Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/25/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB95 || SB96 || SB97 | |
| SB97 | |
| SB95 | |
| SB96 | |
| 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 | |
SENATE BILL NO. 95
"An Act relating to the child care assistance program
and the child care grant program; and providing for an
effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 96
"An Act relating to education tax credits for certain
payments and contributions for child care and child
care facilities; relating to the insurance tax
education credit, the income tax education credit, the
oil or gas producer education credit, the property tax
education credit, the mining business education
credit, the fisheries business education credit, and
the fisheries resource landing tax education credit;
providing for an effective date by amending the
effective date of secs. 1, 2, and 21, ch. 61, SLA
2014; and providing for an effective date."
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."
9:05:01 AM
MEGAN WALLACE, CHIEF COUNSEL, LEGISLATIVE LEGAL SERVICES
(via teleconference), affirmed that the three bills on the
agenda were related to the passage of SB 189, which had
passed the previous session and was enacted into law. She
continued that the three bills together, in addition to the
contents of SB 80, were contained in SB 189 last session.
Ms. Wallace informed that an issue had arisen under Article
2 Section 13, which required bills to be combined to a
single subject. She said that SB 189 has been challenged
under the single subject rule. She referenced a lawsuit
filed in the Juneau Superior Court (copy on file) regarding
an alleged constitutional violation, that SB 189 violated
the single-subject clause because there was no single
subject to describe the contents of the bill after the
various components had been added at the end of last
session.
Ms. Wallace relayed that the status of the pending
litigation was that the plaintiff, former Representative
David Eastman, had filed a motion for summary judgement
asking the court to invalidate the passage of SB 189. In
response the state had filed a motion for a stay of
proceedings until the end of session to allow the
legislature to pass curative legislation. The motion asked
that the court give the legislature time to hear the
alleged defects. The plaintiff had opposed the motion and
requested oral argument on the motion to stay. There had
not been a ruling on the motion to stay.
9:08:31 AM
Ms. Wallace explained that the passage of the bills,
irrespective of pending litigation, would ensure that if
the litigation was successful, once the bills were passed
there would be no impact to the law previously passed by
the legislature. If the curative legislation was not
passed, there was some risk that if the court struck down
the passage of SB 189, all provisions of the bill would be
struck down and the legislature would have to bring the
impacted items back to the table.
9:09:55 AM
Senator Kiehl expressed an appreciation for the briefing.
He relayed that his work in committee would reflect the
merits of the legislation and not the reason that the items
were back before the committee.
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."
9:10:33 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman relayed that this was the bills first
hearing.
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, explained that there was a
long-standing problem on state lands that included
overhunting and conflicts between resident, subsistence,
and guided hunters. The guide concession program would
create areas much like federal concession land areas and
would limit the number of hunters in each area. The
provision would prevent an overabundance of guided hunts in
hunting areas. There was no limit placed on Alaska resident
hunters or subsistence hunters.
Senator Giessel continued that a big game guide would have
to go through a competitive process. The permit area would
be granted for a ten-year duration and applicants could
compete for concession areas. There were limited
transferability conditions provided in the bill for the
permits should there be a need for transference. There was
a fee structure that would support the program. The federal
program had been very successful, and the bill modeled that
program. She relayed that she knew resident hunters that
had felt overwhelmed by guided hunts taking place in the
areas. There was a public, competitive process and the
program would start with one game unit before expanding
after success was demonstrated.
Senator Giessel noted that the subject of the bill had been
considered over several years. She emphasized that support
for the bill had grown over the years. She noted that
guided hunts brought in a huge amount of revenue to the
state and contributed to the Department of Fish and Game
Division of Wildlife - $15.2 million per year. She noted
the committee concern that boards and commissions be self-
funded. She shared that the Big Game Board had been a
deficit of $1 million but had paid their debt and the board
was now solvent and would oversee the program.
9:15:30 AM
9:15:44 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked for a detailed explanation of how
the initial permits would be issued. He pondered that the
permits would last ten years, and wondered how the permits
would be renewed. He asked whether the bill would lead to
the privatization of natural resources. He thought that
limited entry fishing had created problems.
Senator Giessel drew attention to Section 3 of the bill,
which addressed the open competitive permit process:
Section 3: Creates new section AS 38.05.021 empowering
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to
administer the implementation of the big game guide
concession area permit program on land approved by the
BOG.
Outlines that the overarching goals of the guide
concession program are to encourage long-term minded
conservation, enhance customer experience, reduce user
conflicts, and ensure responsible, professional,
economically guiding industry.
Establishes the features of the guide concession
program permits:
1. All permits are awarded an open, public, and
competitive process.
2. A guide may not hold more than three concession
permits at a time.
3. Permits are valid for 10 years.
4. Permits may not be extended or renewed without the
same open, public, and competitive process.
5. Permits may be transferred to another individual
based on conditions set in regulation that are
consistent with the overarching goals of the guide
concession program.
6. If the terms of statute or regulation are violated,
permit may be suspended or revoked after the permit
holder has been given written notice and opportunity
to be heard.
Section 3 further empowers the DNR, in consultation
with the BOG, DF&G, and BGCSB, to adopt the necessary
regulations including the qualifications for full and
limited concession permits, process for issuing the
permits, and the collection of fees; grants DNR or
their designee the authority to enforce the terms of
this program; allows DNR to keep confidential any
proprietary, commercial, and financial information
provided by concession permit applicants; and includes
definitions.
9:17:57 AM
Co-Chair Stedman understood that the system would be a bid
system with renewal possible after 10 years.
Senator Giessel deferred to Joe Felkl from the Department
of Fish and Game.
9:19:00 AM
JOE FELKL, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
GAME, introduced himself.
Co-Chair Stedman asked for clarity regarding how the
permits would be initially issued and then renewed or
extended.
Mr. Felkl relayed that the issuance of the permits would
reside in DNR, and the Board of Game would decide how many
permits were appropriate per area. He said that when a term
expired the permit would have to go through the process all
over again.
Co-Chair Stedman hoped to hear from DNR on the matter.
Co-Chair Hoffman asked whether the Board of Game had taken
a position on the bill.
Mr. Felkl relayed that the board had adopted a proposal
which would establish a guide concession area for Dall
Sheep. He believed the board chair had provided a letter of
support the previous year.
9:20:42 AM
Senator Kiehl asked whether the state ran the risk of
pushing the overcrowding situation around.
INTIMAYO HARBISON, STAFF, SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, relayed
that was not the intent of the bill. The intent was to
issue a first permit to see how the program worked and then
expand.
9:22:12 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman OPENED public testimony.
9:22:39 AM
GEOFFREY TOY, STAFF ATTORNEY, ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the
bill.
9:23:45 AM
MARK RICHARDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RESIDENT HUNTERS OF
ALASKA, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in opposition
to the bill. He asserted that the state did not have the
funds to regulate the guide industry program. He noted that
the fiscal note for the bill.
Mr. Richards thought that the bill would lead to
litigation. He felt that the Big Game Board had failed to
regulate their industry.
9:26:43 AM
SAM ROHRER, PRESIDENT, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS
ASSOCIATION, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified in
support of the bill. He addressed an earlier question
related to how the state might avoid problems seen in
limited entry fishing. He pointed out that the permits were
limited to 10 years and were not primarily monetarily
based, but rather considered operations, safety, and
conservation measures.
9:28:58 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman CLOSED public testimony.
9:29:05 AM
Senator Kiehl addressed three fiscal notes. He spoke to FN
1, OMB Component 473. The note showed a cost of $112.3 and
included one full-time position.
Senator Kiehl addressed FN 2 from the Department of Fish
and Game, OMB Component 2048. The amount was $14.4 and was
also reflected in the governor's budget request.
Senator Kiehl addressed FN 3 from the Department of Natural
Resources, OMB Component 3002. The note showed a cost of
$341.6 in FY26, with two, full-time positions and
indeterminate revenues from permitting fees.
9:30:44 AM
Co-Chair Stedman wondered whether there was consideration
given to making the program self-sustaining, rather than
the funds coming from the general fund.
Senator Giessel could not speak definitively to what the
board would do but suspected that board would ensure that
the fees covered the program.
Co-Chair Stedman asked whether the board would cover the
costs of the three full-time positions.
Senator Giessel did not have the ability to answer the
question.
Co-Chair Stedman thought that further discussion on the
bill should include the issues brough up by Mark Richards
during his public testimony.
Co-Chair Hoffman agreed.
SB 97 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 97 RHAK Letter SB 97 Senate Finance Committee.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 97 |
| SB 95 Supporting Documents- Historic Document Packet.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 95 |
| SB 95 Sectional Analysis 3.25.25.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SHSS 3/25/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 95 |
| SB 95 SB 96 SB 97 Motion for Stay Oppn Reply.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 95 SB 96 SB 97 |
| SB 95 SB 96 SB 97 Motion for Summary Judgment.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 95 SB 96 SB 97 |
| SB96 Sectional Analysis ver A.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SL&C 3/14/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 96 |
| SB96 Supporting Documents-Historic Document Packet.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SL&C 3/14/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 96 |
| SB 97 Combined Historical Documents Provided by (S)RES 2.26.25.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/10/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 97 |
| SB 97 Comments Resident Hunters of Alaska.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/10/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 97 |
| SB 97 Committee Sponsor Statement .pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 97 |
| SB 97 Committee Sectional Anlysis.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/10/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 97 |
| Explanation of Changes SB 97-SSSB253.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM SRES 3/10/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 97 SB 253 |
| SB 97 Supporting Document SCI AK 4.18.25.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 97 |
| SB 97 Public Testimony Allmeroth.pdf |
SFIN 4/25/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 97 |