05/12/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

                SB 136-FIREARM FINANCIAL PRIVACY                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:00:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.  136 "An  Act relating  to the                                                               
privacy  of  firearm  transactions;  relating  to  discrimination                                                               
against firearm  retailers by financial institutions  and payment                                                               
networks;  relating to  the disclosure  of  financial records  by                                                               
financial institutions  and payment networks; and  amending Rules                                                               
65 and 82, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:00:31 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MIKE  CRONK,  District   R,  Alaska  State  Legislature,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska, as  the  sponsor  of SB  136  he  said the  bill                                                               
addresses  firearm   transaction  privacy,   prohibits  financial                                                               
institutions  and payment  networks  from discriminating  against                                                               
firearm  retailers, regulates  financial record  disclosures, and                                                               
amends Rules 65 and 82 of the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:01:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  referred to page  4, line 15,  "...a person                                                               
may not  knowingly keep or  cause to be  kept a list,  record, or                                                               
registry  of  privately owned  firearms  or  owners of  privately                                                               
owned  firearms."   She  asked  whether  SB   136  could  prevent                                                               
individuals from storing firearms for legitimate reasons.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:01:50 PM                                                                                                                    
PAUL MENKE, Staff, Senator Mike  Cronk, Alaska State Legislature,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska, answered  a question  on SB  136. He  referenced                                                               
line 14-15,  " ...otherwise required  by law..." and  line 17-19,                                                               
"This subsection does not apply to  an owner of a privately owned                                                               
firearm  who keeps  or  causes  to be  kept  a  list, record,  or                                                               
registry of  the owner's own  firearms." SB 136  wouldn't prevent                                                               
someone  from transferring  a  firearm to  a  licensed dealer  or                                                               
police  department. Federal  law requires  dealers to  record all                                                               
firearms they  receive, including  those stored  temporarily. For                                                               
example, the University  of Alaska allows firearm  storage at its                                                               
police department,  with owners  signing the  required paperwork.                                                               
However,  additional bill  language could  clarify this  point if                                                               
needed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:03:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened  public testimony on SB  136; finding none,                                                               
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:04:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:04:11 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MERRICK moved  to report SB 136,  work order 34-LS0715\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:04:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  found no objection  and SB 136 was  reported from                                                               
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.