Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
02/19/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Eo 136 | |
| SB92 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SSCR 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SSCR 1-DISAPPROVE EO 136
^EO 136
EO-136 - ESTABLISH DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
3:31:12 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE SPECIAL
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 Disapproving Executive Order No.
136.
CHAIR GIESSEL read the resolution:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SENATE SPECIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF Alaska
THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION
BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
Introduced: 1/27/25 Referred: Resources, Finance
A RESOLUTION
Disapproving Executive Order No. 136.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
ALASKA:
WHEREAS the governor, under authority of art.
III, sec. 23, Constitution of the State of Alaska, has
proposed in Executive Order No. 136, to establish a
Department of Agriculture and transfer functions
relating to agriculture that are currently performed
by the Department of Natural Resources to the newly
established Department of Agriculture; and
WHEREAS art. III, sec. 23, Constitution of the
State of Alaska, provides that unless disapproved
within 60 days of a regular session by resolution
concurred in by a majority of the members of the
legislature in joint session, an executive order
becomes effective at a date designated by the
governor; 11
BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature
that Executive Order No. 136 is disapproved.
3:33:17 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SSCR 1.
3:33:49 PM
DUNCAN FIELDS, President, Kodiak Livestock Co-op, Kodiak,
Alaska, testified in support of EO 136. He said the co-op, which
operated a slaughter facility and included most local livestock
raisers, has had a good working relationship with the
[Department of Natural Resources (DNR)], Division of Agriculture
but noted that funding has often been insufficient due to the
division's low priority within the Department of Natural
Resources. Despite concerns about costs, as indicated by a zero
fiscal note, the co-op advocated for the creation of a separate
department to support the agriculture industry in Alaska.
3:35:16 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked Mr. Fields and sought to clarify that the
zero fiscal note [from the Department of Natural Resources, OMB
Component Number 0, dated February 18, 2025] was for SSCR 1 and
that EO 136 had a [Statement of Cost, dated February 11, 2025]
for $2.7 million.
3:36:06 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL closed public testimony on SSCR 1.
3:36:14 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL solicited the will of the committee.
3:36:18 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved EO 136 with individual
recommendations be reported from committee and SSCR 1, work
order 34-LS045\A with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s) be reported from committee for further
consideration in the Senate.
3:36:38 PM
SENATOR HUGHES objected.
3:36:39 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL invited Senator Hughes to speak to her objection.
3:36:44 PM
SENATOR HUGHES emphasized the once in a multi-generational
opportunity to establish a Department of Agriculture, citing its
potential benefits and cost-effectiveness compared to existing
departments. She highlighted support from producers and the
Alaska Food Strategy Task Force, noting the department's
potential to contribute to the state's GDP and address new
agricultural opportunities due to climate change.
3:38:27 PM
SENATOR HUGHES discussed the limitations of the current Division
of Agriculture. She said the current commissioner indicated that
he could not handle the 35 or 36 recommendations from the task
force due to other priorities within his department. She
emphasized the importance of having a seat at the cabinet table
for future governors, emphasizing the long-term benefits.
3:40:37 PM
SENATOR HUGHES argued that petty politics should not hinder the
establishment of the Department of Agriculture, citing past
support from legislators and the importance of supporting
farmers and ranchers. She noted federal support for locally
grown nutritious food and the potential for exports to countries
like Japan.
SENATOR HUGHES suggested delaying the establishment of the
Department of Agriculture could put Alaska in a disadvantageous
position in the future and said it was an issue of life and
safety, arguing that good, nutritious food was essential for
community health and education. She argued against comparing the
Department of Agriculture to education funding, stating that the
Department of Agriculture was crucial for providing nutritious
food for children in schools.
SENATOR HUGHES reiterated the small financial impact of the
Department of Agriculture and the tremendous bipartisan support
it had in the public. She said she hoped members would not let
petty politics prevent the establishment of the Department of
Agriculture, emphasizing its long-term benefits.
3:43:16 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN raised a point of order. He objected to
references to "petty politics", and said it impugned the motives
of other members of the committee and the legislature.
3:43:25 PM
SENATOR HUGHES urged members to consider what was best for
Alaskans and the [agriculture] industry, a responsive and
efficient system to remove barriers and coordinate activities
like transportation and product movement. She concluded by
stating she would vote against moving the rejection out of
committee.
3:44:10 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL recognized the presence of Senator Kelly Merrick,
Representative Elexie Moore and Representative Jubilee Underwood
in the audience.
3:44:28 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI clarified that voting to move [SSCR 1] out
of the committee was not a rejection of [EO 1] but a necessary
step to send it to the Finance Committee. He explained the
unique constitutional structure that allows for a joint vote. He
emphasized that 13 positions created by EO 1 were not related to
farming but were part of a new bureaucracy within the
government. He highlighted the significant fiscal note attached
to EO 1, amounting to $2.7 million to start, with expected
additional costs of millions more in following years. He pointed
out the $500 million deficit expected in the next two years and
the Finance Committee's scrutiny of bills with fiscal notes. He
said there was a possibility he would vote for [EO 1] in the end
but stressed the importance of evaluating the financial
implications first. He concluded by urging members to support
the motion's referral to the Finance Committee.
3:46:46 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN said he would be voting to move [SSCR 1] to the
Finance Committee. He also said it would be appropriate for a
joint session to take up. He said supporting [SSCR 1] or voting
not to support a Department of Agriculture was not equivalent
with a lack of support for the [agriculture] industry in Alaska.
He pointed out that current initiatives proposed and presented
to the legislature would be supported by the current [Division
of Agriculture] structure. He urged passing [SSCR 1] to the next
committee.
3:47:38 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI noted his participation in the Food and Farm
Caucus and said creating a Department of Agriculture was often
discussed; he emphasized the complexity of creating a new
department. He noted that he had co-sponsored a bill introduced
by Representative Thompson in 2011, and he supported an
agriculture department separate from the current DNR structure.
He argued that the creation of a new department should be
debated in a deliberative committee setting rather than on the
floor of the house or during a joint session. He expressed
support for advancing the issue to the Finance Committee for
further consideration.
3:49:05 PM
SENATOR HUGHES relayed clarification from the Farm Bureau that
the administrative positions referred to in the Statement of
Cost for EO 136 would be relieved of administrative duties that
they now do to increase their opportunity to focus on the
producers. She said the deputy commissioner and commissioner [of
the new department] would be focused on working with the
producers and the ranchers rather than on administration.
3:50:12 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL found the objection was maintained and asked for a
roll call vote.
A roll call vote was taken. Senators Dunbar, Claman,
Wielechowski, Kawasaki and Giessel voted in favor of reporting
SSCR 1 with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note
from committee for further consideration and Senators Myers and
Hughes voted against it. The vote was 5:2.
3:50:36 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced that EO 136 and SSCR 1 were reported
from committee on a vote of 5 yeas and 2 nays.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SSCR 1 Fiscal Note (S)RES.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SSCR 1 |
| 2.12.25 EO 136 Department of Agriculture Statement of Cost.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SSCR 1 |
| SSCR01A.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SSCR 1 |
| 2.12.25 EO 136 Dept of Agriculture DNR presentation SRES.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SSCR 1 |
| 2.12.25 Legal Memorandum, Governor's Executive Order establishing a Department of Agriculture.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SSCR 1 |
| 25-015mjt.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SSCR 1 |
| SB 92- Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |
| SB 92- Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |
| SB0092A.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |
| SB 92 Fiscal Note DOR.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |
| 2.19.25 SB 92 Combined Historical Documents Provided by (S)RES.pdf |
SRES 2/19/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |