Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/20/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB64 | |
| SB120 | |
| SB107 | |
| SJR13 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 120 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 107 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 107-ALASKA SUNSET COMMISSION
4:36:23 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 107 "An Act establishing a
violation for hindering the Alaska Sunset Commission;
establishing the Alaska Sunset Commission to review, audit, and
make recommendations on discontinuation of or changes to state
entities; and relating to the powers and duties of the Alaska
Sunset Commission."
4:36:45 PM
SENATOR SHELLY HUGHES, District M, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, as sponsor of SB 107 she offered brief remarks
and stating the bill would establish a sunset commission, an
independent, unpaid panel with budget and efficiency expertise
to review state agencies through finance and performance audits.
This commission would submit recommended bills to the
legislature to decide whether to continue or end ("sunset") an
agency's operations. The commission's recommendations aim to
help the governor and legislature create a more efficient budget
and ensure taxpayers get better value. Similar commissions in
other states have saved hundreds of millions of dollars by
improving agency operations. SB 107 is designed to help control
spending and contribute to Alaska's overall fiscal stability.
4:40:43 PM
MEAD TREADWELL, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
by invitation on SB 107 and stated three points:
• The current sunsetting process is disorganized, driven by
frustration and deficits, but SB 107 offers a more structured
approach with healthy debate.
• It's important to review federal authority delegation, as some
agencies bring decision-making closer to Alaskans even if
costly.
• The legislators should address duplicated efforts and use
technology to improve efficiency, like cloud computing, to
reduce costs.
MR. TREADWELL said overall, SB 107 promotes a clearer, more organized
way to review government operations.
4:44:18 PM
EIELIA PRESTON, Staff, Senator Shelly Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented an overview of SB 107 and
moved to slide 2, Alaska Would be in Good Company. She said 10
states have Sunset Commissions and Alaska can learn from the
experiences and methods of those states to be successful.
4:44:50 PM
MS. PRESTON moved to slide 3, What Would Alaska's Sunset
Commission Do:
[Original punctuation provided.]
• Audits of all performance and finance of all
departments (divisions, sections, offices, etc.)
on a rotating basis
• Determine whether each entity should be
continued, modified, consolidated with another
entity, terminated, or enhanced
• Recommends efficiency and cost-saving
improvements to entities that are to be
continued, modified, or consolidated in a bill
draft submitted to legislature
4:45:22 PM
MS. PRESTON moved to slide 4, Composition of Commission. She
stated that the commission would be a team of seven that must
have a combination of credentials:
[Original punctuation provided.]
• Financial management
• Budgeting
• Economics
• Business operations
• Process improvement
• Government efficiency
MS. PRESTON noted that each person must hold qualifications in
at least one or more areas.
4:45:54 PM
MS. PRESTON moved to slide 5, Sunset Commission; How it Would
Work, and stated that SB 107 allows the Sunset Commission to
hire expert staff, present recommendations in bill form, and
involve the public twice in the review process. Agencies would
either continue with improvements or be abolished, with
functions transferred to the commissioner's office for up to a
year.
4:47:14 PM
MS. PRESTON moved to slide 6, Impact of Sunset Commission, and
stated that in Texas, the sunset process has streamlined
government by abolishing or consolidating nearly 100 agencies
and programs, saving $1 billion and generating an $18 return for
every $1 spent since 1985. Since 2001, 80 percent of the
recommendations from its 570 agency reviews have become state
law.
4:48:00 PM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to slide 7, The Impact of a Sunset
Commission, and read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
• Higher level of government accountability and
performance
• Dissolved state entities that are redundant,
ineffective, or inefficient
• Improved policies and procedures for public
services
• Millions of dollars in savings that can be
reallocated toward other budget areas where
needed
• Targeted revenue resources to ensure efficient
and effective government services
• Encourage greater participation and public input
SENATOR HUGHES stated that the Sunset Commission audit process
includes two opportunities for public input and, while housed in
the executive branch for constitutional reasons, operates
independently from the governor's authority.
4:49:52 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced invited testimony on SB 107.
4:51:06 PM
ERIK BEVERLY, Executive Director, Texas Sunset Commission,
Austin, Texas, testified by invitation on SB 107 and stated that
the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is a legislative agency
that reviews state agencies to determine if they are still
needed and how well they serve the public. Unless lawmakers vote
to continue an agency, it will be abolished. He said the
Commission is made up of legislators and public members,
supported by professional staff. The commission operates in
three phases: evaluation (research and public input),
deliberation (public hearings and decision meetings), and
legislative action (passing bills based on recommendations). He
said since 1977, the process has saved taxpayers over $1
billion, eliminated or consolidated dozens of agencies, and
improved government efficiency, transparency, and
accountability. Most agencies are reviewed every 12 years, with
about 22 reviews conducted each year. He stated that in the
current session, they have identified $147 million in potential
additional savings.
4:57:19 PM
DENNIS HULL, State Affairs Manager, Americans for Tax Reform,
Washington, D.C., testified by invitation on SB 107 and stated
Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), founded in 1985 at President
Reagan's request, advocates for lower taxes and smaller,
accountable government and is best achieved by removing
government from "autopilot." He argued that agencies often
request and receive budget increases without adequate scrutiny
due to a lack of financial transparency. SB 107 addresses that
gap by creating a Sunset Commission that reviews agencies,
drafts recommendations directly into bill form, holds public
hearings, and sunsets agencies if action isn't taken. ATR
supports SB 107 as a serious, well-structured reform with expert
input and real accountability, unlike many similar efforts in
other states.
5:01:32 PM
SENATOR HUGHES stated her belief that SB 107 is the piece of the
puzzle that will put the state of Alaska back in order.
5:01:56 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 107 in committee.