Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-03-12 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1831 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Thursday March 12, 2026 Fifty-second Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 3:21 p.m. Roll call showed 40 members present. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Zachary Kelly, Assistant Sergeant at Arms. 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 to the different beliefs of everyone in this room today, I offer this prayer according to my personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I invite you to join me for this moment of prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you today, humbly as your servant and I ask for your face to shine upon us. Blessed are you Lord, above all of creation. I come before you today in reverence. I am humbled by the immense duty you’ve placed upon each and every one of us in our particular positions. Lord, I ask for your spirit to be present here today in this chamber and in this building as we conduct our work, and may we honor you in all that we say and in all that we do. May we give you all of the little things and in doing so, may we also submit to you the biggest things. 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1832 Guide those that you have placed into authority to work unto your will, and for your purposes. This great land, filled with your beautiful people, needs you now more than ever, Lord. I thank you for your goodness and your graciousness and for remaining the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever more. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Underwood. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 51st legislative day be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. * * * * * Representative Foster introduced Emma Edgmon, Guest Page, from Dillingham. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR A letter dated March 12 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 Community & Regional Affairs and Resources Committees: Regulatory Commission of Alaska Julie Vogler – Anchorage Appointed: 3/11/2026 Term Expires: 3/1/2032 The Speaker referred the following to the Education Committee: Board of Education and Early Development Sally Stockhausen – Ketchikan Appointed: 1/15/2019 Term Expired: 3/1/2021 Reappointed: 3/1/2021 Term Expired: 3/1/2026 Reappointed: 3/1/2026 Term Expires: 3/1/2031 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1833 Resumes for the appointments are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. A Declaration of Disaster Emergency and accompanying letter dated March 11, regarding severe winter storm damage for the City of Unalaska, were received. The declaration and letter were copied to the Finance Committee Co-chairs and are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE HB 289 A message received at 2:00 p.m., March 11 was read stating the Senate passed: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld) "An Act making appropriations, including supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; and providing for an effective date." with the following amendment, and it is transmitted for consideration: SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN) am S "An Act making supplemental appropriations; capitalizing funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date." SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S is under Unfinished Business. COMMUNICATIONS The following were received: Dept. of Law Monetary Terms of Agreement between the University of Alaska and Fairbanks Fire Fighters Union March 12, 2026 (as required by AS 23.40.215 and AO 356) 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1834 Dept. of Law Monetary Terms of Agreement between the University of Alaska and Alaska Higher Education Crafts and Trades Employees March 12, 2026 (as required by AS 23.40.215 and AO 356) The Speaker referred the monetary terms to the Finance Committee. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES HB 155 The Community & Regional Affairs Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 155 "An Act relating to alcohol; relating to local option elections; relating to the statewide database of alcohol purchases; relating to alcohol licenses, endorsements, and permits; relating to municipal regulation and taxation of alcoholic beverages; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Himschoot and Mears, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Holland, Hall, St. Clair, G. Nelson, Himschoot, Mears The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 155 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. HB 211 The Judiciary Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 211 "An Act relating to insurance regulation of prepaid legal plans." and recommends it be replaced with: 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1835 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 211(JUD) "An Act relating to prepaid legal plans." The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (5): Costello, Mina, Eischeid, Underwood, Gray No recommendation (1): Vance The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 211(JUD): 1. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 211 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. HB 249 The Labor & Commerce Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 249 "An Act relating to the transfer of a vehicle to an insurance company." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 249(L&C) (same title) The report was signed by Representatives Hall and Fields, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Frier, Coulombe, Saddler, D. Nelson, Hall, Fields The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 249(L&C): 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration HB 249 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1836 HB 260 The Labor & Commerce Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 260 "An Act relating to penalties for violating a requirement for a certificate of fitness; relating to joint and several liability for unpaid construction wages; and relating to the jurisdiction of the office of administrative hearings over certificate of fitness administrative fine hearings." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 260(L&C) (same title) The report was signed by Representatives Fields and Hall, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Frier, Carrick, Fields, Hall No recommendation (2): Coulombe, D. Nelson Amend (1): Saddler The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 260(L&C): 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development 2. Zero, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development 3. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 260 was referred to the Finance Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and taken up as a Special Order of Business: Honoring - Gunners Mate Zachary C. Morand By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1837 The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Lillyanne "Ruby" Tansy By Senator Kawasaki; Representatives Stapp, Dibert Honoring - Brandon Pili By Senator Claman; Representative Frier Honoring - Timothy "Tim" La Porte By Senator Olson; Representative McCabe Honoring - Charles Edward Cole By Senator Olson; Representatives Foster, Saddler Honoring - Dennis & Maggie Gladwin By Senator Olson In Memoriam - Robert John "Bob" Stickney By Representative Schwanke; Senator Cronk In Memoriam - Janet Halvarson By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Prax In Memoriam - Superior Court Judge Robert Downes By Senator Kawasaki; Representative Prax In Memoriam - Patrick "Pat" Shields By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Ruffridge In Memoriam - Sherise Jackson By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Ruffridge In Memoriam - John "Skip" Dove Jr. By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Ruffridge SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the notice and publication requirements be waived and the citation, 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1838 Honoring - Gunners Mate Zachary C. Morand, 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: Honoring - Gunners Mate Zachary C. Morand By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 378 HOUSE BILL NO. 378 by the House Finance Committee, entitled: "An Act relating to the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska and the teachers' retirement system; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. 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 - Fire Chief Tristan Ferguson By Representative Frier; Senator Olson Honoring - Pete Daley By Representative Prax; Senators Cronk, Myers Honoring - Butch Lincoln, Alaska Sports Hall of Famer By Representative Frier; Senators Olson, Cronk 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1839 Honoring - North Pole High School Hockey Team, 2026 Division II State Champions By Representative Prax; Senators Kawasaki, Myers Honoring - Robert "Bob" Pickett By Senators Giessel, Wielechowski; Representative Mears CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS HB 289 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House consider the Senate message (page 1833) on the following: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld) "An Act making appropriations, including supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; and providing for an effective date." and SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN) am S "An Act making supplemental appropriations; capitalizing funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date." There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Kopp moved that the House concur in the Senate amendment and recommended that the members vote yes. The question being: "Shall the House concur in the Senate amendment?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S Concur YEAS: 40 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1840 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 House concurred in the Senate amendment, thus adopting SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S. Representative Kopp moved that the appropriations from the constitutional budget reserve fund (Article IX, Section 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska) be adopted. The question being: "Shall the appropriations from the constitutional budget reserve fund be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S Constitutional Budget Reserve Appropriations Concur YEAS: 22 NAYS: 18 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Costello, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Bynum, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance And so, lacking the required 30 votes, the appropriations from the constitutional budget reserve fund were not adopted, and the new title follows: SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN) am S(brf sup maj fld H) "An Act making supplemental appropriations; capitalizing funds; and providing for an effective date." Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the roll call on the passage of the bill be considered the roll call on the effective date clause. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1841 Representative Kopp moved that the House rescind previous action in concurring in the Senate amendment to CSHB 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld), namely SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S. Representative Stapp objected. The question being: "Shall the House rescind previous action in concurring in the Senate amendment to CSHB 289(FIN)(brf sup maj fld)?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S(brf sup maj fld H) Rescind Previous Action in Concurrence YEAS: 21 NAYS: 19 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance And so, the House rescinded its action. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent to return SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S to the Rules Committee. There was objection. The question being: "Shall SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S be returned to the Rules Committee?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S Return to Rules Committee YEAS: 21 NAYS: 19 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance 2026-03-12 House Journal Page 1842 And so, SCS CSHB 289(FIN) am S was returned to the Rules Committee. 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 G. Nelson – from 7:00 p.m., March 13 to 2:00 p.m., March 15 HB 160 Representative Elam added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 160 "An Act relating to the terms of office of municipal school board members; and providing for an effective date." HB 278 Representative Tomaszewski added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 278 "An Act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; and providing for an effective date." ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published under separate cover. The following meeting today was changed: State Affairs Committee CHANGED TO: 10 min. after adjournment ADJOURNMENT Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:30 a.m., March 16. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 4:35 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk