Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-01-31 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0139 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday January 31, 2025 Eleventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 10:31 a.m. The roll showed seventeen members present. Senators Cronk, Olson were excused from a call of the Senate. Senator Hoffman was absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Greg Weinert, Emmanuel Baptist Church. Senator Tobin moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Our most kind and gracious Heavenly Father, I thank You for all the selfless servants in this wonderful sacred place and for safely bringing of all here assembled. Lord, as I come before You today, I thank You for Your faithfulness, Your grace, and Your blessings to our great state, even though often undeserved. You have made us a people respecting Your creation. I am humbled over and again by the majesty You have imbued upon this land. Help us to learn more fully how to use those resources You have blessed us with, not for the enrichment of a few, but provision for all and to Your glory. 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0140 God, I thank You for Your presence, preservation, and protection. I pray that you will make us a state that is a shining example to our nation; inspire us to be a people that are truly salt and light to the world, making whatsoever and whosoever around us better and brighter, Lord. God, our only hope is You. May everyone serving Alaska heed the words of President Abraham Lincoln who simply prayed, stating "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day." My only hope, God, is through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Only when I seek Your wisdom can our land be truly healed. I love You; I exalt You; I praise You; and I pray this prayer, certainly respecting all faiths, but this morning I make this invocation in the name above every name, Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, the lamb of glory and salvation. Amen. Senator Gray-Jackson led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for the ninth and tenth legislative days be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Hoffman be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senator Hoffman was excused. 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0141 Messages from the House Message dated January 29 was read stating the House passed and transmitted for consideration: First Reading and Reference of House Resolutions HJR 4 CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4(RLS) BY THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE, Urging the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the United States Board on Geographic Names, and the members of the state's delegation in Congress to maintain Denali as the official name for the tallest mountain in North America. was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee. Communications The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: University of Alaska Alaska's University for Alaska's Schools 2025 Report on Teacher Preparation, Retention, and Recruitment in accordance with AS 14.40.190 Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission Final Findings and Recommendations January 29, 2025 in accordance with AS 39.23.540 Alaska Judicial Council Thirty-Second Report to the Legislature and Supreme Court in accordance with art. IV, sec. 9, Constitution of the State of Alaska 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0142 Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Division of Investments Combined Annual State Loan, Reinstatements and Fisheries Enhancement Term Extension Report in accordance with AS 37.05.035 and AS 16.10.510 Local Boundary Commission 2024 Annual Report to the First Session of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature in accordance with AS 44.33.812 Department of Public Safety Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Application FY 2024 in accordance with 34 U.S.C. 10153 Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas 5-year Program of Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sales in accordance with AS 38.05.180 Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Alaska Marine Highway System 2024 Annual Financial Report in accordance with AS 19.65.070 Alaska State Legislature Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska's Seafood Industry Final Report in accordance with Legislative Resolve No. 33, 2024 Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 79 SENATE BILL NO. 79 BY THE SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to wage payments." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce Committee. 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0143 SB 80 SENATE BILL NO. 80 BY THE SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act extending the termination date of the Big Game Commercial Services Board; extending the termination date of the Board of Massage Therapists; extending the termination date of the Marijuana Control Board; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce Committee. SB 81 SENATE BILL NO. 81 BY SENATOR STEDMAN, entitled: "An Act relating to employer contribution rates in the teachers' retirement system and the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. SB 82 SENATE BILL NO. 82 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to education; relating to public school attendance; relating to mobile communication devices in schools; relating to reading proficiency incentive grants; relating to authorization of charter schools; relating to transportation of students; relating to school bond debt reimbursement; relating to funding and reporting by Alaska technical and vocational education programs; authorizing lump sum payments for certain teachers as retention and recruitment incentives; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance Committees. 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0144 The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 5, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 6, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 7, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 8, zero, Department of Education & Early Development Fiscal Note No. 9, Department of Education & Early Development Governor's transmittal letter dated January 29: Dear President Stevens: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill aimed at addressing the longstanding challenges faced by public education in Alaska. This legislation establishes a pathway to improve educational outcomes by expanding school options for students, strengthening school funding, and incentivizing fiscal responsibility at the district level. The bill promotes educational diversity and opportunity by authorizing open enrollment and expanding charter school options. Families will have the ability to apply to schools that best meet their child’s needs, within or outside their district of residence, subject to school capacity. Additionally, the bill requires the State Board of Education and Early Development to establish a streamlined process for creating charter schools in any district statewide. Recognizing the importance of foundational skills, the bill introduces per-student incentive grants for districts that achieve grade-level performance or proficiency gains in reading. It also raises statutory funding levels for transportation costs, increases funding for correspondence schools to ensure equitable financial support for students enrolled in alternative education programs, and expands resources for career and technical education programs, equipping Alaska’s youth with high-demand job skills critical to our economy. 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0145 The bill further addresses classroom challenges by tackling the disruptions posed by personal communication devices, fostering a more focused learning environment. To support and retain educators, the legislation establishes a three-year pilot program offering lump-sum recruitment and retention payments to full-time teachers, tailored by school location and informed by the 2023 Teacher Retention and Recruitment Playbook. At the same time, it incentivizes fiscal responsibility by extending the moratorium on school bond debt reimbursement. This comprehensive approach addresses critical challenges in Alaska’s education system while fostering innovation, accountability, and opportunity. I urge your prompt and favorable consideration of this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor SB 83 SENATE BILL NO. 83 BY SENATOR CLAMAN, entitled: "An Act relating to health care insurance; relating to insurance reimbursement for health care services provided through telehealth; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services and Finance Committees. Consideration of the Calendar Citations Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the following citations be made a special order of business. Without objection, it was so ordered. 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0146 Special Order of Business In Memoriam - John Pickett Sr. Representative(s) Galvin Senator(s) Gray-Jackson In Memoriam - Yoko Schwingendorf Senator(s) Wielechowski Representative(s) Mears Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Unfinished Business HJR 4 Senators Kawasaki, Wielechowski, Dunbar, Tobin, Kiehl, Gray- Jackson, Claman moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cross sponsors on CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4(RLS) Urging the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the United States Board on Geographic Names, and the members of the state's delegation in Congress to maintain Denali as the official name for the tallest mountain in North America. Without objection, it was so ordered. SB 39 Senators Tobin, Gray-Jackson, Kawasaki moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL NO. 39 "An Act relating to loans in an amount of $25,000 or less; relating to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry; relating to deferred deposit advances; and providing for an effective date." Without objection, it was so ordered. 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0147 SB 28 Senator Wielechowski moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE BILL NO. 28 "An Act relating to the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska and the teachers' retirement system; providing certain employees an opportunity to choose between the defined benefit and defined contribution plans of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska and the teachers' retirement system; and providing for an effective date." Without objection, it was so ordered. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., February 3, 2025. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:00 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2025-01-31 Senate Journal Page 0148 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD. STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS Feb 04 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Presentation: VPSOs & Department Engagement with Communities Department of Public Safety + SB 50 MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLANS: HOUSING -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Jan 31 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + -- Public Testimony on the education funding crisis in Alaska -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 03 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Presentation: Alaska's education funding crisis Dr. Lisa Parady, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School Administrators Lon Garrison, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School Boards + SB 41 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv**