facilities by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska." The report was signed by Representatives Frier and Dibert, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (3): Mears, Frier, Dibert Do not pass (1): Prax No recommendation (5): Fields, Coulombe, Hall, Saddler, Elam The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 208 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1786 HB 213 The Judiciary Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 213 "An Act relating to data sharing by the Department of Administration for driver's license data verification purposes; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 213(JUD) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Eischeid, Mina, Kopp, Gray No recommendation (2): Vance, Costello The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 213(JUD): 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration HB 213 was referred to the State Affairs Committee. HB 239 The Judiciary Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 239 "An Act relating to criminally negligent homicide; relating to the duty of an operator immediately after an accident; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 239(JUD) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1787 Do pass (5): Underwood, Eischeid, Vance, Kopp, Gray No recommendation (1): Mina Amend (1): Costello The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 239(JUD): 1. Zero, Alaska Judiciary System 2. Zero, Dept. of Public Safety 3. Zero, Dept. of Administration 4. Zero, Dept. of Law HB 239 was referred to the Finance Committee. HB 329 The Community & Regional Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 329 "An Act relating to certificates of fitness for employees of an electric utility." The report was signed by Representatives Mears and Himschoot, Co- chairs with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Holland, Prax, G. Nelson, St. Clair, Mears, Himschoot No recommendation (1): Hall The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development HB 329 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1788 Honoring - Dr. Luke Meinert By Representatives Stapp, Carrick; Senator Cronk Honoring - Patty Mongold By Representatives Stapp, Dibert; Senator Myers Honoring - Gary & Sue Wilken By Representatives Stapp, Dibert, Carrick In Memoriam - Leonard Paul "Dutch" Mayo Sr. By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Dibert In Memoriam - Emiko Endo Akasofu By Senator Kawasaki; Representatives Dibert, Carrick In Memoriam - Judy Elinor Salo By Senator Bjorkman; Representatives Himschoot, Hannan CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR 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 - 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 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1789 Honoring - Jeremy Swayman By Senators Claman, Merrick; Representative Hall Honoring - Tony and Amber White By Senator Cronk; Representative Schwanke 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 D. Nelson – today Representative Allard – from 7:30 a.m., March 7 to 8:00 p.m., March 10 Representative Johnson – from 1:10 p.m., March 5 to 9:30 p.m., March 8 Representative Holland – from noon, March 13 to 9:00 p.m., March 15 Representative Foster – from 1:00 p.m., March 5 to 9:30 p.m., March 8 HB 25 Representative Fields 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 St. Clair 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." 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1790 HB 220 Representative G. Nelson added as a cosponsor to: SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 220 "An Act relating to easements and rights-of-way in state parks." HB 235 Representative Fields 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." HB 332 Representative Fields added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 332 "An Act relating to microplastic testing; and relating to a microplastic strategy plan." SB 89 Representatives Gray and Tomaszewski added as cross sponsors to: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 89(2d L&C) "An Act relating to physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to health care providers; and relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in contracts between certain health care providers and health care insurers." SB 140 Representative Tomaszewski added as a cross sponsor to: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 140(FIN) "An Act relating to a matching grant program for fire station construction and renovation; and providing for an effective date." 2026-03-05 House Journal Page 1791 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 9. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 10:52 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk