Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-04-23 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0931 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday April 23, 2025 Ninety-third Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 11:18 a.m. The roll showed twenty members present. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Dani Cherian, Valley Church. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you and praise you for bringing us together this morning. For you are a refuge and the source of help to all who seek you. Your holy bible says, [Psa 46:1 NLT] 1 ... God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. I ask that you give our Senators wisdom, peace, and strength today as they make decisions for the people in Alaska. And I ask that you please keep our Senators, their staff, and their families safe while they are traveling back and forth from Juneau. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Senator Hoffman led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0932 Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journal for the ninety-second legislative day be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Messages from the House Message dated April 22 was read stating the House passed and transmitted for consideration: First Reading and Reference of House Bills HB 57 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 57(EDC) am BY THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in public schools; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. Standing Committee Reports SB 35 The State Affairs Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 35 "An Act relating to transportation network and delivery network companies." Signing amend: Senator Kawasaki, Chair. Signing do pass: Senator Bjorkman. Signing no recommendation: Senators Wielechowski, Gray-Jackson, Yundt. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Labor and Workforce Development The bill was referred to the Labor and Commerce Committee. 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0933 SB 116 The State Affairs Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 116 "An Act amending campaign contribution limits for state and local office; directing the Alaska Public Offices Commission to adjust campaign contribution limits for state and local office once each decade beginning in 2031; and relating to campaign contribution reporting requirements." Signing do pass: Senator Kawasaki, Chair; Senators Wielechowski, Gray-Jackson. Signing do not pass: Senator Yundt. Signing no recommendation: Senator Bjorkman. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Administration The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 183 SENATE BILL NO. 183 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to hindering the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee; relating to the powers of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee and the legislative audit division; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Rules Committee. Consideration of the Calendar Third Reading of Senate Bills SB 29 SENATE BILL NO. 29 "An Act relating to an executive administrator for the Big Game Commercial Services Board" was read the third time. 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0934 The question being: "Shall SENATE BILL NO. 29 "An Act relating to an executive administrator for the Big Game Commercial Services Board" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SB 29 Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 20 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Hughes, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Myers, Olson, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt and so, SENATE BILL NO. 29 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. SB 54 CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 54(FIN) "An Act relating to registered interior designers and interior design; relating to project costs for the construction, enlargement, or improvement of airports; extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; relating to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; establishing requirements for the practice of registered interior design; relating to the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, and registered interior design; relating to the scope of the certification requirements for architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and registered interior designers; relating to immunity for design professionals; relating to the cost of construction for recreation centers; relating to liens for labor or materials furnished; relating to the procurement of landscape architectural and interior design services; relating to the cost of construction of safe water and hygienic sewage disposal facilities in villages; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 54(FIN) "An Act relating to registered interior designers and interior design; relating to project costs for the construction, enlargement, or improvement of airports; extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0935 Engineers, and Land Surveyors; relating to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; establishing requirements for the practice of registered interior design; relating to the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, and registered interior design; relating to the scope of the certification requirements for architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and registered interior designers; relating to immunity for design professionals; relating to the cost of construction for recreation centers; relating to liens for labor or materials furnished; relating to the procurement of landscape architectural and interior design services; relating to the cost of construction of safe water and hygienic sewage disposal facilities in villages; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSSSB 54(FIN) Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 18 NAYS: 2 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Hughes, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt Nays: Myers, Shower and so, CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 54(FIN) passed the Senate. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. Citations Honoring - Norma Aldefer Senator(s) Tobin Representative(s) Fields 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0936 Honoring - Vera Starbard Senator(s) Kiehl Representative(s) Hannan, Story th Honoring - The Midnight Sun Baseball Game 120 Anniversary Representative(s) Stapp th Honoring - The Polynesian Association of Alaska 20 Anniversary Representative(s) Mina, Eischeid Senator(s) Gray-Jackson Honoring - Darian Lawson Representative(s) Eischeid Senator(s) Wielechowski Honoring - Barbara Norton Representative(s) Galvin, Gray, Hall Honoring - Michelle Shuravloff-Nelson Representative(s) Stutes Senator(s) Stevens In Memoriam - Louise Thompson Senator(s) Kawasaki Representative(s) Carrick, Dibert In Memoriam - Richard Polzin Senator(s) Kawasaki Representative(s) Dibert In Memoriam - Rita Elizabeth McGrath Senator(s) Kawasaki Representative(s) Dibert In Memoriam - Douglas Barton “Bart” Eaton Senator(s) Stevens Representative(s) Stutes 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0937 In Memoriam - Jean Roger Therrien Senator(s) Kawasaki Representative(s) Dibert In Memoriam - Charles Henry “Chick” Wallace Senator(s) Kawasaki, Cronk Representative(s) Stapp In Memoriam - Kaa’yis’taan Marie Olson Senator(s) Kiehl Representative(s) Story, Hannan In Memoriam - Virgil Dean Severns Representative(s) Tomaszewski Senator(s) Myers In Memoriam - Sergey Marchenko Representative(s) Stapp In Memoriam - Sanford “Sam” Allen Beachy Representative(s) Vance In Memoriam - Katherine Beachy Representative(s) Vance In Memoriam - Danny Kelton Presley Representative(s) Vance Senator(s) Cronk In Memoriam - Keith Lee Presley Representative(s) Vance Senator(s) Cronk In Memoriam - Floyd Everett Seekins Representative(s) Vance In Memoriam - Dorothy B. Isabell Representative(s) Foster Senator(s) Olson 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0938 Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the following citation be made a special order of business. Without objection, it was so ordered. Special Order of Business Honoring - Kim Mahoney Senator(s) Merrick Representative(s) Saddler Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citation be adopted. Without objection, the citation was adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent to return to Messages from the House. Without objection, the Senate returned to: Messages from the House Message dated April 23 was read stating the House passed and transmitted for consideration: First Reading and Reference of House Bills HB 53 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 53(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld) BY THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; and making supplemental appropriations." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0939 HB 55 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 55(FIN) BY THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. Unfinished Business Senator Kawasaki moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on May 5 and May 6. Without objection, Senator Kawasaki was excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Engrossment SB 29 SENATE BILL NO. 29 "An Act relating to an executive administrator for the Big Game Commercial Services Board" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. SB 54 CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 54(FIN) "An Act relating to registered interior designers and interior design; relating to project costs for the construction, enlargement, or improvement of airports; extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; relating to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; establishing requirements 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0940 for the practice of registered interior design; relating to the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, and registered interior design; relating to the scope of the certification requirements for architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and registered interior designers; relating to immunity for design professionals; relating to the cost of construction for recreation centers; relating to liens for labor or materials furnished; relating to the procurement of landscape architectural and interior design services; relating to the cost of construction of safe water and hygienic sewage disposal facilities in villages; and providing for an effective date" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. SB 57 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 57(FIN) "An Act making appropriations, including capital appropriations and other appropriations; making reappropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date" which had been engrossed (page 882), was 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 10:30 a.m., April 25, 2025. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:43 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0941 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 Apr 29 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Overview: SOA Payment Processes Department of Administration Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development Department of Health += SB 129 PAYMENT OF CONTRACTS Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Apr 23 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- Presentation: Overview of School District Fund Balances Anchorage School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Juneau School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Mat-Su Borough School District Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 25 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0942 FINANCE Apr 23 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Presentation: Statewide Salary Study Department of Administration + HB 57 COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS <Bill Hearing Canceled> <Pending Referral> -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 23 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += HB 57 COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 24 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM += SJR 14 CONST AM: PERMANENT FUND; POMV;EARNINGS Legislative Finance Division Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 24 Thursday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 25 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + SB 95 CHILD CARE: ASSISTANCE/GRANTS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 96 CHILD CARE: TAX CREDITS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 97 BIG GAME PERMIT PROGRAM -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 25 Friday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0943 HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Apr 24 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 4 HEALTH CARE PRICES AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Apr 23 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SB 90 MINOR MENTAL HEALTH: AGE OF CONSENT Presentation: Recidivism Efforts in Alaska Alaska Criminal Justice Data Analysis Commission and the State Department of Corrections Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 25 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 36 APPROPRIATION LIMIT; GOV BUDGET -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SJR 4 CONST. AM: APPROP LIMIT -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Apr 23 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 49 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 103 CNA TRAINING -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 25 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0944 RESOURCES Apr 23 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM += SJR 8 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN -- Public Testimony -- + SB 176 APPROVE MARATHON PETRO ROYALTY OIL SALE -- Public Testimony -- += SJR 19 ANWR & NAT'L PETRO RESERVE: STATE SHARE -- Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 25 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Board of Game, Board of Fisheries, Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, State Assessment Review Board Rick Green - Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Olivia Irwin - Board of Fisheries Thomas Carpenter - Board of Fisheries Allen Barrette - Board of Game Carrie Ann Mueller - Board of Game Samuel Laffey - State Assessment Review Board -- Public Testimony -- + SB 32 ALLOWED COSTS IN ELECTRIC COOP RATES -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 180 LNG IMPORT FACILITIES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Apr 24 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SB 167 CRIM. CONV. OVERTURNED: RECEIVE PAST PFD -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += SB 19 PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESS/USE -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0945 TRANSPORTATION Apr 24 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + HB 31 VESSELS: REGISTRATION/DERELICT FUND -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 165 ELECTRONIC DRIVER'S LICENSES -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- += SB 104 VEHICLES/BOATS: TRANSFER ON DEATH TITLE -- Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- SPECIAL COMMITTEES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS Apr 24 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Presentation: Community Development Quota Eric Deakin - CEO, Costal Villages Region Fund Ragnar Alstrom - Executive Director, Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association Luke Fanning - CEO, APICDA Joint Ventures **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- JOINT COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT Apr 23 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + I. Call to Order II. Approval of the Agenda III. Approval of Minutes a. April 9, 2025 <Above Item Removed from Agenda> IV. Division of Legislative Finance Confidentiality Policy • Alexei Painter, Director, Division of Legislative Finance (Continued on Next Page) 2025-04-23 Senate Journal Page 0946 LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT (continued) (Continued from Previous Page) V. Presentation: Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project • Warren Christian, Chair, Board of Directors, AGDC • Janet Weiss, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, AGDC • Mike Chenault, Director, Board of Directors, AGDC • Frank Richards, President, AGDC • Matt Kissinger, Venture Development Manager, AGDC VI. Adjourn **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- OMBUDSMAN SELECTION COMMITTEE Apr 29 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM Organizational Meeting ---------------------------------------- TASK FORCE FOR REG. OF PSYCH. MEDICINES Apr 29 Tuesday Butrovich 205 5:15 PM + Please keep testimony related to technical subjects. This Task Force is not charged with evaluating the efficacy of any pending treatments. -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv**