Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120

05/15/2025 10:30 AM House FISHERIES

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Audio Topic
10:35:08 AM Start
10:36:11 AM HCR1
10:46:09 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Please Note Time Change --
+= HCR 1 JOINT SPORT FISH SVC PROVIDERS TASK FORCE TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHCR 1(FSH) Out of Committee
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
        HCR 1-JOINT SPORT FISH SVC PROVIDERS TASK FORCE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:36:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE  CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION  NO.   1,  Establishing  the  Joint                                                               
Legislative  Task Force  on Sport  Fishing  Service Providers  in                                                               
Southeast Alaska.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:36:53 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON noted that  he was comfortable forgoing the                                                               
reintroduction since the information was still "fresh."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:37:21 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT  moved to  adopt Amendment  1 to  HCR 1,                                                               
labeled 34-LS0208\G.2, Bullard, 5/12/25, which read as follows:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 11:                                                                                                           
          Delete "limit"                                                                                                        
          Insert "manage"                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
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               "(3)   four members appointed by  the speaker                                                                    
     of the house of representatives as follows:                                                                                
               (A)  one member who  is a tribal citizen or a                                                                    
     leader of a Native corporation  under 43 U.S.C. 1601 et                                                                    
     seq.  (Alaska Native  Claims Settlement  Act) or  other                                                                    
     tribal  organization  and  who  lives  in  an  area  of                                                                    
     Southeast  Alaska  in   which  sport  fishing  services                                                                    
     occur;                                                                                                                     
               (B)    one member  who  is  recommended by  a                                                                    
     regional Southeast Alaska  organization that represents                                                                    
     guides in the sport fishing service sector;                                                                                
               (C)    one   member  who  possesses  relevant                                                                    
     policy  experience and  is  currently representing  the                                                                    
     interests of  the sport fishing  service industry  on a                                                                    
     Southeast Alaska  advisory committee  established under                                                                    
     AS 16.05.260;                                                                                                              
               (D)    one   member  who  possesses  relevant                                                                    
     policy  experience and  is  currently representing  the                                                                    
     interests   of  recreational   sport  fishermen   on  a                                                                    
     Southeast Alaska  advisory committee  established under                                                                    
     AS 16.05.260; and                                                                                                          
               (4)     three   members   appointed  by   the                                                                    
     president of the senate as follows:                                                                                        
               (A)  one member  who is a self-guided fishing                                                                    
     operator  in  Southeast  Alaska  with  relevant  policy                                                                    
     experience;                                                                                                                
               (B)   one  member recommended  by a  regional                                                                    
     Southeast  Alaska organization  that represents  guides                                                                    
     in the sport fishing service sector;                                                                                       
               (C)    one   member  who  possesses  relevant                                                                    
     policy  experience and  is  currently representing  the                                                                    
     interests  of  commercial   fishermen  on  a  Southeast                                                                    
     Alaska    advisory    committee    established    under                                                                    
     AS 16.05.260; and be it"                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
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          Delete "but are entitled to per diem and travel                                                                       
     expenses  authorized for  boards and  commissions under                                                                    
     AS 39.20.180"                                                                                                              
          Insert "and are not entitled to per diem and                                                                          
     travel expenses"                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
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               "(10)  members of the task force may                                                                             
      virtually attend meetings of the task force; and be                                                                       
     it"                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
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CHAIR STUTES objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT  responded that her staff  could explain                                                               
the changes associated with the amendment.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:37:58 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
THATCHER  BROUWER, Staff,  Representative  Rebecca Himschoot,  on                                                               
behalf of the prime  sponsor, Representative Himschoot, explained                                                               
the changes associated with Amendment 1 to HCR 1.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:40:52 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES, removed her objection  to Amendment 1.  There being                                                               
no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:41:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES said  that she understood what the  bill sponsor was                                                               
trying to do but she was  confused as to why legislation would be                                                               
needed to  bring stakeholders together  to discuss an  issue that                                                               
involves them all when this is a regional issue.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:42:07 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT  responded   that  there  were  several                                                               
letters of  support regarding HCR  1, which  involved subsistence                                                               
users,  tribes, commercial  fishermen,  guide organizations,  and                                                               
guides who  want to  come together  to talk.   She said  that the                                                               
need was there and this is  such a contentious issue that not one                                                               
group has  the power  to bring  people together.   She  said that                                                               
stakeholders are  looking to the  legislature for  leadership, to                                                               
bring people together on neutral  grounds, allow discussions, and                                                               
find solutions.   She said that  she was in discussions  with the                                                               
Southeast Conference to  have a round table  meeting in September                                                               
to prepare for the work ahead.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES responded that she  appreciated the response but was                                                               
still at  a loss as to  why this would require  legislation.  She                                                               
said that  everyone is  facing the same  issue, and  she imagines                                                               
the common thread is to look for a solution.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:43:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOPP shared  that  initially he  had had  similar                                                               
thoughts as  Chair Stutes and  what evolved in his  thinking over                                                               
time was how  vast the state is and how  many different fisheries                                                               
regions the  state has.   He said that  if this issue  could turn                                                               
into a "good  model" for other parts of the  state, then he could                                                               
get excited  about that.   He commented  on how  contentious Cook                                                               
Inlet fishing was and Southeast  "could break trail a little bit"                                                               
and produce a positive outcome.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:44:52 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report  HCR 1 out of committee, as                                                               
amended,  with individual  recommendations  and the  accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.    There  being no  objection,  CSHCR  1(FSH)  was                                                               
reported out of the House Special Committee on Fisheries.                                                                       

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HCR 1 Sponsor Statement (1).pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1
HCR 1 Version G 1.31.25 (2).pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1
HCR 1 - Amendment #1.pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1
HCR 1 Explanation of Changes - Amendment One 5.14.25.pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1
HCR1 Fiscal note LEG-COU-03-24-2025 (3).pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1
HCR 1 Research - SEAGO Economic Study 1.24.25 (6).pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1
HCR 1 Testimony - Received by 5.12.25.pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1
HCR 1 Letter of Support - UFA 5.14.25.pdf HFSH 5/15/2025 10:30:00 AM
HCR 1