Legislature(2025 - 2026)ADAMS 519
05/13/2025 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB95 | |
| SB96 | |
| SB97 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 95 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 97
"An Act establishing a big game guide concession area
permit program on land in the state; relating to the
duties of the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the
Board of Game, the Department of Fish and Game, and
the Department of Natural Resources; requiring the
Board of Game to establish an initial big game guide
concession area; and providing for an effective date."
6:58:43 PM
INTIMAYO HARBISON, STAFF, SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, introduced
the legislation. He explained that Senate Bill 97 sought to
solve a long-standing problem on state lands by
implementing a constitutionally sound concession program to
limit the number of commercial hunting guide operations on
state lands in Alaska. The program was similar to a
successful federal concession program and attempted to
solve issues of overcrowding and localized wildlife
resource overutilization. The legislation was a result of
the Guide Concession Program Workgroup (formed by the Big
Game Commercial Services Board), which conducted a
comprehensive process that included public meetings, and
robust public consultation with licensed guides, residents,
other stakeholders, and various state agencies. The
legislation represented a balanced, well-considered
approach to address the challenges in commercial big game
hunting on state lands. The passage of SB 97 would put
establish a proven mechanism to improve the quality of
hunting on state lands to the benefit of all Alaskans.
7:00:32 PM
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Foster recognized Senator Jesse Bjorkman in the
room.
Co-Chair Foster asked for a review of the three fiscal
notes. He listed individuals available online for
questions.
BRODIE ANDERSON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER, began
with the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) published fiscal
impact note (FN5(DFG), allocated to Boards of Fisheries and
Game. He reported that the funds coming from the
expenditure lines of $9.5 thousand in personal services,
$2.6 thousand in travel, and 2.3 thousand in services
totaled $14,000 in Undesignated General Funds (UGF) and
were included in the FY 26 governor's requested budget. He
noted that some regulation changes were required. He turned
to the second published fiscal impact note from Department
of Fish and Game (FN4(DFG), allocated to Wildlife
Conservation. He indicated that the expenditures reflected
personal services of $112.3 thousand in UGF. The department
anticipated the cost due to the requirement for an
additional wildlife biologist position to manage ongoing
responsibilities. The last published fiscal impact note was
from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)(FN6(DNR),
allocated to Mining, Land, and Water. The fiscal note
reflected the governor's FY 26 requested budget including
$291.6 thousand in personal services, $10 thousand in
travel, $30 thousand in services, and $10 thousand in
commodities totaling $341.6 thousand UGF. There were two
full time positions and DNR noted that the change in
revenue was indeterminate, and the bills provisions would
also require regulation review. He delineated that the two
positions were one permanent Full-Time Natural Resource
Manager 2, and one permanent Full-Time Natural Resource
Specialist 2/3 Flex.
7:05:42 PM
Representative Allard asked if the sponsor spoke to the
resident hunters. She cited testimony and reported that
they were opposed to the bill.
Mr. Harbison did not believe there was any additional
opposition information other than what was referenced by
Representative Allard. The bill did not originate with the
Senate Resources Committee in the prior bill. He was not
familiar with the particulars around the particular group's
positions. He deferred to the department for questions.
Representative Allard asked if the intent was to move the
bill.
Co-Chair Foster answered in the affirmative, but it was up
to the will of the committee. Representative Allard wanted
to hold the bill overnight to discover more information.
Representative Bynum reminded the committee that the bill
was one of the cleanup bills and it was currently in law.
The funds were already in the budget. He wondered what
options existed other than to deconstruct the law.
Representative Allard voiced that she was being mansplained
[colloquialism] to. Representative Bynum argued that he was
not mansplaining anything and merely wanted to determine
what the intention to hold the bill was for.
7:08:56 PM
AT EASE
7:10:06 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Allard did not totally disagree with the
bill. There were a couple of individuals she wanted to get
a bit of information from. She asked if they could hold the
bill until the following day.
Co-Chair Foster noted that Thor Stacy was in the room and
available as well.
Co-Chair Schrage recognized there may be a desire to check
in with other stakeholders. There was a lot of work left
before the committee and time was dwindling. He preferred
moving the bill before conclusion of the meeting.
7:11:59 PM
Representative Allard agreed to move the bill if it was the
will of the committee.
Representative Tomaszewski wanted to move both SB 96 and SB
97.
Representative Allard objected to moving SB 96 from
committee.
Co-Chair Schrage MOVED to REPORT SB 97 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
SB 97 was REPORTED out of committee with six "do pass"
recommendations and four "no recommendation"
recommendations and with three previously published fiscal
impact notes: FN4 (DFG), FN5 (DFG), and FN6 (DNR).
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the schedule for the following
meeting.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 97 Public Testimony Rec'd by 051325.pdf |
HFIN 5/13/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 97 |