Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-05-04 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2389 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday May 4, 2026 One Hundred Fifth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Edgmon at 10:32 a.m. Roll call showed 40 members present. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Charles Ensminger of ?unéix_ Hídi Northern Light United Church. Representative Story moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Creator God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to be in service and to be active this day. May we not take this day or these opportunities for granted. I pray for these representatives of the state: surround them with your wisdom, your peace, and your grace. Fill them with a desire for all truth, and the conviction to adhere to the highest standards. Guide and direct them. May their thoughts, their actions, and their conversations be constructive and beneficial for the people of this great state, and may they be able to abide in peace even in disagreements. Watch over them this day, I pray. And together we would ask that you surround them, those that work in this building, from the pages to the custodians, from the security to the staff, with your abiding presence. I pray this to you, creator God, in reverence and humility. Amen. 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2390 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Mears. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 102nd, 103rd, and 104th legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE SB 64 A message dated May 1 was read stating the Senate accepted the invitation to meet in joint session in the House Chamber at 11:00 a.m. on May 4 to consider the Governor's veto of the following: HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) am H "An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to voting; relating to voter registration; relating to election administration; relating to campaign contributions; relating to write-in candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States; relating to the crimes of unlawful interference with voting in the first degree, unlawful interference with an election, and election official misconduct; relating to voter registration on permanent fund dividend applications; relating to the duties of the commissioner of revenue; and providing for an effective date." SCR 19 A message dated May 1 was read stating the Senate concurred in the House amendment to: SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19 Extending the governor's October 9, 2025, declaration of a disaster emergency in response to the 2025 West Coast Storm. thus adopting: SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19 am H Extending the governor's October 9, 2025, declaration of a disaster emergency in response to the 2025 West Coast Storm; and approving an amended financing plan. 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2391 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES The Education Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointment be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Joy Cogburn-Smith as a member of the Board of Education and Early Development. The report was signed by Representatives Story and Himschoot, Co- chairs; and Representatives Eischeid, Underwood, Schwanke, and Dibert. HB 325 The Labor & Commerce Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 325 "An Act relating to industrial hemp; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 325(L&C) (same title) The report was signed by Representatives Fields and Hall, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (5): Frier, Coulombe, Carrick, Fields, Hall The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 325(L&C): 1. Zero, Dept. of Natural Resources HB 325 was referred to the Judiciary Committee. SJR 2 The Judiciary Committee considered: 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2392 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to actions upon veto. The report was signed by Representative Gray, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (3): Mina, Eischeid, Gray No recommendation (4): Costello, Vance, Kopp, Underwood The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Legislative Affairs Agency 2. Zero, Office of the Governor SJR 2 was referred to the Finance Committee. SB 164 The Labor & Commerce Committee considered: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 164(L&C) "An Act eliminating deductions for the remittance of the motor fuel tax, tobacco taxes, and tire fees; relating to discounts on cigarette stamps; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Hall and Fields, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Frier, Carrick, Hall, Fields No recommendation (1): Coulombe The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Fiscal, Dept. of Revenue CSSB 164(L&C) was referred to the Finance Committee. 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2393 SB 187 The Education Committee considered: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 187(EDC) "An Act prohibiting certain food additives in public school meals; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Himschoot and Story, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (4): Eischeid, Dibert, Himschoot, Story No recommendation (2): Schwanke, Underwood The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Education & Early Development CSSB 187(EDC) was referred to the Rules Committee. SB 230 The Resources Committee considered: SENATE BILL NO. 230 "An Act relating to the boundaries of the Jonesville Public Use Area; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 230(RES) "An Act relating to state refuges and fish and game critical habitat areas; relating to the boundaries of the Jonesville Public Use Area; and providing for an effective date." (HCR 16 – title change resolution) The report was signed by Representatives Dibert and Frier, Co-chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (8): Fields, Coulombe, Hall, Elam, Prax, Mears, Dibert, Frier The following fiscal note(s) apply to HCS SB 230(RES): 1. Zero, Dept. of Natural Resources SB 230 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2394 INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citation was introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Dick Randolph By Senator Myers; Representatives Stapp, Prax INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HCR 16 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 16 by the House Resources Committee: Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning Senate Bill No. 230, relating to the boundaries of the Jonesville Public Use Area. was read the first time. * * * * * The Speaker stated that, without objection, the House would stand at ease to allow members of the Senate to enter the House Chamber; and so, the House stood at ease at 10:48 a.m. AFTER RECESS The Speaker called the House back to order at 11:00 a.m. JOINT SESSION IN THE HOUSE In accordance with Uniform Rule 51, Speaker Edgmon turned the gavel over to President Stevens who called the joint session to order at 11:00 a.m. The purpose of the joint session was to consider the Governor's veto of the following bill: SB 64-ELECTIONS 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2395 Roll call of the Senate showed 20 members present. Roll call of the House showed 40 members present. SB 64 Senator Giessel moved that: HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) am H "An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to voting; relating to voter registration; relating to election administration; relating to campaign contributions; relating to write-in candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States; relating to the crimes of unlawful interference with voting in the first degree, unlawful interference with an election, and election official misconduct; relating to voter registration on permanent fund dividend applications; relating to the duties of the commissioner of revenue; and providing for an effective date." become law notwithstanding the Governor's veto. Representative Saddler rose to a point of order. The President cautioned members to proceed in order. The question being: "Shall HCS CSSB 64(FIN) am H become law notwithstanding the Governor's veto?" The roll of the House was taken with the following result: HOUSE HCS CSSB 64(FIN) am H Veto Override YEAS: 23 NAYS: 17 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Josephson, Kopp, McCabe, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes, Vance Nays: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2396 The roll of the Senate was taken with the following result: SENATE HCS CSSB 64(FIN) am H Veto Override YEAS: 15 NAYS: 5 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt Nays: Kaufman, Myers, Rauscher, Stedman, Tilton TOTAL: YEAS: 38 NAYS: 22 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 And so, lacking the required 40 votes, the Governor's veto was sustained. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent that the joint session adjourn. There being no objection, President Stevens adjourned the joint session at 12:09 p.m. The Speaker ordered the House at ease to allow members of the Senate to leave the Chamber. IN THE HOUSE The Speaker called the House back to order at 12:10 p.m. The Speaker stated that the House would stand at recess until 1:00 p.m.; and so, the House stood at recess at 12:14 p.m. AFTER RECESS The Speaker called the House back to order at 3:02 p.m. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 210 The following was read the second time: 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2397 HOUSE BILL NO. 210 "An Act relating to occupational disability benefits for peace officers and firefighters; and providing for an effective date." with the: Journal Page L&C RPT 7DP 1611 FN1: INDETERMINATE(ADM) 1611 FIN RPT CS(FIN) NEW TITLE 6DP 4NR 2352 FN1: INDETERMINATE(ADM) 2352 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. 210(FIN) "An Act relating to occupational disability benefits and medical benefits available under the public employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective date." Representative Johnson objected and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, CSHB 210(FIN) was adopted. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Saddler: Page 1, line 1, following "Act" (title amendment): Insert "relating to workers' compensation coverage for disability from diseases for certain firefighters;" Page 1, following line 3: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Section 1. AS 23.30.121(b) is amended to read: (b) For a firefighter covered under AS 23.30.243, (1) there is a presumption that a claim for compensation for disability as a result of the following diseases is within the provisions of this chapter: (A) respiratory disease; (B) cardiovascular events that are experienced within 72 hours after exposure to smoke, fumes, or toxic substances; and (C) the following cancers: 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2398 (i) primary brain cancer; (ii) malignant melanoma; (iii) leukemia; (iv) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; (v) bladder cancer; (vi) ureter cancer; (vii) kidney cancer; (viii) prostate cancer; and (ix) breast cancer; (2) notwithstanding AS 23.30.100(a), following termination of service, the presumption established in (1) of this subsection extends to the firefighter for a period of six [THREE] calendar months for each year of requisite service but may not extend more than 120 [60] calendar months following the last date of employment; (3) the presumption established in (1) of this subsection applies only to an active or former firefighter who has a disease described in (1) of this subsection that develops or manifests itself after the firefighter has served in the state for at least six [SEVEN] years and who (A) underwent [WAS GIVEN] a qualifying medical examination (i) upon the first employment as [BECOMING] a firefighter that did not show evidence of the disease; (ii) at least once every two years [(B) WAS GIVEN AN ANNUAL MEDICAL EXAM] during [EACH OF] the first six [SEVEN] years of employment as a firefighter that did not show evidence of the disease; and (B) [(C)] with regard to diseases described in (1)(C) of this subsection, demonstrates that, while in the course of employment as a firefighter, the firefighter was exposed to a known carcinogen, as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the National Toxicology Program, and the carcinogen is associated with a disabling cancer." Page 1, line 4: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2399 Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Representative Kopp objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 1 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 210(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 1 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Bynum, Costello, Coulombe, Elam, Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, Moore, D.Nelson, G.Nelson, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schwanke, St. Clair, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Underwood, Vance Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Eischeid, Fields, Foster, Frier, Galvin, Gray, Hall, Hannan, Himschoot, Holland, Jimmie, Kopp, Mears, Mina, Prax, Schrage, Story, Stutes And so, Amendment No. 1 was not adopted. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 210(FIN) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There was objection. CSHB 210(FIN) will advance to third reading on the May 6 calendar. HB 302 The following was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 302 "An Act relating to travel insurance." with the: Journal Page L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 3DP 4NR 2192 FN1: ZERO(CED) 2192 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2400 TRA RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 6DP 2328 FN1: ZERO(CED) 2328 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. 302(L&C) "An Act relating to travel insurance; and providing for an effective date." Representative Johnson objected and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, CSHB 302(L&C) was adopted. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 302(L&C) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There was objection. CSHB 302(L&C) will advance to third reading on the May 6 calendar. SECOND READING OF SENATE BILLS SB 192 The following was read the second time: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 192(CRA) "An Act relating to evacuation designation levels; and relating to the Alaska Disaster Act." with the: Journal Page CRA RPT 7DP 2353 FN1: ZERO(MVA) 2353 Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSSB 192(CRA) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There was objection. CSSB 192(CRA) will advance to third reading on the May 6 calendar. 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2401 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 - Colonel Lisa Mabbutt By Representatives Eischeid, D. Nelson; Senator Tobin Honoring - Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, 50th Anniversary By Representative Himschoot; Senator Stedman Honoring - Heather Fincher By Representative Stutes Honoring - Coach Dan Marshall By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Elam Honoring - Jacob Strausbaugh By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Ruffridge In Memoriam - Peggy May Arness By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Elam In Memoriam - Clifton "Clif" Caffall By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Ruffridge UNFINISHED BUSINESS HB 210 Representatives Fields, Josephson, Eischeid, and Schrage added as cosponsors to: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 210(FIN) "An Act relating to occupational disability benefits and medical benefits available under the public employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective date." 2026-05-04 House Journal Page 2402 SB 21 Representative Saddler added as a cross sponsor to: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 21(FIN) "An Act establishing the Alaska Work and Save Program in the Department of Revenue; and providing for an effective date." SB 164 Representative Saddler added as a cross sponsor to: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 164(L&C) "An Act eliminating deductions for the remittance of the motor fuel tax, tobacco taxes, and tire fees; relating to discounts on cigarette stamps; and providing for an effective date." 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., May 6. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 3:27 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk