Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
03/12/2026 03:15 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB295 | |
| HB221 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 152 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 221 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 295 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 189 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 12, 2026
4:53 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Ashley Carrick, Chair
Representative Andi Story, Vice Chair
Representative Rebecca Himschoot
Representative Ky Holland
Representative Kevin McCabe
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Steve St. Clair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 295
"An Act relating to allowable absences for eligibility for a
permanent fund dividend; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 221
"An Act establishing June 21 as Alaska Arts and Culture Day; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 221(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 152
"An Act establishing an education tax on the income of
individuals, partners, shareholders in S corporations, trusts,
and estates; repealing tax credits applied against the tax on
individuals under the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing
for an effective date."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
HOUSE BILL NO. 189
"An Act relating to a permanent fund dividend for an individual
whose conviction has been vacated, reversed, or dismissed; and
relating to the calculation of the value of the permanent fund
dividend by including payment to individuals eligible for a
permanent fund dividend because of a conviction that has been
vacated, reversed, or dismissed."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 295
SHORT TITLE: PFD ELIGIBILITY; PILOT ALLOWABLE ABSENCE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MCCABE
02/06/26 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/26 (H) STA, FIN
03/05/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/05/26 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/10/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/10/26 (H) Heard & Held
03/10/26 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/12/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 221
SHORT TITLE: ARTS AND CULTURE DAY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HALL
05/07/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/07/25 (H) STA
03/10/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/10/26 (H) Heard & Held
03/10/26 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/12/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN HALL
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, offered a recap regarding
the purpose of HB 221.
BEN BROWN, Chair
Alaska State Council on the Arts
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 221.
ACTION NARRATIVE
4:53:16 PM
CHAIR CARRICK called the House State Affairs Standing Committee
meeting to order at 4:53 p.m. Representatives Holland,
Himschoot, Story, and Carrick were present at the call to order.
Representative McCabe arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 295-PFD ELIGIBILITY; PILOT ALLOWABLE ABSENCE
4:54:26 PM
CHAIR CARRICK announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 295, "An Act relating to allowable absences
for eligibility for a permanent fund dividend; and providing for
an effective date."
CHAIR CARRICK opened public testimony on HB 295. After
ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she
announced that she would leave public testimony open for a
future hearing on the bill.
[HB 295 was held over.]
4:55:26 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:55 p.m.
HB 221-ARTS AND CULTURE DAY
4:55:38 PM
CHAIR CARRICK announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 221 "An Act establishing June 21 as Alaska Arts
and Culture Day; and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR CARRICK noted that the committee had its first hearing on
the bill earlier in the week and would be considering amendments
today. She noted that her office consulted with the bill
sponsor's office and have proposed a date change.
4:56:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN HALL, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 221, reviewed that the bill, as currently written,
would establish June 21 as Arts and Culture Day for Alaska, and
she emphasized the importance of a day focused on arts and
culture.
4:57:34 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 4:57 p.m. to 4:59 p.m.
4:59:39 PM
CHAIR CARRICK announced the committee would consider amendments.
She noted other amendments would not be offered in favor of an
upcoming conceptual amendment.
5:00:28 PM
BEN BROWN, Chair, Alaska State Council on the Arts, talked about
the advantage of changing the date from June 21, which is
already a busy day, to another day of the year. He noted that
the month of October is federally designated as National Arts
and Humanities month. A day in September was also discussed
with the bill sponsor, with one advantage to having the day be
celebrated while students are still attending school. He
indicated that choosing the first Friday in October would fit in
well with the art exhibits celebrated on "First Friday."
5:03:40 PM
CHAIR CARRICK moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to HB 221,
to change the date from June 21 to the first Friday in October.
CHAIR CARRICK then objected for the purpose of discussion. She
said she enjoyed working with the bill sponsor's office and the
Alaska Council on the Arts to identify a date that would work
best.
5:04:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HALL stated that she thinks the new date would be
a wonderful compromise, and she reemphasized the importance of
teaching youth about the importance of art and culture.
5:05:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND stated his support of Conceptual
Amendment 1 while expressing concern about adding "one more
thing" for educators to do. He said the legislature needs to
provide them with more support to make this date meaningful.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL concurred regarding the concern about
overburdening teachers, and she pointed out that on page 1, line
6, the bill read that the designated day "may" be observed. She
stated that there are no requirements related to HB 221.
5:07:22 PM
MR. BROWN noted that since his appointment, the council's
educational programs are the ones that have grown the most.
Over half the budget comes from nongovernmental monies.
5:08:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed support for the legislation. She
noted some districts have art specialists, and she spoke about
art kits that have been developed. She suggested there could be
a partnership with administrators and the council. She
suggested there could be an art kit focused on Arts and Cultural
Day.
5:09:34 PM
CHAIR CARRICK removed her objection. There being no further
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 to HB 221 was adopted.
CHAIR CARRICK recapped the comments that had been stated.
5:10:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY move to report HB 221, as amended, out of
the House State Affairs Standing Committee, with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes and
authorizing Legislative Legal Services to make any necessary and
conforming changes. There being no objection, CSHB 221(STA) was
reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
5:11:52 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 5:11
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 221 Amendment A.1.pdf |
HSTA 3/12/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 221 |
| HB 221 Amendment A.2.pdf |
HSTA 3/12/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 221 |
| HB 295 Letter Al Barette 3-10-26.pdf |
HSTA 3/12/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 295 |
| HB 221 Conceptual Amendment 1.pdf |
HSTA 3/12/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 221 |