Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
05/02/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR15 | |
| SB131 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 131-DUTIES OF ASMI BOARD; MEANING OF SEAFOOD
4:22:12 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the consideration of SENATE
BILL NO. 131 "An Act relating to the duties of the Alaska
Seafood Marketing Institute; and relating to the seafood
marketing assessment."
4:22:40 PM
GREG SMITH, Communications Director, Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute (ASMI), Juneau, Alaska, said that Alaska Statute
prohibits ASMI from promoting aquatic farm products (e.g.
cultivated oysters or seaweed). SB 131 would remove that
prohibition, thus allowing ASMI to promote those products.
4:23:18 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI solicited a motion.
4:23:23 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 34-
GS1072\A.2.
34-GS1072\A.2
Bullard
4/30/25
A M E N D M E N T 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DUNBAR
TO: SB 131
Page 2, lines 9 - 12:
Delete all material and insert:
"(7) "seafood" means finfish, shellfish,
maricultural products, and fish by-products, including
[BUT NOT LIMITED TO] salmon, halibut, herring,
flounder, crab, clam, cod, shrimp, and pollock; in
this paragraph, "maricultural product" has the meaning
given to "aquatic farm product" [, BUT DOES NOT
INCLUDE AQUATIC FARM PRODUCTS AS DEFINED] in
AS 16.40.199."
4:23:29 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for purposes of discussion.
4:23:34 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR referred to SB 131, page 2, line 11, which
includes the phrase "aquatic farm products." He noted that
"mariculture" is the term used in the seafood industry now
rather than "aquatic farm product." He acknowledged that
"aquatic farm product" is defined in Alaska law and explained
that Amendment 1 seeks to better reflect current industry terms.
4:24:50 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether Amendment 1 should say
"mariculture" rather than "maricultural."
4:25:07 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR agreed that "mariculture" is a more appropriate
term.
4:25:26 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI moved Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 for
SB 131.
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1 TO AMENDMENT 1
Page 1, line 3:
Delete "maricultural"
Insert "mariculture"
Page 1, line 5:
Delete "maricultural"
Insert "mariculture"
4:25:36 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI sought confirmation of his understanding
that Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 would change
"maricultural" to "mariculture" on lines 3 and 5 of Amendment 1.
4:25:53 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI replied that this is correct.
4:25:59 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI found no objection and Conceptual
Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 for SB 131 was adopted.
4:26:04 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI returned to discussion of Amendment 1
for SB 131.
4:26:09 PM
SENATOR MYERS asked why Amendment 1 removes the language "but
not limited to."
4:26:39 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR said that removing this was not his intention. He
surmised that "including" and "including, but not limited to"
have the same legal force. However, he reiterated that this was
not the intention of Amendment 1.
4:27:49 PM
MR. SMITH said he was reviewing the original version and
contrasting this with Amendment 1.
4:28:14 PM
SENATOR HUGHES commented that "including" means it is not
limited and surmised that "not limited to" may have been removed
to clean up the language.
SENATOR DUNBAR agreed that this is likely the case.
4:28:26 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI agreed that this is a possibility. He
invited comment from Mr. Smith.
4:28:32 PM
MR. SMITH agreed. He opined that the sponsor's intent is
reflected in the wording of the amendment.
4:28:58 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether ASMI has objections or
concerns about Amendment 1, as amended.
4:29:16 PM
MR. SMITH replied no. He shared his understanding that Amendment
1 is aligned with the original intent of SB 131.
4:29:45 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if ASMI supports Amendment 1 as it
is currently written.
4:29:50 PM
MR. SMITH replied that Amendment 1 introduces a term that is
commonly used in the industry and references the statutory
definition of "aquatic farm product." He said this achieves the
intent of SB 131, which is to allow ASMI to promote mariculture
products.
4:30:14 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection to Amendment 1, as
amended. He found no further objection and Amendment 1, as
amended, was adopted.
4:30:31 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI opened public testimony on SB 131.
4:30:44 PM
ROBERT VENABLES, Executive Director, Southeast Conference,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 131. He said he has
heard some concerns regarding the potential for an assessment on
some products. He shared his understanding that SB 131 is a
much-needed definition change and would not result in an
assessment. He briefly discussed Southeast Conference's work and
financial investment in the industry. He emphasized that
Southeast Conference has invested in industry infrastructure
statewide and has funding for marketing. He stated that ASMI is
the gold standard for marketing worldwide but cannot mention
products. SB 131 changes this. He encouraged support and pointed
out that Southeast Conference can provide 12-18 months of
additional funding.
4:32:54 PM
JASON LESSARD, Executive Director, Alaska Mariculture Alliance
(AMA), Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 131. He
provided a brief overview of AMA. He said ASMI marketing
mariculture products has been a topic of discussion since before
the creation of AMA and discussions have become robust in recent
years. He briefly discussed those discussions. This issue was
put to a membership vote and passed with 87 percent of members
supporting the motion. He read the motion and said SB 131 falls
within the scope of that motion. He acknowledged that more work
would be needed in the future, particularly related to defining
relationships between ASMI and the industry, and assessments. He
said SB 131 would have an immediate positive effect on the
industry. He said this legislation would allow ASMI to market
mariculture products - and would allow ASMI to receive money to
support that work. AMA considers SB 131 a positive force for
industry growth.
4:36:32 PM
SENATOR MYERS asked whether any members gave a reason for voting
against the motion related to ASMI marketing mariculture
products.
4:36:42 PM
MR. LESSARD said there was some difference of opinion along
sector lines. He explained that the shellfish industry is well-
defined, particularly oyster farmers, who have worked for
decades to grow their market. He shared his understanding that
oyster farmers are concerned about additional assessments. He
said that seaweed farmers have been supportive of the ASMI
marketing mariculture products. However, he clarified that the
vote was captured anonymously and therefore did not provide
sector-specific data. AMA felt that 87 percent provided a wide
enough margin to continue to pursue the change.
4:38:14 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony on SB 131.
4:38:18 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR briefly discussed an amendment that was not
offered. He emphasized that SB 131 is not intended to apply to
farmed finned fish products. He surmised that Alaskans do not
desire to advertise farmed finned fish products, which are
illegal in Alaska. He further surmised that ASMI is aware that
SB 131 is not intended to apply to farmed finned fish products.
He emphasized that this legislation would support the
development and advertising of other mariculture products in the
state.
4:39:14 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI solicited the will of the committee.
4:39:21 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report SB 131, work order 34-GS1072\A,
as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s). He gave Legislative Legal Services
authority to make any technical and/or conforming changes.
4:39:46 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI found no objection and CSSB 131(RES) was
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 131 A.2.pdf |
SRES 5/2/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 131 |