05/14/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION

               HJR 25-INTERNATIONAL TEACHER VISAS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:56:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   TOBIN  announced   the  consideration   of  HOUSE   JOINT                                                               
RESOLUTION  NO. 25  am Supporting  and encouraging  the continued                                                               
recruitment and  retention of international educators  on J-1 and                                                               
H-1B visas in the state.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:57:14 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:57:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:57:54 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHAEL   MASON,  Staff,   Senator  Löki   Tobin,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  introduced  HJR 25  stating it  is                                                               
identical legislation  to SJR 21,  that the committee  has heard.                                                               
[Passing]  the resolution  would put  on record  that the  Alaska                                                               
Legislature  supports   the  J-1  and  H-1B   visa  programs  and                                                               
international  teachers.  International  teachers have  become  a                                                               
vital resource to  Alaska's schools. He mentioned  there are many                                                               
areas  across the  state  that  rely on  the  J-1  and H-1B  visa                                                               
programs to  fill vacant  teaching positions  for the  benefit of                                                               
student education.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:59:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony  on HJR 25; finding none, she                                                               
closed public testimony.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:59:31 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS  stated that someone had  expressed concern about                                                               
students  having  difficulty   understanding  teachers  from  the                                                               
Philippines. He responded by sharing  that his two granddaughters                                                               
praised  their Filipino  teachers  and found  them effective  and                                                               
well-liked. He  emphasized the shortage of  American teachers and                                                               
supported  hiring qualified  teachers  from  the Philippines.  He                                                               
voiced strong support for the bill.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:00:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:00:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STEVENS  moved to  report  HJR  25  am, work  order  34-                                                               
LS0947\A.A,  from committee  with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:00:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR TOBIN  found no objection and  HJR 25 am was  reported from                                                               
the Senate Education Standing Committee.