Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-03-05 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1843 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Thursday March 5, 2026 Forty-fifth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 10:31 a.m. The roll showed sixteen members present. Senators Dunbar, Hoffman, Stedman were excused from a call of the Senate. Senator Olson was absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain Pastor Greg White, First Baptist Church Juneau. Senator Tilton moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Father, in Jesus’ Name I come to You. I seek to honor You, to bless You. As it is likely the last time I publicly pray for the Alaska Senate this year, I ask You to be a provision. Thank You for never filling greed but always meeting needs. Please reveal to the Senate the true needs of Alaskans. Please show them what must be done, what should be done, and what can be done. Give them grace to prioritize and meet needs. God, please bless each Senator and each district. Please help them to protect Alaska and the United States of America according to the constitution. In Jesus’ blessed name, Amen. Senator Kaufman led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1844 Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journal for the forty-fourth legislative day 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. Without objection, Senator Olson was excused. Messages from the House Message dated March 4 was read stating the House passed and transmitted for consideration: First Reading and Reference of House Bills HB 20 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 20(JUD) BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to fees for paper documents; relating to unfair trade practices; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Labor and Commerce Committees. Communications The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: Alaska Court System Appellate and Trial Courts 2025 Time-to-Disposition Report in accordance with AS 22.20.310 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1845 Travel for Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges and Affidavit Information 2025 in accordance with AS 22.20.310 Standing Committee Reports SB 210 The Education Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 210 "An Act relating to the recognition of Indigenous cultures in public education." Signing do pass: Senator Tobin, Chair. Signing no recommendation: Senators Yundt, Kiehl, Stevens, Bjorkman. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Education and Early Development. The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Resolutions SCR 13 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13 BY THE SENATE COMMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 126, relating to the reinstatement of Native village corporations and relating to the reinstatement of nonprofit corporations organized for a religious purpose and religious corporations. was read the first time and held on the Secretary's desk. 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1846 Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 274 SENATE BILL NO. 274 BY THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to the computation of the amount available for appropriation from the Alaska permanent fund; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. SB 275 SENATE BILL NO. 275 BY THE SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to natural gas and natural gas projects; relating to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation; relating to the powers and duties of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee; relating to the value of certain oil and gas; relating to an income tax on certain natural gas-related entities; relating to the oil and gas production tax; establishing a surcharge on gas processed in the state; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. Consideration of the Calendar Third Reading of Senate Bills SB 23 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 23(FIN) "An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 23(FIN) be held in third reading to the March 9 calendar. Without objection, it was so ordered. 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1847 SB 104 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 104(FIN) "An Act relating to the transfer of a title on the death of the owner; relating to the transferability of common interest community ownership interests; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 104(FIN) be held in third reading to the March 9 calendar. Without objection, it was so ordered. Third Reading of House Bills HB 289 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN) "An Act making appropriations, including supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 289(FIN) be held in third reading to the March 9 calendar. Without objection, it was so ordered. Citations Honoring – Lieutenant Ryan Browning Senator(s) Stevens Representative(s) Vance Honoring – Jeremy Swayman Senator(s) Claman, Merrick Representative(s) Hall Honoring – Tony and Amber White Senator(s) Cronk Representative(s) Schwanke 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1848 Honoring – Brittany Hanson Representative(s) Eischeid Senator(s) Wielechowski, Tobin Honoring – Ken Varee Representative(s) Eischeid, Galvin Senator(s) Wielechowski Honoring – Mary McQuilkin Representative(s) Eischeid, Mears Senator(s) Wielechowski th Honoring – Mt. McKinley Bank 60 Anniversary Representative(s) Stapp 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 SB 130 The following memorandum dated March 4 was received from Senator Giessel, Chair, Senate Resources Committee, regarding correction to: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 130(RES) "An Act relating to the fisheries product development tax credit; and providing for an effective date." Version N of CSSB 130 (RES) contains a technical error. During its hearing on April 11, 2025 in the Senate Resources Committee, there were two amendments presented, A.1 and A.2, to version A of SB 130. As the record will reflect, Amendment A.1 was withdrawn. Amendment A.2 was adopted, and CSSB130 version A was moved from committee as amended by A.2 only. 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1849 A CS was mistakenly ordered, and Legislative Legal mistakenly drafted SB 130(RES) version N containing the changes described in both Amendment A.1 and A.2. I recommend that the following corrective action be taken: I am requesting Legislative Legal to draft a new Resources Committee Substitute version that only incorporates amendment A.2 into 34-LS0735\A and to print a new corrected version. CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 130(RES)(Corrected) was reprinted today. The bill is in the Finance Committee. SB 210 President Stevens removed the Finance Committee referral from SENATE BILL NO. 210 "An Act relating to the recognition of Indigenous cultures in public education." President Stevens added a Community and Regional Affairs Committee referral to the bill. The bill was referred to the Community and Regional Affairs Committee. Senator Kaufman moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from 1:00 p.m. plane time, March 5 through 9:00 a.m. plane time, March 9. Without objection, Senator Kaufman was excused. Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, April 16 through morning plane time, April 17. Without objection, Senator Myers was excused. SB 207 Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE BILL NO. 207 "An Act relating to the removal of unlawful occupants from residential real property; relating to the crimes of trespass, forgery, and deceptive business practices; and amending Rules 82 and 85(a), Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure." Without objection, it was so ordered. 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1850 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., March 9, 2026. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 10:41 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2026-03-05 Senate Journal Page 1851 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 Mar 10 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Mar 06 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 09 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 11 Wednesday Davis 106 8:00 AM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- Please Note Time & Location Change -- + Meeting jointly with the House Education Committee Presentation: 2026 State Board of Education Report to the Alaska Legislature by Deena Bishop, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Sally Stockhausen, Chair, State Board of Education and Early Development Members of the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv**