05/08/2025 03:15 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

                 SB 40-HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:24:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CARRICK  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be SENATE  BILL NO. 40,  "An Act establishing the  period between                                                               
September 15  and October  15 of each  year as  Hispanic Heritage                                                               
Month."                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:25:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, as prime  sponsor, reintroduced SB 40.                                                               
She gave  an introduction  and overview of  the bill  in Spanish.                                                               
She  told the  committee  that by  passing  this legislation  and                                                               
recognizing  Hispanic  Heritage  Month,  it would  send  a  clear                                                               
message  that  Alaska  values  diversity,  inclusivity,  and  the                                                               
recognition  of  the  many communities  that  contribute  to  our                                                               
shared success.  She urged support for the legislation.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:26:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VANCE   apologized  for  missing   previous  bill                                                               
discussions and  asked whether  Senator Elvi  could point  to any                                                               
notable Alaska  Hispanics that she  wanted to highlight  with the                                                               
establishment of a Hispanic Heritage Month.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  responded that  she believed  every citizen                                                               
in Alaska with a Hispanic background was notable.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:26:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE commented that  his chief of staff's family                                                               
was of Mexican descent and was personally notable to him.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:27:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT   moved  to  report  SB   [40]  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal notes.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:27:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:27 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CARRICK  noted that  the motion would  need to  be restated                                                               
[to correct the bill number in the motion].                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT moved  to report SB 40  out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.  There  being no objection, SB 40 was  reported out of the                                                               
House State Affairs Standing Committee.