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 120-CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION
3:46:53 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
120 "An Act establishing the Alaska Climate Change Emergency
Response Commission; and relating to the powers and duties of
the Alaska Climate Change Emergency Response Commission."
3:47:16 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON speaking as sponsor, presented a summary of
SB 120:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Thank you for the opportunity to address you today on
an issue that affects every Alaskanclimate
instability and the urgent need for our state to take
decisive action. Alaska is at the forefront of global
warming, and our communities, economy, and way of life
are already feeling the consequences.
In 2019, record-breaking heat led to massive fish die-
offs and destructive wildfires like the Swan Lake
Fire. Just last year, Typhoon Merbok caused
catastrophic flooding along our western coastline.
Infrastructure is crumbling due to permafrost thaw,
and coastal erosion is forcing communities to
relocate. Traditional hunting and fishing practices
are being disrupted, threatening food security for our
most vulnerable communities.
We must act now. Senate Bill 120 would establish the
Alaska Climate Change Emergency Response Commission to
coordinate efforts, secure funding, and develop
strategies to mitigate and adapt to these growing
challenges. Investing in preparedness is far more
cost-effective than reacting to disasters after the
fact. Senate Bill 120 is a step in the right
direction.
I urge you to support this bill and take meaningful
action to protect Alaska's future. Together, we can
ensure our state remains resilient and prosperous in
the face of climate change.
3:49:36 PM
DEIRDRE GOINS, Staff, Senator Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for
SB 120:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Sectional Analysis Version A
Section 1- Adds a new subsection to AS 44.19.
The legislature finds that a state of emergency exists
because of the threat climate change poses to
communities, traditional ways of living, fish and game
populations, natural ecosystems and the economy of
Alaska.
Section 2- Adds new sections to AS 44.19.
Article 6. Alaska climate Change Emergency Response
Commission.
Sec. 44.19.651 Commission established.
The Alaska Climate Change Emergency Response
Commission is established in the Office of the
Governor.
3:50:31 PM
MS. GOINS continued with the sectional analysis of SB 120:
Sec. 44.19.653 Composition of Commission
The commission will contain 15 members, six will be
departmental representatives who serve by virtue of
office, and nine will be municipal representatives.
(b) The following departmental representatives shall
serve by virtue of office:
(1) the commissioner of fish and game;
(2) the commissioner of environmental
conservation; (3) the commissioner of natural
resources;
(4) the commissioner of commerce, community,
and economic development (CCED);
(5) the commissioner of transportation and
public facilities;
(6) the director of the division in CCED
responsible for community and regional
affairs.
(c) The governor shall appoint nine municipal
representatives to the commission. Each municipal
representative must be a mayor, or a member of the
assembly or council. The Governor's appointees shall
be from:
(1) Northwest Alaska, including, generally,
the area of the North Slope Borough and the Northwest
Arctic Borough;
(2) Bering Strait area, including the Bering
Strait regional educational attendance area;
(3) Southwest Alaska, including the area
within the Lower Yukon, Lower Kuskokwim, and Southwest
regional educational attendance areas and the Lake and
Peninsula and Bristol Bay Boroughs;
(4) Kodiak-Aleutians area, including the area
of the Kodiak Island and Aleutians East Boroughs and
the Aleutian, Adak, and Pribilof regional educational
attendance areas;
(5) Upper Cook Inlet area, including the
Municipality of Anchorage and the MatanuskaSusitna
Borough;
(6) Lower Cook Inlet area, including the area
within the Kenai Peninsula Borough;
(7) Prince William Sound area, including the
area east of the Kenai Peninsula Borough to 141 West
longitude;
(8) northern Southeast Alaska, including the
area southeast of 141 degrees West longitude and north
of 57 degrees North latitude and the entirety of the
City and Borough of Sitka,
(9) southern Southeast Alaska, including the
portion of Southeast Alaska not contained in the area
described in (8) of this subsection.
(d) Municipal representatives serve at the pleasure
of the governor. Municipal representatives serve
staggered terms of three years, until reappointed or
replaced. A municipal representative may be
reappointed. If a municipal representative ceases to
be a mayor, assembly, or council member in the
municipality the governor appointed them to represent,
that representative's seat becomes vacant. If a
municipal representative's seat becomes vacant for any
reason before the expiration of that representative's
term, the governor shall, within 30 days after the
occurrence of the vacancy, appoint a municipal
representative from the same region to serve the
unexpired portion of the term.
(e) The commission shall, by majority vote, elect
co-chairs. One co-chair shall be a departmental
member, and one co-chair shall be a municipal member.
3:52:18 PM
MS. GOINS continued with the sectional analysis of SB 120:
Sec. 44.19.655. Compensation.
Members of the commission serve without compensation
but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses
authorized for boards and commissions under AS
39.20.180.
Sec. 44.19.657. Meetings.
Three departmental representative members designated
under AS 44.19.653(b) and four municipal
representative members appointed under AS 44.19.653(c)
constitute a quorum for conducting business and
exercising the powers of the commission. The
commission shall meet at least quarterly, at the call
of a cochair, at the request of the majority of the
members, or at a regularly scheduled time as
determined by a majority of the members. The
commission shall keep and make available for public
inspection a record of proceedings
3:53:08 PM
MS. GOINS continued with the sectional analysis of SB 120:
Sec. 44.19.659. Alternate Members.
(a) Each member of the commission shall have a
permanent alternate to serve at meetings of the
commission as follows:
(1) For a municipal representative member
appointed under AS 44.19.653(c), the governor shall
appoint a permanent alternate who at the time of
appointment and throughout the period of service as a
permanent alternate, is the mayor or a member of the
assembly or council of a municipality within the same
region as the permanently appointed member; in doing
so the governor shall consider the recommendations of
the permanent member;
(2) For a departmental representative member
designated under AS 44.19.653(b)(1)-(5), a deputy
commissioner of the relevant department or the
director of a division of the department; and
(3) For a departmental representative member
designated under AS 44.19.653(b)(6), the member's
designee within that office.
(b) A member of the commission who is unable to
attend a meeting shall advise the permanent alternate,
who may attend and act in their place.
Sec. 44.19.661. Executive Director.
The commission may employ an executive director who
serves at the pleasure of the commission. The
executive director may not be a member of the
commission. The executive director may contract with
or employ personnel or consultants that the executive
director considers necessary to carry out the powers
and duties of the commission. The executive director
is in the exempt service under AS 39.25 (State
Personnel Act).
3:54:37 PM
MS. GOINS continued with the sectional analysis of SB 120:
Sec. 44.19.663. Powers of the commission.
The commission may:
(1) Apply for and accept grants,
contributions, and appropriations, including
application for and acceptance of federal,
international, or private funds that may become
available for financing infrastructure adaptation,
renewable energy technology, community relocation,
food and transportation security, education and
research, or other needs related to climate change;
(2) contract for necessary services;
(3) consult and cooperate with
(A) public or private persons,
organizations and groups interested in, affected by,
or concerned with climate change effects and response;
(B) climate scientists holding doctorate
degrees who are affiliated with an academic or
nonprofit institution; and
(C) agents and officials in the different
regions of the state and federal agencies concerned
with or with jurisdiction over climate change effects
and response;
(4) establish the duties of the executive
director of the commission;
(5) assess fees for grant writing and other
assistance; and
(6) take any reasonable action necessary to
carry out the provisions of AS 44.19.651-44.19.672.
Sec. 44.19.665. Duties of the commission.
The commission shall
3:55:58 PM
MS. GOINS continued with the sectional analysis of SB 120:
(1) prepare a strategic response plan to
address climate change threats that includes
(A) identification of areas in the state
and sectors of the state economy that are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of climate change;
(B) options for assisting communities and
sectors of the economy identified as being
particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate
change; and
(C) Identification of specific threats
posed by climate change on areas in the state and
sectors of the state economy and a course of action to
address the identified threats;
(2) provide grant writing and genera
assistance to governmental and nongovernmental
entities in the state on climate change response
issues, prioritizing assistance to rural governments,
nonprofits serving rural areas, and tribal
organizations;
(3) develop a program for the distribution of
funds to assist local governments to respond to
climate change effects;
(4) establish continuing coordination among
state agencies to facilitate the development and
implementation of the climate change response
strategy;
(5) coordinate with the University of Alaska
in efforts to seek out grants or other aid for climate
change education and research;
(6) inform the public of available assistance
for responding to climate change effects, including an
outreach program to rural governments, nonprofits
serving rural areas, and tribal organizations;
(7) advance the implementation of technology
that provides for renewable energy, local food
systems, and adaptive infrastructure in the state by
recommending legislation and policies to incentivize
its development;
(8) monitor and report on the effects of
climate change on existing infrastructure, ecosystems,
geophysical features, and communities in the state;
(9) identify opportunities to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from instate sources,
including the expanded use of alternative fuels,
energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable
energy, land use management, and transportation
planning; and
(10) recommend legislative and administrative
action to implement the climate change response
strategy.
3:58:02 PM
MS. GOINS continued with the sectional analysis of SB 120:
Sec. 44.19.667. Fees
Requires the commission to adopt regulations under AS
44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act) to establish fees
for grant writing or other assistance provided to a
client. Fees must be based on a sliding scale
considering the client's need. Government and tribal
clients may not be charged a fee.
Sec. 44.19.669. Annual report and recommendations.
This commission must submit an annual report to the
governor and legislature of activities for the
previous calendar year including a list of threats
identified by the commission, an assessment of
progress in addressing the threats, an assessment of
compliance with the strategic response plan, and any
recommendations for legislative and administrative
action. The commission shall submit a report under
this section not later than February 1 of each year
and shall deliver the report to the senate secretary
and the chief clerk of the house of representatives
and notify the legislature that the report is
available.
Sec. 44.19.672. Definition.
In AS 44.19.651-44.19.672, "commission" means the
Alaska climate Change Emergency Response commission.
3:59:14 PM
MS. GOINS continued with the sectional analysis of SB 120:
Section 3-Adds a new section to read:
TERMS OF INITIAL MEMBERS OF THE ALASKA CLIMATE CHANGE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMISSION. Notwithstanding AS
39.05.055, the governor shall appoint the initial
members of the Alaska Climate change Emergency
Response Commission under AS 44.19.653© to staggered
terms as follows:
(1) three members shall be appointed to serve
three years;
(2) three members shall be appointed to serve
two years; and
(3) three members shall be appointed to serve
one year.
Section 4- Adds a new section to read:
TRANSITION: WRITTEN INFORMATION FROM CLIMATE CHANGE
SUB-CABINET. The governor shall provide all written
reports, recommendations, and research developed by
the Climate Change Sub-cabinet established under
Administrative Order No. 238 to the Alaska Climate
Change Emergency Response Commission established under
AS 44.19.651 within 30 days after the effective date
of this Act.
4:00:33 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced invited testimony and opened public
testimony on SB 120.
4:00:57 PM
LEILA PYLE, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 120 and stated this legislation would help
communities respond and adapt to climate impacts, such as
erosion, permafrost melt, and changing food systems. She shared
that while involved in her work with Alaska Youth for
Environmental Action, young people across the state have
expressed worry about the effect of climate change on
infrastructure, livelihoods, and culture. Many communities,
especially coastal and northern ones, are already facing severe
challenges, including loss of subsistence foods like caribou.
She urged the state to act now, calling SB 120 a vital step
toward protecting Alaska's future.
4:04:06 PM
HAJO EISKEN, Director, International Arctic Research Center,
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 120 and emphasized that Alaska's valuable assets
such as infrastructure, homes, livelihoods, and Department of
Defense facilities are vulnerable to extreme weather and
environmental changes. Protecting them requires planning,
preparation, and adaptation, which can also create workforce and
economic opportunities where Alaska could lead nationally. He
encouraged legislators to draw on the University of Alaska's
expertise, highlighting tools like the Northern Climate Reports
and the Alaska Wildfire Explorer, which provide climate
projections, preparedness guidance, and wildfire risk data. The
university also supports tribes, collaborates with federal
agencies, and develops resilience tools for both military and
private sector infrastructure. The research center's work
focuses on using research and data to help communities adapt,
safeguard infrastructure, and keep people safe.
4:09:38 PM
BRENTWOOD HIGMAN, representing self, Seldovia, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 120 and stated a few of his concerns including
a slope above Portage Lake that could fail and trigger a
tsunami, endangering lives and severing key transportation and
utility links. He noted that permafrost melt is causing more
slope failures along the Dalton Highway, which could cut off the
highway or damage the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Another concern is
the potential for a landslide-triggered tsunami in a fjord to
strike a cruise ship or tour boat, causing major loss of life
and harming the tourism industry. He stressed the need for
proactive planning to prevent disasters instead of reacting
after they occur.
4:11:44 PM
BEN BOETTGER, Energy Policy Analyst Specialist, Cook Inlet
Keeper, Soldotna, Alaska, testified in support of SB 120 and
noted that climate change will have complex and unpredictable
effects on Alaska's infrastructure, landscape, economy, public
health, and way of life. He recalled the record-breaking 2019
heat wave, when parts of the Kenai region hit 90-degrees
Fahrenheit for the first time, triggering wildfires, road
closures, power outages, drought, and threats to drinking water.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study
found that human caused climate change greatly increased the
likelihood of such heat waves, which could occur every other
year under moderate emissions scenarios. He stressed the
importance of gathering and analyzing climate data and using it
to help tribes and local governments prepare for future threats.
4:13:59 PM
MIKE COONS, representing self, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
opposition to SB 120 and expressed strong skepticism about
climate change, calling the change a "lie" and attributing
extreme weather events to natural causes such as storms,
lightning, and earthquakes rather than human activity. He
doubted the value of creating a new climate commission,
suggesting it would be ineffective and likely dismantled if
political control shifts. He framed climate issues as natural
weather patterns rather than a human-caused crisis.
4:15:59 PM
Senator Bjorkman joined the meeting.
4:16:57 PM
CISCO MERCADO, Policy Director, Alaska Community Action on
Toxics, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 120 and
expressed that Alaska and the Arctic are warming four times
faster than the global average, causing sea ice loss, melting
permafrost, infrastructure damage, and community displacement.
He described how storms like Typhoon Merbok in 2022 devastated
western Alaska, destroying homes, utilities, and coastal land,
while wildfires and flooding are also increasing in frequency
and severity. He shared his experience with Hurricane Katrina
and stressed that even well-connected cities can suffer
catastrophic consequences without proper planning and Alaska's
remote, roadless communities face even greater risks. He said
with "once-in-a-generation" storms now occurring more often, he
questioned how the state would protect isolated populations when
travel by road, air, or sea is impossible. He urged support for
creating a climate change commission to develop a comprehensive
strategy for protecting vulnerable communities and preparing for
inevitable future disasters.
4:23:16 PM
KEN GRIFFIN, representing self, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
opposition to SB 120 and argued that while the climate will
always change, spending vast sums on climate initiatives would
destroy Alaska's economy without making measurable progress. He
highlighted the state's $1.7 billion deficit, declining federal
funds, and lack of new revenue, warning that projected income
from future projects like the gas pipeline is years away and
insufficient. He criticized the idea of burdening taxpayers with
costly climate programs when Alaska is "out of money" and oil
revenues are falling. He stressed that lawmakers have a
fiduciary duty to protect taxpayer funds and should focus on
economic realities rather than emotions. He concluded that the
state cannot afford such measures and that the private sector,
not government, creates the wealth being spent.
4:25:57 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that according to research studies
97 percent of scientists agree humans are causing global warming
and climate change.
4:26:08 PM
MR. GRIFFIN answered that there is a lot of data on the web. He
said the EPA released a study showing the Earth isn't heating up
overall, with most warming detected only in urban areas due to
human activity and infrastructure. He argued that peer-reviewed
studies have disproven climate models related to CO2, stating
that increased CO2 benefits plants by helping them absorb more
carbon. He concluded that the data disproving mainstream climate
change theories is available for anyone to see.
4:26:59 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI commented that according to the EPA website
human activities have clearly caused global warming since the
industrial era, affecting the intensity, frequency, and duration
of extreme weather and climate events.
4:27:49 PM
BRITTANI ROBBINS, representing self, Wrangell, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 120 and shared their personal experience living
in Southeast Alaska for over 40 years, noting dramatic changes
due to climate change. She recalled snowy winters with deep snow
and frozen lakes perfect for skating, but now their children
rarely see snow or ice. She described a deadly 2023 landslide
caused by unprecedented rain and winds that destroyed homes, a
highway, and emergency access roads, highlighting increased
landslide risks across the island. She recounted a powerful 2021
windstorm that knocked out power for miles by toppling trees and
poles. These events illustrate the serious and ongoing impacts
of climate change on the community and daily life.
4:31:56 PM
MADELEINE BASS, Alaska Youth for the Environmental Action,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 120 and emphasized
Alaska's urgent need for funding to address environmental and
community challenges caused by climate change. She cited SB 120,
which declares a state of emergency due to climate threats
impacting communities, the economy, traditional ways of life,
and ecosystems. She said many rural areas face food insecurity,
unreliable transportation, and loss of wildlife that threatens
subsistence and commercial fishing livelihoods. Homes are at
risk from flooding and erosion, and much of Alaska's
infrastructure is deteriorating. SB 120 proposes a climate
commission with experts and representatives from all regions and
key departments to develop science-based solutions.
[CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 120 in committee.]