04/22/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

                    HB 375-ENERGY SOURCES OF MOTOR VEHICLES                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:20:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE    CHAIR     JUSTIN    RUFFRIDGE       announced      that    the    first    order     of                                 
business       would     be   HOUSE      BILL    NO.    375,     "An    Act     prohibiting                                     
certain      restrictions        based     on    the    energy     source      of   a   motor                                   
vehicle."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:21:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE         KEVIN    MCCABE,     Alaska     State    Legislature,        as  prime                                   
sponsor,     presented      the   sponsor     statement      for   HB   375   [included      in                                 
committee      packet],      which     read    as   follows     [original       punctuation                                     
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
       HB375      seeks     to    ensure      the    freedom      of    choice      for                                         
       consumers       in    Alaska     regarding       the    energy     source     of                                         
       their    motor    vehicles.      By   prohibiting       state    agencies     or                                         
       political        subdivisions          from     imposing        restrictions                                             
       based    on   the   energy    source     used   by   a  motor    vehicle,     we                                         
       aim    to    promote     fairness,       innovation,        diversity,       and                                         
       market competition in the transportation sector.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
       The   definition       of  "energy     source"     provided      in  this    Act                                         
       is      comprehensive,           encompassing          traditional         fuel                                          
       sources       like      gasoline        and     diesel,       as     well     as                                         
       alternative        sources      such     as,    electricity,        hydrogen,                                            
       and     solar      power      or    a    combination        thereof.       This                                          
       inclusive       definition       ensures     that    consumers       have    the                                         
       flexibility        to   choose      from    a   range    of    options     that                                          
       best    suit    the   needs     of   Alaskans     and    the   harsh     winter                                          
       environments we often find ourselves in.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
       This     legislation        supports       a   dynamic       transportation                                              
       sector       in     Alaska,       affirming        our      commitment        to                                         
       individual        choice,      technological        advancement,         and    a                                        
       thriving automotive industry.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
       I  urge    my   fellow    legislators       to   support     this   important                                            
       bill     for    the    benefit      of    our    constituents         and    our                                         
       state's future.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:23:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JULIE    MORRIS,      Staff,     Representative         Kevin    McCabe,     Alaska     State                                   
Legislature,        on  behalf     of   Representative        McCabe,      prime    sponsor,                                    
read    the    sectional      analysis      for   HB   375    [included      in   committee                                     
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
       Section      1:   Amends     AS    28.90    by   adding      a  new    section                                           
       that     prohibits      certain      restrictions        based     on    energy                                          
       source.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
       A   state     agency     or   political      subdivion       [sic]    may    not                                         
       restrict      the    use   or   sale    of    motor    vehicles      based    on                                         
       the energy source used by the motor vehicle.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
       The    term    "energy     source"     is   also    defined     as   a   source                                          
       including          gasoline,         diesel        fuel,        electricity,                                             
       hydrogen,       solar     power,     or    a   combination        of   sources                                           
       used     to   a   motor     vehicle     for    propulsion       purposes      or                                         
       other functions of the motor vehicles [sic].                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE opened invited testimony on HB 375.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:25:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COLBY     MARTIN,     Government       Affairs      Director,      Specialty      Equipment                                     
Market     Association       (SEMA),     gave    invited     testimony      in   support     of                                 
HB   375.     He   said    SEMA    has   18   offices     in   Alaska    and    contributes                                     
$325     million      to     the    state's       economy;      employes       over     1,700                                   
individuals;         and    generates       over     $121     million      in    wages     and                                  
benefits     and   $34   million     in   taxes.      He  said    HB  375   would    empower                                    
consumers       to    make     decisions        about     the     cars     they     buy    and                                  
encourage       manufactures         to    innovate.          He    spoke     on    the    car                                  
aftermarket         industry       and     said     the     bill      would     provide       a                                 
competitive       marketplace        for   all    kinds     of   cars.       He   urged    the                                  
committee      to   support     the   bill    and   allow    the   automotive       industry                                    
to    continue      delivering       the    freedom      and    choice     that     Alaskans                                    
deserve.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:28:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE         CARRICK     asked    whether     Mr.    Martin     if   is  aware     of                                 
any   states     or  municipalities        that    are   considering       legislation       to                                 
limit vehicles based on energy source.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.     MARTIN      indicated       that     California's         emission       policy      is                                 
setting      a  precedent       for    other    states     to    follow.       He    said    he                                 
wants     to    make     sure    that     Alaska      does    not     follow     that     same                                  
precedent.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE         CARRICK     asked    whether     any   Alaska     municipality        is                                 
seeking to limit fuel source.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:29:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE        MCCABE     answered     no,   there    are   no   ongoing     attempts                                    
in   Alaska.       He  detailed      proposed      legislation       in  California       that                                  
would    prohibit      internal      combustion       engines     in   an   attempt     to   do                                 
away    with    fossil     fuel,    oil,    diesel,      and   gasoline.        He   pointed                                    
out     that     some     internal       combustion         engines      burn     hydrogen;                                     
consequently,         the    legislation         inadvertently         limited      a   clean                                   
option.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:31:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE        SADDLER     pointed     out   that    California      put   forth    the                                  
plastic     bag   ban,    which    was   implemented      in   some    municipalities        in                                 
Alaska.       He   opined    that    being    proactive      to   keep   "strange      ideas"                                   
from percolating northward from California is a good idea.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:31:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE         PRAX     asked     whether     the    list     of   energy      source                                   
means should include biofuel, propane, compressed natural gas.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE        MCCABE     stated    that    the   list   of   power    availability                                      
was meant to be a representative example, not a complete list.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE        CARRICK     pointed     out   that    electric     bicycles      can   be                                 
defined      as   motor     vehicles      and    wondered      whether      human    powered                                    
transit should be included as well.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:33:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that HB 375 would be held over.