Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
02/28/2025 09:00 AM House LABOR & COMMERCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB113 | |
| HB34 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 113 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 34-AK INNOVATION COUNCIL
9:22:01 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 34, "An Act establishing the Alaska Innovation
Council; and relating to financial disclosures for members of
the Alaska Innovation Council." [Before the committee, adopted
as a working document on 2/24/25, was the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 34, Version 34-LS0353\G, Gunter, 2/24/25
("Version G").]
9:22:12 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 9:22 a.m. to 9:25 a.m.
9:25:44 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS invited questions from committee members. There
being no questions, Co-Chair Fields invited amendments from
committee members.
9:26:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE moved to adopt Amendment [1] to HB 34,
Version G, labeled 34-LS0353\G.3, Gunther, 2/27/25, which read
as follows:
Page 3, line 16:
Delete "at least"
Insert "telephonically or by electronic means"
Page 3, line 17:
Delete "and place"
Delete "and places"
Page 3, lines 18 - 20:
Delete "A member of the council may attend a
meeting telephonically or by electronic means if the
member obtains approval from the chair."
Page 3, line 23:
Delete ", but are"
Insert "and are not"
Page 3, line 24:
Delete "as provided in"
Insert "under"
Page 3, lines 24 - 27:
Delete "A legislator serving on the council is
entitled to only transportation and per diem expenses
as provided in AS 39.20.180 when not otherwise
entitled to transportation or per diem expenses by
another law."
9:26:07 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS objected for the purpose of discussion.
9:26:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE stated her primary concern with the
proposed legislation was the cost. She further explained that
she worked with the sponsor [Representative Holland] on
Amendment 1. She explained that Amendment [1] would change the
meetings under HB 34 from in-person to electronic, removing any
costs associated with travel.
9:26:44 AM
REPRESENATIVE KY HOLLAND, Alaska State Legislature, prime
sponsor of HB 34, stated that he was supportive of Amendment 1
to HB 34. He stated that Amendment 1 would bring clarity to the
proposed legislation.
9:27:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked whether the meetings would still
take place in person with the option to telephone in, or whether
the meeting would be entirely electronic. She voiced concerns
about meetings taking place in the same place every time.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE replied that it would be optional to
meet in-person or electronically and that she intended to leave
the decision up to the Alaska Innovation Council proposed under
HB 34.
9:27:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted that HB 34 includes provisions
stating that the proposed Alaska Innovation Council shall meet
at least three times a year and does not designate an upper
limit to the number of meetings. He offered his support for
Amendment 1.
9:28:07 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS withdrew his objection to the motion to adopt
Amendment 1 to HB 34, Version G. There being no further
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
9:28:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE moved to adopt Amendment [2] to HB 34,
Version G, as amended, labeled 34-LS0353\G.5, Gunther, 2/27/25,
which read as follows:
Page 1, line 11:
Delete "15"
Insert "12"
Page 2, lines 2 - 5:
Delete all material.
Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly.
Page 2, line 6:
Delete "five"
Insert "seven"
Page 2, line 12:
Delete "one member who is"
Insert "two members who are"
Page 2, line 16:
Delete "one member who has"
Insert "two members who have"
Delete "that was"
Page 2, line 17:
Delete "that used"
Insert "using"
Page 2, line 24, following "state;":
Insert "and"
Page 2, lines 25 - 28:
Delete all material.
Renumber the following paragraph accordingly.
Page 2, line 29:
Delete "two members"
Insert "one member"
Page 2, line 30:
Delete "represent"
Insert "represents"
Page 2, line 30, through page 3, line 1:
Delete "; the members appointed under this
paragraph must include one member who is experienced
in applied-research focused on the state and one
member who"
Insert "and"
Page 3, line 3:
Delete "(b)(5) - (10)"
Insert "(b)(3) - (6)"
Page 3, lines 9 - 10:
Delete all material.
Reletter the following subsections accordingly.
Page 3, lines 24 - 27:
Delete "A legislator serving on the council is
entitled to only transportation and per diem expenses
as provided in AS 39.20.180 when not otherwise
entitled to transportation or per diem expenses by
another law."
Page 5, line 18:
Delete "AS 44.33.850(b)(5)"
Insert "AS 44.33.850(b)(3)(A) and (B)"
Page 5, line 20:
Delete "AS 44.33.850(b)(6), (7), and (10)"
Insert "AS 44.33.850(b)(3)(C) and (D)"
Page 5, line 22:
Delete "AS 44.33.850(b)(8) and (9)"
Insert "AS 44.33.850(b)(3)(E) and (4) - (6)"
Page 5, line 24:
Delete "AS 44.33.850(f)"
Insert "AS 44.33.850(e)"
9:28:24 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE explained that Amendment 2 would reduce
the total membership in the proposed Alaska Innovation Council
by two. She explained that the proposed amendment would remove
the executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and
Export Authority (AIDEA) or designee and the executive director
of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) or
designee. She stated Amendment 2 would add two additional
members to the private sector, one with a rural focus and one
with an urban focus. She stated that Amendment 2 would also
remove the legislators from the commission and reduce the number
of members from the University of Alaska (UA) from two to one.
She further explained that Amendment 2 would remove the member
from UA who is experienced in applied research focused on the
state. She advised that her intention in reducing the total
membership of the proposed Alaska Innovation Council was to
reduce the cost.
9:29:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND shared that he is supportive of the
changes in Amendment 2 but stated that the proposed changes are
not without cost. He offered his belief that Alaska's future
would be dependent on how research translates to practical
ventures and the proposed amendment would remove the seat that
would bring in more focused research. He recalled that some of
the goals of the proposed Alaska Innovation Council were to
identify opportunities from commercialized research. He
additionally stated his hope that legislators would be involved
in the proposed Alaska Innovation Council, as well as AIDEA
playing a larger role in supporting economic diversification and
emerging sectors. He acknowledged the desire to reduce the size
of the proposed Alaska Innovation Council, thereby reducing the
fiscal note. He offered his hope in recognizing that the
meetings that would take place under HB 34 would be purposeful
in inviting the individuals that are taken off the council in
the legislative process. He further noted that the proposed
Alaska Innovation Council was not meant to be a tight,
functioning group; rather, it would serve as a convening of
individuals.
9:32:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK clarified that Amendment 2 would result
in a net reduction of three individuals. She further asked how
much the amendment would reduce the fiscal note.
9:32:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE replied that the proposed amendments
could bring the fiscal note down to $130,000 from the original
fiscal note of $500,000.
9:32:48 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS withdrew his objection to Amendment 2 to HB 34,
Version G, as amended.
9:32:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK objected.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated that she appreciates the work that
the amendment sponsor put into reducing the fiscal note and
shares concern over costs. She further stated that the bill
sponsor made a good argument related to retaining the research
position from UA and the executive director of ACPE, as
essential to the innovation environment. She further clarified
that she would oppose the amendment, with some hesitation, due
to the removal of those two specific aforementioned members.
9:33:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE reminded members that the proposed
Alaska Innovation Council was being requested "on the states
dime." She asserted that the removed members could be invited
to meetings. She urged committee members to vote yes.
9:34:22 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated that he understood Representative
Carrick's concerns but would vote yes because he worked with the
amendment sponsor in good faith.
9:34:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that he appreciated the amendment
and felt that it was reflective of the state's fiscal
environment.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK maintained her objection to Amendment 2
to HB 34, Version G, as amended.
9:35:31 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Coulombe, Saddler,
Burke, Hall, and Fields voted in favor of the motion to adopt
Amendment 2 to HB 34, Version G, as amended. Representatives
Carrick voted against it. Therefore, Amendment [2] was adopted
by a vote of 5-1.
9:35:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER shared concerns about the powers of the
proposed Alaska Innovation Council. He further stated that,
philosophically, he felt uncomfortable with the legislature
formalizing and channeling drive for innovation.
9:37:12 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS entertained a motion.
9:37:18 AM
CO-CHAIR HALL moved to report CSHB 34, Version 34-LS0353\G,
Gunter, 2/24/25, as amended, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
9:37:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Burke, Carrick,
Coulombe, Hall, and Fields voted in favor of the motion to
report CSHB 34, Version 34-LS0353\G, Gunter, 2/24/25, as
amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes. Representative Saddler voted
against it. Therefore, CSHB 34(L&C) was reported out of the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee by a vote of 5-1.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB0113A.pdf |
HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 113 |
| HB 113 Sponsor Statement 2.27.2025.pdf |
HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 113 |
| HB 113 Ver A Sectional Analysis 2.27.2025.pdf |
HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 113 |
| HB 113 Supporting Document-PPT 2.27.2025.pdf |
HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 113 |
| HB 34_HLC_CS.pdf |
HL&C 2/24/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 34 |
| HB34_G_explanation of changes.pdf |
HL&C 2/24/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 34 |
| HB 34 Amendment G.3.pdf |
HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 34 |
| HB 34 Amendment G.4.pdf |
HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 34 |
| HB 34 Amendment G.5.pdf |
HL&C 2/28/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 34 |