Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-01-22 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1497 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Thursday January 22, 2026 Third Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 8:59 a.m. The roll showed seventeen members present. Senators Kawasaki, Merrick, Tobin were absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Isabel Braun, Senate Page. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Dear Lord, Please guide us through both the trials and joys we encounter today. Give our Senators and Representatives courage and wisdom as they serve the residents of our great state. Thank you for the beauty and resources you have given us in the State of Alaska Thank you for the friends and family who support us throughout the time in the legislature. Guide our hearts and minds as that we may do your will and be productive and successful. (B'sham Yeshua Amen) In Jesus name, Amen! Senator Gray-Jackson led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1498 Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journal for the second legislative day be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. The presence of Senators Merrick, Tobin was noted. Messages from the House Message dated January 21 was read stating: The House of Representatives respectfully invites the Senate to a Joint Session of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska Legislature at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11 for the purpose of hearing Chief Justice Susan Carney’s annual State of the Judiciary address in the House Chamber. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate accept the House invitation to meet in Joint Session. Without objection, it was so ordered. The Secretary was requested to notify the House. Communications The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: Department of Revenue Investment Earnings Report for the Alaska Marine Highway System Fund and the Alaska Marine Highway System Vessel Replacement Fund in accordance with AS 19.65.070 and AS 37.05.550 Charitable Pledges Paid to Organizations in 2025 in accordance with AS 43.23.130 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1499 The following Budget and Audit Reports were received from Kris Curtis, Legislative Auditor, in accordance with AS 24.20.311 and are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: 2025 Unabridged Annual Report 2025 Condensed Annual Report Unfinished Business Senator Kiehl moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from morning plane time, March 26 through evening plane time, March 30. Without objection, Senator Kiehl was excused. SJR 22 Senator Gray-Jackson moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 22 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to public education. Without objection, it was so ordered. SB 206 Senator Gray-Jackson moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE BILL NO. 206 "An Act relating to reports of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in schools; relating to parental notification of incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying involving students and threats of suicide by students; and establishing the firearm safe storage grant fund." Without objection, it was so ordered. Recess Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess to the Joint Session. Without objection, the Senate recessed at 9:05 a.m. 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1500 After Recess Joint Session in the House Speaker Edgmon called the House to order and in accordance with Uniform Rule 51 turned the gavel over to President Stevens, who called the Joint Session to order at 9:14 a.m. The purpose of the Joint Session was to consider the Governor’s veto of SB 113-APPORTION TAXABLE INCOME;DIGITAL BUSINESS. The roll call of the Senate was taken and there were twenty members present. The roll of the House was taken and there were forty members present. SB 113 Senator Giessel moved SENATE BILL NO. 113 "An Act relating to the Multistate Tax Compact; relating to apportionment of income to the state; relating to highly digitized businesses subject to the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing for an effective date" become law notwithstanding the governor's veto. SENATE SB 113 Veto Override? YEAS: 14 NAYS: 6 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski Nays: Cronk, Kaufman, Myers, Rauscher, Tilton, Yundt The roll of the House was taken with the following result: HOUSE SB 113 Veto Override? YEAS: 21 NAYS: 19 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1501 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 TOTALS: YEAS: 35 NAYS: 25 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 and so, lacking the necessary 45 votes, the motion failed. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Joint Session stand in adjournment. Without objection, President Stevens adjourned the Joint Session at 10:32 a.m. After Recess Joint Session in the House Speaker Edgmon called the House to order and in accordance with Uniform Rule 51 turned the gavel over to President Stevens, who called the Joint Session to order at 7:01 p.m. The purpose of the Joint Session was to hear Governor Mike Dunleavy's State of the State address. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the roll call of the Senate be waived and all members be shown as present. Without objection, it was so ordered. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent the roll call of the House be waived and all members be shown as present. Without objection, it was so ordered. President Stevens appointed Senator Yundt and Representative Carrick to escort Governor Mike Dunleavy to the Joint Session. 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1502 The Senate Sergeant at Arms, Matt Simpson, announced the Honorable Mike Dunleavy's entrance to the House Chamber. Governor Dunleavy was escorted to the rostrum and welcomed by President Stevens and Speaker Edgmon. Governor Dunleavy delivered his address. This address appears in House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 11. Governor Dunleavy received a standing ovation. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Joint Session stand in adjournment. Without objection, President Stevens adjourned the Joint Session at 8:27 p.m. After Recess In the Senate The Senate reconvened at 8:30 p.m. Unfinished Business (continued) SB 113 The governor’s veto of SENATE BILL NO. 113 "An Act relating to the Multistate Tax Compact; relating to apportionment of income to the state; relating to highly digitized businesses subject to the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing for an effective date" was sustained and the engrossed and enrolled copies were returned to the Office of the Governor at 12:28 p.m., January 22, 2026. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1503 Adjournment Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 10:30 a.m., January 23, 2026. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1504 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 Jan 27 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + HB 33 CONFLICT OF INTEREST: BDS FISHERIES/GAME -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += HB 26 STATEWIDE PUBLIC & COMMUNITY TRANSIT PLAN -- Invited & Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Jan 23 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 26 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Presentation: Does a four-day school week benefit students? by Elizabeth Day, Assistant Director of Outreach, HEDCO Institute, University of Oregon Sean Grant, Assistant Director of Research, HEDCO Institute, University of Oregon Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 28 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SB 204 SUB. TEACHING; SCHOOL BOARD ELIGIBILITY -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1505 **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 30 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE Jan 22 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Production Forecast Department of Natural Resources Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Jan 23 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Revenue Forecast Department of Revenue Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Jan 26 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Governor's FY 27 Budget Request Office of Management and Budget **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 27 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Governor's Veto Overview/Discussion: Office of Management and Budget Department of Transportation and Public Facilities **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 28 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Overview: Governor's FY 27 Budget Request Legislative Finance Division **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 29 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 30 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1506 Jan 22 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 27 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Overview: Department of Family and Community Services Tracy Dompeling, Acting Commissioner Marian Sweet, Assistant Commissioner Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 29 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Rural Health Transformation Program Heidi Hedberg, Commissioner Emily Ricci, Deputy Commissioner Betsy Wood, Associate Director, Office of Health Savings Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Jan 23 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 136 FIREARM FINANCIAL PRIVACY -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 26 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Jan 28 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 212 NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Jan 30 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1507 Jan 23 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + HB 78 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Jan 26 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += HB 78 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- += SB 170 GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 28 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += HB 78 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- + SB 198 PERS/TRS RETIREMENT & MEDICAL ELIGIBILITY -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 30 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += HB 78 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- += SB 121 HEALTH INSURANCE ALLOWABLE CHARGES -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 163 REPEAL CERTAIN INACTIVE FUNDS/ACCOUNTS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Jan 23 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM -- Agenda Change -- + Presentation: Pegasus: Review of 2019 Memo to the State of Alaska Jeremy Clark, Pegasus Global Holdings Inc. Joe Miller, Pegasus Global Holdings Inc. Presentation: GaffneyCline: Key Issues and Recommendations Nicholas Fulford, Senior Director, Liquid Natural Gas and Energy Transition, GaffneyCline Energy Advisory += SB 75 TIMBER MANAGEMENT LEASES 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1508 Uniform Rule 23 Waived **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 26 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM -- Continued from 01/23/26 -- + Presentation: GaffneyCline: Key Issues and Recommendations by Nicholas Fulford, Senior Director, Liquid Natural Gas and Energy Transition, GaffneyCline Energy Advisory Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 28 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Department of Transportation: Impacts from a Gas Pipeline Project += SB 180 LNG IMPORT FACILITIES -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 30 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Department of Natural Resources, North Slope Gas Presentation: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Jan 22 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += SJR 2 CONST. AM: VOTES NEEDED FOR VETO OVERRIDE **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 27 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Overview: AIDEA update on current projects and external report Randy Ruaro, Executive Director of Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1509 Jan 29 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Jan 22 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Presentation: 2026 - 2029 STIP Update, FY26 Match Funds and Impact of Vetoes on Projects, HSIP Amendments Ryan Anderson, P.E., Commissioner Katherine Keith, PMP, PMI-ACP, Deputy Commissioner **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 27 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Presentation: DOT&PF Winter Road Maintenance Update Brad Bylsma, Equipment Fleet Manager, Statewide Equipment Fleet Burrell Nickeson, Manager, Maintenance and Operations, Central Region Andy Mills, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 29 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- SPECIAL COMMITTEES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS Jan 22 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 29 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Presentation: Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1510 JOINT COMMITTEES TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION FUNDING Jan 23 Friday Davis 106 3:30 PM -- Please Note Location Change -- -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Michael Hanley, Superintendent, Aleutian Region School District Presentation: Chronic Absenteeism by Hedy Chang, Executive Director, Attendance Works Presentation: Open Enrollment by Jude Schwalback, Senior Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation Presentation: Homeless Students by Barbara Duffield, Executive Director, SchoolHouse Connection Kelly King, Coordinator, MVP Program, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District David Mayo-Kiely, Coordinator, Child in Transition Program, Anchorage School District **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- OTHER MEETINGS JOINT SESSION Jan 22 Thursday House Chamber 9:00 AM + Consideration of the Governor's Veto of SB 113 SB 113 APPORTION TAXABLE INCOME;DIGITAL BUSINESS **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 22 Thursday House Chamber 7:00 PM + State of the State Address by Governor Mike Dunleavy **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 11 Wednesday House Chamber 11:00 AM + State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Susan Carney 2026-01-22 Senate Journal Page 1511 **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS Jan 29 Thursday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: Rasmuson Foundation CEO Gretchen Guess will present about the Rasmuson Foundation's mission to invest in Alaska communities and nonprofits. Sponsored by Senator Wielechowski