Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-03-09 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1799 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday March 9, 2026 Forty-ninth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:36 a.m. Roll call showed 36 members present. Representative Allard had been excused from a call of the House today. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that Representatives Costello, Frier, and Stapp 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 Dr. Keith Hamilton, President of Alaska Christian College. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Thanks for allowing me the privilege of being among you today. There are so many great friends over the years in this room today, and I am humbled. I want to share with you what Ben Franklin said personally to President George Washington nearly 250 years ago: That henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business. As it was then, it is still today, that we come before the Lord in prayer before our work begins. Let us pray: Lord, today all gather in this capitol building to ask for guidance and direction for the elected leaders sitting in this 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1800 mighty chamber. Each of them has been given a great responsibility to uphold the Constitution, to be fair in all matters, and to seek what is best for all the citizens of our great state. Their jobs can be hard, stressful, and at times can cause difficulty in their personal lives, especially being away from their loved ones and family. They have been chosen for, and have been elected to serve, all of our residents, and that is an enormous task. So, this day, again, I pray for our great leaders as they will have decisions to make that impact each of us. Use their wisdom to provide the best possible answers for Alaska’s future as they do all they can to serve all Alaskans through the many roles that they have been called to. And we remember our friend Craig Johnson and ask comfort for Nancy, Erin, and Jenifer today. I know our legislature in this chamber and the governor are working hard to serve our state best, on many critical issues, too numerous to mention. I pray for holy wisdom, incredible discernment, honest evaluation, and a strong sense of unity, which is sometimes very difficult in these hallowed halls. I ask for integrity to reign here with actions, words, and deeds that will result in what is best for all their constituents and all of us now as they deliberate these issues. So, bring peace, Lord, to the legislative process today. And Lord, as I have prayed many times before in this chamber, protect each of our service men and women that come from our great state from harm as they have gone before us, in our places, to protect our country, our values, and our homes. I also ask for peace to come quickly to the Middle East. All this I ask in the name of your son Jesus, Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Tomaszewski. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 45th, 46th, 47th, and 48th legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1801 MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR A letter dated March 6 was received requesting concurrence from the Legislature to further 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. COMMUNICATIONS Letters of disclosure received from the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, as required by AS 24.60, were published in House Journal Supplement No. 12 and Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 15. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES The Resources Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Randy Bates as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. John Crowther as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. The report was signed by Representative Frier, Co-chair; and Representatives Coulombe, Hall, Saddler, Prax, and Mears. HJR 32 The Health & Social Services Committee considered: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 32 Expressing commitment to the rural health transformation program and articulating priorities for the program; acknowledging the critical health care challenges facing rural areas of the state; urging action by the Governor and the Alaska 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1802 delegation in Congress to continue to advocate for the state's interests and advance the rural health transformation program; and expressing legislative intent to enact comprehensive legislation relating to the rural health transformation program and the state's medical care and critical health care needs. and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 32(HSS) Expressing commitment to the rural health transformation program; acknowledging the critical health care challenges facing rural areas of the state; and urging action by the Governor and the Alaska delegation in Congress to continue to advocate for the state's interests and advance the rural health transformation program. The report was signed by Representative Mina, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Prax, Schwanke, Ruffridge, Mears, Gray, Mina The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHJR 32(HSS): 1. Zero, Legislative Affairs Agency HJR 32 was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 232 The Health & Social Services Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 232 "An Act relating to the examination and treatment of minors; relating to consent for behavioral and mental health treatment for minors 16 years of age or older; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representative Mina, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1803 Do pass (4): Fields, Gray, Mears, Mina Do not pass (2): Prax, Schwanke Amend (1): Ruffridge The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Family & Community Services 2. Zero, Dept. of Health HB 232 was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 250 The State Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 250 "An Act establishing the crime of wearing a mask in public while acting as a peace officer; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 250(STA) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Carrick, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do not pass (2): Vance, St. Clair No recommendation (1): Himschoot Amend (3): Holland, Story, Carrick The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 250(STA): 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration 2. Zero, Dept. of Law 3. Zero, Dept. of Public Safety HB 250 was referred to the Judiciary Committee. 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1804 HB 285 The Health & Social Services Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 285 "An Act relating to the electronic health information exchange system; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representative Mina, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (3): Gray, Mears, Mina No recommendation (2): Prax, Fields Amend (2): Schwanke, Ruffridge The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Health HB 285 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES HB 196 The House Special Committee on Energy considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 196 "An Act relating to carbon offset revenue; and relating to the renewable energy grant fund." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 196(ENE) "An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund and recommendation program." The report was signed by Representatives Holland and Mears, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1805 Do pass (5): Costello, Ruffridge, Kopp, Holland, Mears The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 196(ENE): 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development 2. Indeterminate, Dept. of Natural Resources HB 196 was referred to the Finance Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Dena Thomas By Representatives Gray, Galvin; Senator Gray-Jackson Honoring - The West Lakes Fire Department By Representative McCabe; Senator Rauscher Honoring - Dr. Gwenn Holdmann By Senators Giessel, Wielechowski, Myers Honoring - Alaska Power Association, 75th Anniversary By Senator Gray-Jackson; Representatives Galvin, Mears In Memoriam - Lainey Anne Landry By Representatives Gray, Allard In Memoriam - Alice B. Hjellen By Senator Wielechowski; Representative Mears INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 43 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 43 by the House Judiciary Committee: 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1806 Affirming the Alaska State Legislature's commitment to voter privacy, election integrity, and the right to vote; expressing concern regarding disclosure of confidential voter information to the United States Department of Justice; and urging action to protect voters in the state. was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary Committee. INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 376 HOUSE BILL NO. 376 by the House Education Committee, entitled: "An Act relating to early intervention services for certain children; relating to optional services under the medical assistance program; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Education, Health & Social Services, and Finance Committees. HB 377 HOUSE BILL NO. 377 by the House State Affairs Committee by request, entitled: "An Act relating to public records; relating to managing and preserving audio and video recordings; and relating to fees for the inspection and copying of public records under the Alaska Public Records Act." was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs and State Affairs Committees. 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: 2026-03-09 House Journal Page 1807 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 UNFINISHED BUSINESS SB 89 Representative Prax added as a cross sponsor 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." ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:45 a.m., March 10 for a joint session. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:23 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk