03/31/2023 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

            HB 98-STATE OWNERSHIP OF SUBMERGED LAND                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:05:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE  announced that the  only order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO. 98,  "An  Act  relating  to state  ownership  of                                                               
submerged land  underlying navigable water within  the boundaries                                                               
of and adjacent to federal  areas; and providing for an effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:05:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  VANCE   opened  public   testimony  on   HB  98.     After                                                               
ascertaining  there  was  no  one  who  wished  to  testify,  she                                                               
introduced the bill sponsor.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:06:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAN  SADDLER, Alaska  State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor of HB 98, offered brief introductory remarks.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE invited questions from members of the committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:07:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN  inquired about  efforts to  bring western                                                               
states on board with the proposal.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  said there  had been  no effort  to reach                                                               
out  to  western  states; nonetheless,  he  acknowledged  several                                                               
legislative  forums   and  legal  organizations  that   would  be                                                               
watching the outcome.  He  anticipated that other states would be                                                               
encouraged by the outcome as well.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EASTMAN shared  his understanding  that the  bill                                                               
was being put forward  as one step "in a larger  chess game."  He                                                               
asked what the next steps would be, should the bill pass.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER indicated  that the  next steps  would be                                                               
continued litigation on  cases in which Alaska was  in the right.                                                               
Additionally, the  continued exploration  on the outer  limits of                                                               
navigability,  which  would be  reflected  in  the annual  report                                                               
provided to the legislature as part of the proposed legislation.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:10:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE invited final comment from the bill sponsor.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER  said he had  nothing further to add.   He                                                               
expressed  his  appreciation  for  the thorough  vetting  of  and                                                               
prompt action on the bill.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:11:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:13:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE closed public testimony on HB 98.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:13:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ALLARD moved  to report  HB 98  out of  committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes and  to grant Legislative  Legal Services the  authority to                                                               
make  technical   and  conforming   changes.    There   being  no                                                               
objection, HB 98 was reported out of the House Judiciary                                                                        
Standing Committee.