Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
02/17/2026 03:15 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB124 | |
| HB250 | |
| HB152 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 250 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 152 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 278 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 250-LAW ENFORCEMENT; CONCEALING ONE'S FACE
4:26:51 PM
CHAIR CARRICK announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 250, "An Act establishing the crime of wearing a
mask in public while acting as a peace officer; and providing
for an effective date." [Before the committee, adopted as a
working document on 2/10/26, was CSHB 250, Version 34-LS1284\I,
C. Radford, 1/21/26 ("Version I").]
CHAIR CARRICK announced the committee would hear invited
testimony.
4:27:29 PM
SEAN CASE, Chief, Anchorage Police Department, Municipality of
Anchorage, began his invited testimony on HB 250. He stated
that he opposes police officers wearing masks to conceal their
identity and he opposes HB 250. Officers serve openly with name
tags to ensure trust and accountability. He said using masks to
avoid doxing is not valid. The fear and the reality of stalking
have happened for decades without masking. Police officers have
been in riots with violence, and they keep their faces
uncovered. Police officers wear a badge with pride. This bill
attempts to solve a problem that doesn't exist in Alaska. State
and local officers are accountable to those people that they
serve with transparency.
4:31:45 PM
SARAH HIEB, Administrative Investigator I, Alaska Police
Standards Council, Alaska Department of Public Safety, answered
questions on HB 250.
4:32:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE no question but would like to express
appreciation to Chief Case.
4:33:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR asked what the stance of the Alaska
Police Council on masking is. He asked whether there would be a
reason to mask.
MS. HIEB replied that she doesn't have a good answer and would
need to get back to Representative St. Clair.
REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR asked whether there is anything in
standards or training that says officers need to mask anytime.
MS. HIEB replied there is nothing in the regulations on masking
of police officers.
4:35:18 PM
CHAIR CARRICK opened public testimony on HB 250, Version I.
4:35:30 PM
JAMES ALDRIDGE, representing self, testified in support of HB
250. He said he would like to see some amendments. This bill
is mostly about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
He would like to see numbered badge clearly displayed,
standardized uniforms, and judicial warrants.
4:36:45 PM
JAMES MANNING, representing self, testified in support of HB
250. He said he would like to see wearing a mask in combination
with committing an assault raised to a felony. He stated that
wearing a mask is a form of intimidation.
4:38:38 PM
BRIDGET SMITH, representing self, testified in support of HB
250. A peace officer wearing a mask to conceal his face would
lead me to question his motive. Masks are used by criminals to
conceal their identities. She mentioned the Klan and wearing
hoods to conceal their identity.
4:41:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR asked whether she had seen peace
officers with masks in Alaska.
MS. SMITH answered no, but there is a possibility with ICE.
4:42:15 PM
LAURA LUCAS, representing self, testified in support of HB 250.
She applauded the proactive action in Alaska in light of the
shooting of two individuals in Minneapolis. She said hearing
discussion that police officers in Alaska are not masked. The
public is responding to changes in this country that have not
been seen before. She discussed her experience as a social
worker and with deescalation in verbal and non-verbal
communication. Masks promote fear and contribute to an "us
versus them mentality." Masks have a capacity to transform the
wearer. The value of this legislation is to promote trust not
fear in peace officers.
4:45:05 PM
RIZA SMITH, representing self, testified in support of HB 250.
She said the bill is interesting because "we are not
encountering this in Alaska." The bill is in response to what
is occurring nationally.
4:47:05 PM
LUANN MCVEY, representing self, testified in support of HB 250.
She said wearing masks to conceal recalls the Ku Klux Klan and
the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. Face masks allow committing
crimes with anonymity. This bill is crafted with specific
exemptions for Alaska. She would like to congratulate Chief
Case on the wearing of badges, name tags, uniforms, and body
cams. Minneapolis probably did not anticipate someone coming in
with masks, but violence ensued. She said this bill would
strengthen community relationships with Alaska's police
officers.
4:50:02 PM
PAUL SEATON, representing self, testified in support of HB 250.
He said he knows no law enforcement in Alaska that intentionally
disguises themselves from the public. He would be opposed to
them doing so as it would create dangerous situations. He
supports the legislation for all law enforcement, state and
federal.
4:51:36 PM
BERNIE HOFFMAN, representing self, testified in support of HB
250. She said she supports the legislation for local, state,
and federal officials. She appreciates the bill looking to the
future to protect Alaskans. She said being anonymous leads to a
lack of trust. Thank you for the future protection of Alaska
residents.
4:53:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR apologized to Ms. Smith for his
previous comment.
MS. SMITH responded that's okay.
4:54:17 PM
CHAIR CARRICK, after ascertaining there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 250, Version I.
4:54:25 PM
CHAIR CARRICK announced that HB 250, Version I, was held over.