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.