Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
02/26/2026 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB304 | |
| HB253 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 304 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 253 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 304-SPORT FISH SURCHARGE
10:04:02 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 304,"An Act relating to the duties of the
commissioner of fish and game; establishing the sport fishing
angler access account; establishing the sport fishing angler
access surcharge; and providing for an effective date."
10:04:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT moved to adopt the proposed Committee
Substitute (CS) to HB 304, labeled 34-LS1375\G, Bullard,
2/24/26.
10:04:45 AM
CHAIR STUTES objected for the purpose of discussion.
10:05:06 AM
JANE PIERSON, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of the House Special Committee on
Fisheries, presented the CS to HB 304. She explained that there
were a few changes from Version I to Version G. The changes can
be explained as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Sec. 2 - AS 16.05.050 (c) (Page 1, Lines 12-13) The
biennial report has been changed to a report every
four years.
Sec. 3 AS 16.05.130 (i) (Page 1, Line 14 Page 2,
Lines 1-10) Changes how monies in the sports fishing
angler access account shall be disseminated. First to
produce the report, with the remainder to be allocated
to programs intended to directly benefit license
purchasers by developing, improving, and maintaining
access, facilities and other infrastructure, and
services for nonmotorized sports fishing.
Sec. 5 in version I AS 16.05.340(i) is removed,
because version G no longer has a sunset date and the
subsection is therefore no longer necessary.
Sec 5 AS 16.05.340 (Page 2, Line 22- Page 3, Line
11) Changes the angler access surcharge from $1 for
sportfish licenses to a specified amount for each
sports fishing license type (the new scale can be
found on page 3). This section still maintains that
residents who are eligible for a low-income resident
license or a free military license are exempt from
paying a surcharge.
Sec 7 & Sec 10 in version I Are eliminated since
version G no longer includes a sunset date. These two
sections were in version I and were deleted from
version G. Sec. 7 were the repealers for January 1,
2032, sunset date found in section 10 in version I.
Sec 7 & 8 (Page 3, Lines 18-19) are conforming
amendments to the effective dates in version G
of HB 304.
10:07:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE commented that he appreciates the help
putting the Committee Substitute together and felt that it helps
the original bill. He appreciated the sunset date being removed
and felt that every four years there was a reasonable timeline
for generating a report. Additionally, he felt that supporting
the Sportfishing Angler Access Account was good.
10:09:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked about the original report in 2007
known as the "Economic Impacts and Contributions of Sportfishing
in Alaska." She appreciated that a new report could be prepared
every 4 years. She said that no sunset date is a little bit
concerning since sunset dates give the legislature an
opportunity to review processes. She asked that in 2007,
whether the state still had freshwater logs to help ascertain
how many fish were removed from rivers and whether this
information was tied into the original report.
CHAIR STUTES noted that the Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
Commissioner, Doug Vincent-Lang, and ADF&G Legislative Liaison,
Joe Felkl, were available to address these types of questions.
10:10:38 AM
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, Commissioner, responded that he was not sure
whether freshwater fishing logs were around in 2007. However,
he noted that there was statewide harvest survey information
that went into the study. He was not sure whether the saltwater
logbook program was operational as well.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said that the reason she asked is that a
great report is built with great data. She said that there had
been provisions in place to have data based on the sportfishing
industry and currently there was no freshwater logbook program
in place. She inquired how the state would build the economic
report moving forward. She noted that support for the proposed
legislation included future efforts to acquire data rather than
rely on surveys and perceptions. She said that a dollar value
needs to be tied into the fish to allow for better Board of
Fisheries (BOF) decision making.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded that he could follow up with
information from 2007 [when the previous economic study was
conducted]. He said that for the new survey, there would be
statewide saltwater logbook data available. He said that while
freshwater logbook data was not available, there are other ways
of ascertaining information from freshwater sportfishing
operations. He noted that ADF&G is in the process of updating
surveys to allow for better in-season reporting.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether the freshwater sportfish
charters were required to send surveys out like personal use
fishery participants are required to fill out.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded it depends where you operate
in the state. He noted that in some places in the Kenai River,
there are still some in-season assessments, whereas other areas
there are no logbook requirements. He said that there used to
be a requirement for freshwater logbooks, but it was ended by
the legislature.
10:15:00 AM
JOE FELKL, Legislative Liaison, Alaska Department of Fish &
Game, said that there was an evaluation of the CS and ADF&G
anticipates the generated revenue at approximately $900,000
annually. He said that this would provide the department with
sufficient funds for the current Sportfishing Angler Access
Program. He said that projects associated with the program
include the construction of trails, fish cleaning stations, land
acquisition, camping facilities, restrooms, and a variety of
other amenities.
CHAIR STUTES noted that the report would take priority.
MR. FELKL confirmed that the economic report would take priority
over these types of projects.
CHAIR STUTES asked whether there was any impact on funds
generated from the Dingell-Johnson Act.
MR. FELKL noted that the current Sportfishing Angler Access
Program uses some Dingell Johnson funds and the proposed bill
would provide a dedicated revenue stream for angler access
projects, allowing Dingell Johnson funds to be utilized in other
areas as well.
10:17:19 AM
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG added that there is a federal mandate
that 15 percent of these funds need to go into boating access
projects. He said that ADF&G has struggled over the last
several years regarding how the state can pay for non-boating
access projects. He said that this directly competes with other
Dingell Johnson funds and the proposed bill would facilitate the
completion of other projects.
10:18:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said that he was interested to find out
that in 2022 non-resident licenses amounted to 376,022 and the
resident licenses amount to 259,517. He said that if someone
was involved in tourism, this is the kind of data that could be
sought. He noted that Representative Vance and him recently
were meeting and there was a discussion of "bare boats." He
said that bare boats are where there is a lodge that has dozens
of boats, with no guides, therefore no logbooks. He discussed
the process that someone would use a bareboat. He said that it
is important that the survey covers this kind of activity, and
how many bare boats were in operation. He noted that bare boat
operations have irritated many Alaskans.
10:20:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked for Commissioner Vincent-Lang's
perspective on bare boats.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG said that the issue of bare boat
charters is a growing issue. He said that there are two points
that the department would like to evaluate. One, how many bare
boats are in operation and being rented. Two, what the harvest
totals are coming from bare boat operations. He said that
harvest totals are more difficult to ascertain since on a
charter vessel, a guide is responsible for logging a catch. He
said that when redesigning the harvest survey, the question
would be whether someone participated in a fishery while using a
bare boat.
10:21:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked what the intent was regarding
distribution of the report. She asked about what type of format
the report might take and what the intent might be.
COMMISSIONER VINCENT-LANG responded that he would hope that
ADF&G would get a report back from whatever consultant would get
hired and the report would be used to develop both a paper and
electronic report. He did not envision printing hundreds of
copies of a large report.
10:23:12 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 10:23 a.m. to 10:27 a.m.
10:27:09 AM
CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on HB 304. After
ascertaining that nobody wished to testify, closed public
testimony.
10:27:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT moved to report HB 301 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, CSBH 301 (FSH), Version 34-
LS1375\G, Bullard, 2/24/26 was moved from the House Special
Committee on Fisheries.
10:28:41 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 304.Ver I Sponsor Statement.2.13.26.pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
|
| HB304 Ver I.2.13.26.pdf |
HFSH 2/19/2026 10:00:00 AM HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB304 Ver I Sectional Analysis.2.13.26.pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB304 Ver I.Supporting Docs Jan 2026 FG Closures.2.13.26.pdf |
HFSH 2/19/2026 10:00:00 AM HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB304 Ver I. 2007 Economic_impacts_of_fishing Report.2.13.26.pdf |
HFSH 2/19/2026 10:00:00 AM HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB 304 ver I FN DF&G.pdf |
HFSH 2/19/2026 10:00:00 AM HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB 304 ver. I letter of opposition.pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB 304 HFSH CS ver. G.pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB 304 Explanation of Changes ver. I to ver. G.pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB 304 Support State of Alaska 2025 License and Tags Issued 1.22.26.pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 304 |
| HB 253 Sponsor Statement - Version N 02.20.2026 (1).pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 253 |
| HB 253 Bill ver. N (2).pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 253 |
| HB 253 Sectional Analysis - Version N 02.20.2026 (3).pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 253 |
| HB 253 FN DCCED 2.20.26 (4).pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 253 |
| HB 253 FN DF&G 2.20.26 (5).pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM |
HB 253 |
| HB 253 Version N Legal Memo on Collateralization 02.24.2026.pdf |
HFSH 2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM HFSH 3/3/2026 10:30:00 AM |
HB 253 |