Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
03/03/2026 03:15 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB130 | |
| HB250 | |
| HB290|| HCR10 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HCR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 290 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 250 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 250-LAW ENFORCEMENT; CONCEALING ONE'S FACE
3:51:07 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 the proposed CS for HB 250,
Version 34-LS1284\I, C. Radford, 1/21/26, ("Version I").]
CHAIR CARRICK welcomed Sarah Hieb with the Alaska Police
Standards Council. Chief Case was invited to join today, but he
was not available.
3:52:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR stated that the Anchorage police chief
opposed this legislation. California legislation has been used
as an example and only includes federal agencies. The Los
Angeles Police Department is not enforcing [this legislation].
He said anyone can ask an officer for their badge number and the
officer should comply. He is opposed to this legislation.
CHAIR CARRICK said she is hesitant to put it into statute. Five
years ago, body-worm cameras ("body cams") were not standard and
were opposed by law enforcement agencies and now law enforcement
are very supportive of this tool to help avoid
misinterpretation.
3:54:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE noted the committee had considered right
to privacy in another meeting but are not concerned about the
rights of privacy of law officers. At times, the public has
wanted body cams and not wanted them other times. He is
concerned about the safety of Alaska law enforcement officers
and their families. He expressed concerns about making a video
or doing anything with voices. Officers are trying to protect
themselves. Officers didn't sign up for people to go to their
homes and dox them. A person can lift an officer's likeness in
film doing something. For now, he is concerned about protecting
those officers.
3:57:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SARA HANNAN, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 250, Version I answered questions. There was
opposition from the police of chief in Anchorage and two other
police unions opposed. There were no references to doxing.
This is not a practice of Alaska law enforcement. Frequently,
Alaska sees federal standards coming to the states. If Alaska
has a standard that Alaska police departments use, then this
won't be an issue. She talked to the need for deescalation or a
community police officer having a mental health crisis. This
bill affirms the standards that peace officers train in Alaska
and currently uses.
4:00:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR stated that he obviously opposes this
legislation. He said he has asked, how often officers have been
seen masked in the manner described, and no one can tell him.
In some example protests, the protestors are masked. The law
enforcement said this legislation is not needed, and he supports
them.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated that Representative Hannan wants to
establish a clear standard for peace officers. She said instead
of having it as a standard, HB 250 would make wearing a mask a
crime. She asked Representative Hannan to explain her approach.
4:02:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN replied that the Alaska Police Council
does not set standards for all levels of law enforcement in
Alaska. She wants to make sure all levels from Village Public
Safety Officers (VPSOs) to federal officers follow this law.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said that the committee is talking about
Minneapolis and a couple deaths. If the Minneapolis police were
there to protect the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) officers, it likely wouldn't have happened. A federal ICE
officer would come to Alaska with the support of local officers.
He said that Alaska needs to protect Alaska officers. He is
opposed to this bill.
4:04:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she wished that Alaska didn't need
this piece of legislation. She is trying to prevent something
that may happen in Alaska. Peace officers should be working
together at all different levels.
CHAIR CARRICK said she appreciates the discussion and she noted
that Representative St. Clair is a former police officer. This
legislation is very preventive and becoming a widespread issue
in other states. She said kudos to Alaska's law enforcement and
the committee for addressing an area where the state can prevent
an issue.
4:07:30 PM
SARAH HIEB, Administrative Investigator, Alaska Police Standards
Council, provided testimony on HB 250. She said the standards
council doesn't have a position on this legislation at this
time.
4:07:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE offered her understanding that the bill
sponsor wanted "to take action in response to what happened" and
thought it "would prevent what is happening across the nation."
She stated that it was an accidental death. She asked how
preventing peace officers from wearing masks would prevent
accidental deaths.
CHAIR CARRICK said that not masking is a way to prevent
escalation. A lot is lost with mask, and she wishes that
protestors would not mask as well. Law enforcement officers are
acting as public figures and agents of the law.
4:10:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked if there is data showing a direct
correlation of escalation resulting from masking. She pointed
out that during the COVID years, masking was required by the
government. She has a concern about the impact on recruitment
and retention of public safety, which is a nationwide problem.
Retirements from 2019-2022 are up 30 percent and resignations
are up 47 percent too! Public perception is a factor in
recruiting and retention. There are law enforcements agencies
saying that HB 250 is not needed. It won't prevent an
unfortunate death but make it a crime for a police officer to
wear a mask when the officer feels it was necessary to wear one.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said the bill was drafted before the death
occurred. She reemphasized how quickly things escalate when
people are not identifiable. She wants to preserve the
standards of officers in Alaska. She said body cams are not
required in Alaska but are good for law enforcement to have
verification of their interactions with the public. She noted
she has an additional amendment pertaining to Special Weapons
and Tactics (SWAT).
4:18:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT stated that yesterday's hearing was
about federal overreach. She shared about a family in
Minneapolis trying to get food for a family who got pepper
sprayed. She asked, what is the standard for an identification
of an officer?
MS. HIEB replied that the Alaska Police Standards Council do not
have any standards in this area.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked why peace officers wear nametags.
MS. HIEB said generally so officers can be identified.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked how the council sets its
standards.
MS. HIEB replied that the council sets minimum hiring and
training standards. There are regulations on how a person could
fall below those standards and lose their certificate.
4:21:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether an officer holds a
license.
MS. HIEB replied that officers have a certificate after working
for a full year and meeting all the requirements.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether there is a code of
ethics.
MS. HIEB replied yes, there is a code of ethics.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked who writes the code of ethics.
MS. HIEB answered that it is in the regulations and adopted by
council members.
4:22:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated regardless of when the bill was
written; the Minnesota event happened because politics got
involved. He asked, "Are we doing the same thing?" Badging and
name tags fall to the departments not the statewide council.
MS. HIEB replied that it is a departmental thing how officers
respond.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated legislators make a mistake when
they get into police department business.
CHAIR CARRICK said she heard a lot of different perspectives and
appreciated the discussion.
4:25:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated that one thing that happened during
the COVID pandemic was a lot of retirements not limited to
police officers. Public servants interact with others. She
doesn't think that politicians involved in the Minnesota
influenced what happened. She said it is a shame that the
federal government felt officers had to mask.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said while she disagrees with it being a
crime for a police officer to mask; she appreciates the bill
sponsor trying to find a workable solution.
4:28:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked if the changes by the bill sponsor
would be made through amendments. If committee members could
see the amendments then they wouldn't be duplicated.
4:29:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said an amendment has been distributed to
some offices.
REPRESENTATIVE ST. CLAIR said tomorrow as a deadline is short
notice considering the sponsor's amendment.
CHAIR CARRICK said if committee members don't have them back by
the deadline let office know.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if someone from the Department of
Law would be available for the amendment process.
4:31:35 PM
CHAIR CARRICK announced that HB 250 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 130 Amendment N.1.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 130 |
| HB 130 Amendment N.2.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 130 |
| HB 290 HCR 10 Backup Memo about Transmittal of Resoluitions.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 290 HCR 10 |
| HB 290 HCR 10 Backup LRS Role of Lt. Gov In Resolution Distribution.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 290 HCR 10 |
| HB 130 Amendment N.3.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 130 |
| HB 130 Backup GGU and SU Contracts Flex Time Credits.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 130 |
| HB 250 Letter from APDEA 2-20-26.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 250 |
| HB 290 HCR 10 Backup Time Limits on Gov Signature for Resolutions.pdf |
HSTA 3/3/2026 3:15:00 PM |
HB 290 HCR 10 |