Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-03-27 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2071 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday March 27, 2026 Sixty-seventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 10:30 a.m. The Senate was convened for the purpose of a technical session. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the roll call of the Senate be waived. Without objection, it was so ordered. Communications The following report is on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: Department of Health Alaska Dementia Education and Prevention Program FY 2025 Annual Report March 2026 in accordance with AS 18.09.300 Standing Committee Reports SB 21 The Finance Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 21 "An Act establishing the Alaska Work and Save Program; establishing the Alaska Retirement Savings Board; and providing for an effective date” and recommended it be replaced with 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2072 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 21(FIN) "An Act establishing the Alaska Work and Save Program in the Department of Revenue; and providing for an effective date." Signing do pass: Senators Olson, Stedman, Hoffman, Cochairs; Senator Kiehl. Signing no recommendation: Senators Cronk, Merrick. Signing amend: Senator Kaufman. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 3, indeterminate, Department of Revenue Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Revenue The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. SB 200 The Resources Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 200 "An Act relating to municipal assessments of farm or agricultural land; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 200(RES) Signing do pass: Senator Giessel, Chair; Senator Dunbar. Signing no recommendation: Senators Claman, Rauscher, Myers, Wielechowski. Signing amend: Senator Kawasaki. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. SB 230 The Resources Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 230 "An Act relating to the boundaries of the Jonesville Public Use Area; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 230(RES) "An Act changing the boundaries of the Jonesville Public Use Area; eliminating the Business Park Wetlands Special Management Area; and providing for an effective date." 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2073 Signing do pass: Senator Giessel, Chair; Senators Claman, Dunbar, Rauscher, Myers, Wielechowski. Signing no recommendation: Senator Kawasaki. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Natural Resources The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 33 The Resources Committee considered HOUSE BILL NO. 33 "An Act relating to participation in matters before the Board of Fisheries and the Board of Game by the members of the respective boards; and providing for an effective date." Signing do pass: Senator Giessel, Chair; Senators Claman, Dunbar, Rauscher, Myers. Signing amend: Senators Kawasaki, Wielechowski. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Fish and Game The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. HB 93 The Judiciary Committee considered HOUSE BILL NO. 93 "An Act changing the residency requirements for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing privileges; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 93(JUD) Signing no recommendation: Senator Claman, Chair; Senator Tobin. Signing do pass: Senator Stevens. Signing amend: Senator Tilton. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Fish and Game The bill was referred to the Resources Committee. 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2074 HCR 4 The Health and Social Services Committee considered HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4 Proclaiming May 2025 as Myositis Awareness Month, and recommended it be replaced with SENATE CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4(HSS) Proclaiming May 2026 as Myositis Awareness Month. (Title Change SCR 16) Signing do pass: Senator Dunbar, Chair; Senators Myers, Tobin, Giessel. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Legislative Agency The resolution was referred to the Rules Committee. Consideration of the Calendar Senate Resolutions in Third Reading SJR 2 The following which had been held in third reading (page 2060), could not be considered in a technical session and will be on the March 30 calendar SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to actions upon veto. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2075 Adjournment Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., March 30, 2026. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 10:34 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2076 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 31 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Apr 02 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Mar 27 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + SB 267 PUBLIC SCHOOL FIN. DATA INTERNET WEBSITE <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 278 LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2077 EDUCATION (continued) Mar 30 Monday Davis 106 8:00 AM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- Please Note Time & Location Change -- + Meeting Jointly with House Education Committee Presentation: State of PK-12 Education in Alaska - Education Leaders From the Field by Dr. Lisa Parady, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School Administrators Doug Gray, Professional Development Director, Alaska Staff Development Network Jennifer Schmitz, Director, Alaska Educator Retention and Recruitment Center David Nogg, Principal, Golden View Middle School Heather Conn, Principal, Stedman Elementary School Melissa Matthews, Director of Student Services and Special Education, Bering Strait School District Dr. Randy Trani, Superintendent, Mat-Su Borough School District Katie Parrott, Senior Director, Office of Management & Budget, Anchorage School District Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled**Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 01 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Presentation: UAF Leadership Presentation on the Alaska Native Language Center by Mike Sfraga, UAF Chancellor Charlene Stern, UAF Provost Teisha Simmons, Dean, College of Indigenous Studies Bryan Uher, Vice Chancellor of Rural, Community and Native Education Presentation: History of the Alaska Native Language Center's Work and its Present Status by Sam Alexander, Chair, Alaska Native Language Program, UAF Anna Berge, Professor of Linguistics, UAF Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 03 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2078 FINANCE Mar 27 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 27 Friday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- No Meeting Scheduled Mar 30 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + SB 193 PRACTICE OF NATUROPATHY -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 30 Monday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 31 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Confirmation Hearing: Commissioner-Designee John Crowther, Department of Natural Resources + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 31 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 01 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM += SB 41 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- += SB 163 REPEAL CERTAIN INACTIVE FUNDS/ACCOUNTS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- += SB 274 PERMANENT FUND POMV AVAILABLE FOR APPROP -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2079 FINANCE (continued) Apr 01 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled**Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 02 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled**Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 02 Thursday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change --No Meeting Scheduled Apr 03 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Apr 03 Friday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Mar 31 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 281 HEALTHCARE COMPACTS; RURAL HEALTH PROGRAM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 02 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Mar 27 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 30 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SB 249 VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2080 JUDICIARY (continued) Apr 01 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SB 252 UCC: SECURED TRANS.; ELECTRONIC RECORDS -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 03 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Mar 27 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 124 NURSING: LICENSURE; MULTISTATE COMPACT -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SJR 28 SUPPORTING J-1 & H-1B VISA PROGRAMS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 30 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SJR 28 SUPPORTING J-1 & H-1B VISA PROGRAMS -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- += SB 217 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 258 CONTRACT: LICENSING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 01 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Apr 03 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2081 RESOURCES Mar 27 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM += SB 174 INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT <Bill Hearing Canceled>-- Invited & Public Testimony -- += SJR 20 CLEAN UP MARINE DEBRIS <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += SB 269 BOARD OF FISHERIES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- <Bill Hearing Rescheduled from 03/20/26> + SB 280 OIL & GAS PROPERTY TAX; MUNI TAX Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled**Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 30 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM += SB 280 OIL & GAS PROPERTY TAX; MUNI TAX -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled**Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 01 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM += SJR 20 CLEAN UP MARINE DEBRIS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 208 AGRICULTURAL LAND LEASES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + HJR 18 URGING SUPPORT FOR AKLNG -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled**Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 03 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled STATE AFFAIRS Mar 31 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM += SJR 30 SUPPORT MILITARY&INCREASE INFRASTRUCTURE -- Public Testimony -- += SB 245 ARTS AND CULTURE DAY -- Public Testimony -- += SB 239 MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled**Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 02 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2082 TRANSPORTATION Mar 31 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 244 TRAVEL INSURANCE -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Presentation: Port of Seward Roll On/Roll Off Capability by Alaska Railroad Corporation, TOTE Maritime Alaska, and The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 02 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES FISH & GAME Apr 15 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 8:00 AM + Budget Close Out ---------------------------------------- HEALTH Mar 27 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM -- Teleconference <Listen Only> -- + Presentation: Division of Public Assistance by Pam Halloran, Director **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- NATURAL RESOURCES Mar 31 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Department Budget Overview: Commissioner-designee Crowther and Deputy Commissioner Goodrum Division of Forestry and Fire Protection Overview 2026-03-27 Senate Journal Page 2083 TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES Apr 01 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + Airports & DFS Apr 08 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + AMHS Apr 15 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + Budget Close Out ---------------------------------------- OTHER MEETINGS JOINT SESSION Mar 31 Tuesday House Chamber 11:00 AM + Annual Address by Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator ---------------------------------------- MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS Mar 27 Friday Butrovich 205 12:01 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: The Importance of Energy Data Diane Hirshberg Jeremy Kasper Leasi Vanessa Lee Raymond UAA's Institute of Social and Economic Research and UAF's Alaska Center for Energy and Power Sponsored by Senator Giessel Apr 08 Wednesday Davis 106 12:00 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: Arctic Winter Games 2026, Team Alaska Updates, Photos, Achievements on Alaska's Performance at Arctic Winter Games 2026 Nicole Morton-Johnson, President Sponsored by Senator Cronk