Legislature(2025 - 2026)

2025-03-03 Senate Journal

Full Journal pdf

2025-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0401
                                                                                                                                
                                SENATE JOURNAL                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                           ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                          THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                FIRST SESSION                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                     Monday                     March 3, 2025                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                               Forty-second Day                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President                                                             
Stevens at 11:02 a.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The roll showed nineteen members present. Senator Olson was absent.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Nathaniel Habeger,                                                               
Juneau Christian Center. Senator Hoffman moved and asked                                                                        
unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so                                                            
ordered.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
          Dear Heavenly Father, I pray today over this senate                                                                   
          body. I thank you for each man and woman who has                                                                      
          responded to the call to lead and represent their                                                                     
          regions. I thank you for this great state of Alaska.                                                                  
          The beauty, the majesty, and the awe which this great                                                                 
          state commands when we look around. I thank you                                                                       
          for nature, the people, and the resources which are                                                                   
          found within this state. God, I ask that you help all of                                                              
          us (politician or not) to steward well this life that we                                                              
          have.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
          God, I thank you for your mercy and grace which are                                                                   
          so readily available for those who seek it out. I thank                                                               
          you for your kindness and patience, your justice and                                                                  
          your righteousness. I thank you for your faithfulness                                                                 
          and your unfailing love.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                

2025-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0402
          God, I pray over each Senator today. That they would                                                                  
          be blessed in their comings and their goings. That                                                                    
          their families would be blessed. That their minds and                                                                 
          the things they put their hands to would flourish and                                                                 
           be blessed. Bless them this day, in Jesus' name I pray.                                                             
                                    Amen.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Cronk led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                Certification                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for                                                              
the thirty-ninth through forty-first legislative days be approved as                                                            
certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Olson                                                                 
be excused from a call of the Senate today through March 7. Without                                                             
objection, Senator Olson was excused.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                           Messages from the House                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SB 87                                                                                                                         
Message dated February 28 was read stating the House passed and                                                                 
returned:                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                 SENATE BILL NO. 87 "An Act disapproving the                                                                   
              recommendations of the State Officers Compensation                                                               
          Commission; and providing for an effective date."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                Communications                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the                                                         
Senate:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development                                                                     
Military Courtesy Licensing Biennial Report                                                                                     
in accordance with AS 08.01.063                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                

2025-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0403
Department of Fish and Game                                                                                                     
Status of Brown Bears and Other Natural Resources in the                                                                        
McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and Refuge                                                                                    
2024 Annual Report to the Alaska State Legislature                                                                              
February 2025                                                                                                                   
in accordance with AS 16.20.041 and AS 16.20.162                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Mental Health Board                                                                                                      
Statewide Suicide Prevention Council                                                                                            
2024 Annual Report                                                                                                              
in accordance with AS 44.29.350                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Court System                                                                                                             
Appellate and Trial Courts                                                                                                      
2024 Time to Disposition Report                                                                                                 
in accordance with AS 22.20.310                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Energy Authority                                                                                                         
2024 Annual Report                                                                                                              
in accordance with AS 44.83.940                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Department of Education and Early Development                                                                                   
School Capital Project Funding Under SB 237                                                                                     
Annual Report                                                                                                                   
in accordance with AS 14.11.035                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          Standing Committee Reports                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SSCR 1                                                                                                                        
The Finance Committee considered SENATE SPECIAL                                                                                 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 Disapproving Executive                                                                              
Order No. 136.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Signing the report: Senators Stedman, Hoffman, Cochairs; Senators                                                               
Kaufman, Cronk, Merrick, Kiehl.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The following previously published fiscal information applies:                                                                  
     Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Senate Resources Committee                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
In accordance with Uniform Rule 49(a)(4), the resolution was                                                                    
transmitted to the House for consideration.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2025-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0404
                        Consideration of the Calendar                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                        Third Reading of Senate Bills                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 43                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 43 "An Act establishing the month of March as                                                                   
Women's History Month" was read the third time.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The question being: "Shall SENATE BILL NO. 43 "An Act                                                                           
establishing the month of March as Women's History Month" pass the                                                              
Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SB 43                                                                                                                           
Third Reading - Final Passage                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:  19   NAYS:  0   EXCUSED:  1   ABSENT:  0                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Yeas:  Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,                                                                  
Hoffman, Hughes, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Myers,                                                                      
Shower, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Excused:  Olson                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
and so, SENATE BILL NO. 43 passed the Senate and was referred to                                                                
the Secretary for engrossment.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                  Citations                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                              th                                                                
Honoring - Tanana Valley League of Women Voters 60 Anniversary                                                                  
Senator(s) Kawasaki                                                                                                             
Representative(s) Dibert, Carrick                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citation be                                                               
adopted. Without objection, the citation was adopted and referred to                                                            
the Secretary for transmittal.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                             Unfinished Business                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SJR 4                                                                                                                         
Senators Yundt, Cronk, Myers, Hughes, Shower moved and asked                                                                    
unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE JOINT                                                                     
RESOLUTION NO. 4 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of                                                                    
the State of Alaska relating to an appropriation limit. Without                                                                 
objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                

2025-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0405
SJR 5                                                                                                                         
Senators Yundt, Hughes, Myers, Cronk, Shower moved and asked                                                                    
unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE JOINT                                                                     
RESOLUTION NO. 5 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of                                                                    
the State of Alaska relating to the Alaska permanent fund,                                                                      
appropriations from the permanent fund, and the permanent fund                                                                  
dividend. Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SB 37                                                                                                                         
Senators Yundt, Hughes, Myers, Cronk, Shower moved and asked                                                                    
unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL                                                                      
NO. 37 "An Act relating to the Executive Budget Act; relating to                                                                
strategic plans, mission statements, performance plans, and financial                                                           
plans for executive branch agencies; and providing for an effective                                                             
date." Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SB 107                                                                                                                        
Senators Yundt, Myers, Kaufman, Cronk, Shower moved and asked                                                                   
unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL                                                                      
NO. 107 "An Act establishing a violation for hindering the Alaska                                                               
Sunset Commission; establishing the Alaska Sunset Commission to                                                                 
review, audit, and make recommendations on discontinuation of or                                                                
changes to state entities; and relating to the powers and duties of the                                                         
Alaska Sunset Commission." Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 6                                                                                                                          
Senators Yundt, Kaufman, Cronk moved and asked unanimous                                                                        
consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL NO. 6 "An Act                                                                  
requiring education in the history and contributions of Asian                                                                   
Americans and Pacific Islanders." Without objection, it was so                                                                  
ordered.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                Announcements                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Announcements are at the end of the journal.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2025-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0406
                                 Engrossment                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SB 43                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 43 "An Act establishing the month of March as                                                                   
Women's History Month" was engrossed, signed by the President and                                                               
Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                 Adjournment                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand                                                              
in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., March 5, 2025. Without objection,                                                              
the Senate adjourned at 11:26 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                    Liz Clark                                                   
                                                     Secretary of the Senate                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2025-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0407
                                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.