Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
05/09/2025 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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 | |
| SJR19 | |
| HB191 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 191 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 191-INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
1:45:36 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE announced the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 191, "An Act establishing the Alaska Invasive
Species Council in the Department of Fish and Game; relating to
management of invasive species; and providing for an effective
date."
1:46:04 PM
REBECCA HIMSCHOOT, Alaska State Representative, as prime
sponsor, introduced HB 191. She described the purpose of the
council and cited invasive species management councils in
Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. She provided context by
comparing the threats posed to those states by invasive species
to what Alaska faces. She discussed research conducted by Dr.
Schwoerer regarding the environmental risks caused by the
invasive species Elodea which threatens water bodies. She
reviewed the cost of managing invasive species, pointing out
that federal funding would pay for 72 percent, non-profit
funding would pay 21 percent, leaving the state to fund 7
percent. She completed her introduction with a cautionary story
about how requiring double hulls could have prevented the Exxon
Valdez oil spill and that Alaska now faces a comparable
situation regarding invasive species. She said that HB 191
would be an important first step in facing the slow-moving
catastrophe presented by invasive species.
1:51:08 PM
CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 191, labeled
34-LS0541\G.1, Bullard, 5/8/25, which read as follows:
Page 3, line 8, following "(c)":
Insert "Members of the council serving under
(b)(2) - (4) of this section serve as nonvoting
members."
Page 3, line 21:
Delete "council constitutes"
Insert "voting members of the council constitute"
1:51:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT explained that she welcomed Amendment
1, the purpose of which was to clarify the number of board
members needed to conduct business. It also clarified which
would be voting members and which would be advisory.
1:52:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected. He expressed concern regarding
some members being deprived of the opportunity to provide
substantive input into recommendations.
1:52:52 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Fields, Hall,
Mears, Dibert, and Burke voted in favor of Amendment 1 to HB
191. Representatives Coulombe, Saddler, Elam, and Rauscher
voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote
of 5-4.
1:53:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 191, as
amended, labeled 34-LS0541\G.2, Bullard, 5/8/25, which read as
follows:
Page 5, line 1:
Delete "2035"
Insert "2030"
CO-CHAIR BURKE objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE explained that the purpose of the
amendment was to align the date of the fiscal note with sunset
date of the council, so both are 2030.
1:54:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT explained that the 10-year sunset date
would give the council sufficient time to "prove up" the work of
the council. She did not welcome the amendment.
1:55:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated his support for Amendment 2,
explaining that five years should show whether the council is
working. He also expressed his concern that with a longer term,
the council would consume resources without check. He saw a
sunset of five years as appropriate and generous.
1:55:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT pointed out that there would be an
annual report, so the legislature would have a duty every year
to check on the work of the council. She pointed out that two
of the people who do the work are available to answer questions.
1:57:23 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE maintained her objection.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Elam, Coulombe,
Rauscher, and Saddler voted in favor of Amendment 2 to HB 191,
as amended. Representatives Fields, Hall, Mears, Dibert, and
Burke voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 2 failed to be
adopted by a vote of 4-5.
1:58:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE moved to adopt Amendment 3 to HB 191, as
amended, labeled 34-LS0541\G.3, Bullard, 5/9/25, which read as
follows:
Page 1, line 1:
Delete "Council"
Insert "Task Force"
Page 1, lines 4 - 5:
Delete all material and insert:
"* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of
Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:"
Page 1, line 6:
Delete "Sec. 16.20.800. Alaska Invasive Species
Council."
Insert "ALASKA INVASIVE SPECIES TASK FORCE."
Page 1, line 7:
Delete "Council is an advisory council"
Insert "Task Force is"
Page 2, lines 8 - 12:
Delete all material.
Renumber the following paragraph accordingly.
Page 2, line 15:
Delete "(c)"
Insert "(d)"
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 2, lines 16 - 17:
Delete "to three-year terms"
Page 3, following line 7:
Insert a new subsection to read:
"(c) The governor shall appoint the members of
the task force required under (b) of this section
within 60 days after the effective date of this Act."
Reletter the following subsections accordingly.
Page 3, lines 8 - 9:
Delete "The council may, as the council finds
necessary, invite additional persons to be nonvoting
advisory members of the council. The council"
Insert "The task force"
Page 3, line 12:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 3, line 13:
Delete "council" in both places
Insert "task force" in both places
Page 3, line 15:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 3, line 19:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 3, lines 20 - 21:
Delete "The council shall meet at least quarterly
at the call of the chair."
Insert "The task force shall hold its first
meeting within 90 days after the appointment of
members under (c) of this section. The task force
shall meet at least four times in the 12 months
following the appointment of members under (c) of this
section and quarterly thereafter at the call of the
chair."
Page 3, line 21:
Delete the first occurrence of "council"
Insert "task force"
Delete the second occurrence of "council"
Page 3, line 23:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 3, line 26:
Delete "of each odd-numbered year"
Insert ", 2027"
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 3, line 27:
Delete "an updated"
Insert "a"
Page 3, line 28:
Delete "council's"
Insert "task force's"
Page 3, line 30:
Delete "council's"
Insert "task force's'"
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 4, line 2:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 4, line 5:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 4, line 6:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 4, lines 11 - 12:
Delete "Council members appointed under (b)(1) of
this section serve staggered three-year terms and
until a successor is appointed."
Page 4, line 12:
Delete "council"
Insert "task force"
Page 4, lines 16 - 20:
Delete all material.
Page 4, lines 21 - 22:
Delete all material and insert:
"(k) In this section,"
Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly.
Page 4, line 31:
Delete "."
Insert ";"
Page 4, following line 31:
Insert a new paragraph to read:
"(5) "task force" means the Alaska Invasive
Species Task Force."
Page 5, lines 1 - 17:
Delete all material and insert:
"* Sec. 2. Section 1 of this Act is repealed
July 1, 2027."
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.
CO-CHAIR BURKE objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE described her amendment as a "creative
amendment," comparing her work on a childcare task force with
the proposed invasive species council. She explained that the
childcare task force worked with compressed time constraints,
and it accomplished a lot that way. Changing a ten-year council
into a two-year task force addresses her concerns regarding the
fiscal note. The two-year task force would come up with a five-
year strategic plan and help coordinate resources. She
explained how the funding would work under with the amendment.
2:00:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT explained that a council would have
ongoing and changing work, versus setting up policies through a
task force. The distinction is that a task force would
accomplish a mission, whereas a council would have evolving and
ongoing work as well as having an advisory role with the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G). She described that initially
there would be no request for funding but when funds are set up,
they would act an emergency response fund for an invasive
species threat.
2:01:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER expressed appreciation for the
amendment, explaining that a task force would be structured to
get things done and would cost less money.
2:03:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that he liked the amendment and
that it would remove potentially duplicative functions between
the invasive species partnership and the departments. He
posited that the work of a task force would be more focused and
could suggest the best way to implement invasive species
responses.
2:04:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MEARS explained that she appreciated the goals of
a task force but also appreciated that a council would have a
different mission. She compared it to the work of an office of
emergency management which would coordinate resources. She said
the work of a task force could be valuable, but the council
would be a better option.
2:05:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE reiterated her concern regarding the
fiscal note and the budget crunch they were facing. pointing out
the lower costs of a task force. She drew a parallel to how
mental health was coordinated in the state by means of a five-
year comprehensive plan with the mental health trust and the
department of health. She suggested such an approach to dealing
with invasive species. The task force could offer strategic
plans, but ultimately, it would be up to the departments to get
the work done.
2:07:13 PM
JOE FELKL, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game, described the department's position regarding HB 191. He
explained that regardless of whether the legislature decided to
use a task force or a longer-term advisory body, the department
would still need additional staffing to support that work.
However, the department was neutral on the amendment and would
implement and support the work of a council or a task force
regardless of how it is established.
2:08:16 PM
TAMMY DAVIS, Invasive Species Coordinator, Alaska Department of
Fish & Game, explained that the question regarding whether a
council or a task force would best serve was out of her area of
expertise.
2:08:43 PM
CODY JACOBSON, Invasive Species Coordinator, Department of
Natural Resources, answered a question regarding whether a
council or a task force would work better by referring the
question to Rena Miller.
2:09:19 PM
RENA MILLER, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Department
of Natural Resources, responded to the question regarding
whether a task force or a council would be the better model for
dealing with invasive species. She said it would be a policy
call for the legislature, and the department would work with the
legislature whatever they decided.
2:09:58 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE maintained her objection.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Elam, Coulombe,
Rauscher, and Saddler voted in favor of Amendment 3 to HB 191,
as amended. Representatives Mears, Fields, Hall, Dibert, and
Burke voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 3 failed to be
adopted by a vote of 4-5.
2:11:31 PM
MS. DAVIS, in response to questions by Representative Saddler,
described her role as invasive species coordinator at ADF&G,
explaining that she facilitated, developed, and implemented all
aspects of invasive species management statewide. She explained
what entities on the state, tribal, and federal level they
worked with and concerns regarding rodents, marine species, and
other deleterious, exotic, and abusive wildlife. She pointed
out that invasive species are a threat to the environment,
economies, health, fish, and wildlife. She described steps that
are taken including raising awareness; investigating potential
pathways for species threat; partnering on detection and risk
assessment; and providing information to the public. She
discussed early detection monitoring networks and coordinating
with the University of Alaska. She mentioned water body mapping
and how water body vulnerabilities were ranked. She pointed out
what actions would take place prior to an invasive species
threat. She described early detection and rapid response plans
for the European green crab and other aquatic threats. She
discussed national and international organizations which address
threats from invasive species.
2:20:18 PM
MS. DAVIS responded to a question from Representative Saddler
regarding the work being done to meet the threats of invasive
species by pointing out the work done to eradicate northern
pike.
2:23:08 PM
MR. JACOBSON answered a series of questions from Representative
Saddler regarding meeting the threat of invasive species. He
described the statutory responsibilities for managing
terrestrial and freshwater plant species for pests and disease.
He discussed coordinating the work with other departments such
as ADF&G, transportation, and conservation as well as tribal
entities and federal partnerships such as Bureau of Land
Management and the park service. Efforts have been coordinated
through an invasive species hotline as well as soil and
conservation districts, communities, working groups, and task
forces. He described the work of Elodia task forces in Alaska
and their rapid response to new infestations. He gave an
example of the rapid response to Six-Mile Lake which took place
in a one-year period from infestation to full-lake treatment.
He discussed DNR's seed regulations which help the division of
agriculture's plant material center regulate the import or
spread of invasive species through seed.
2:28:03 PM
JOE FELKL responded to a question from Representative Saddler
regarding which department is best suited to deal with invasive
species by describing ADF&G's responsibilities. However, he
suggested that the question is actually a policy question for
the legislature.
2:29:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT commented that she was not sure it
mattered where it was housed. The most important point would be
that the work needs to be done and that not enough was being
done. She posited that the proposed council was a cost-
effective approach to the issue.
2:30:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS suggested that ADF&G would seem a good
match for responding to the potential threat of invasive
species.
2:30:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER reiterated his concern that the council
would create another layer of coordination rather than using
resources for the actual work.
2:31:35 PM
MS. DAVIS addressed a question posed by Co-Chair Dibert
regarding how goldfish became an invasive species. She
explained that they are a carp species which grow quite large
and are very invasive.
2:34:31 PM
CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to report HB 191, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE objected, noting that it was too
expensive.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER agreed with the objection.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Hall, Mears,
Fields, Dibert, and Burke voted in favor of moving HB 191, as
amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes. Representatives Elam, Coulombe,
Raucher, and Saddler voted against it. Therefore, CSHB 191(RES)
was reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee by a
vote of 5-4.