Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
01/17/2024 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB129 | |
| HB4 | |
| HJR7 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 129 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 4-ELECTIONS: REPEAL RANKED CHOICE VOTING
1:16:23 PM
CHAIR VANCE announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 4, "An Act relating to elections." [CSHB 4(JUD)
was moved from committee on 5/12/23; in committee packets was a
proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 4, Version 33-
LS0094\U, Klein, 1/15/24.]
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD moved to rescind the committee's action on
5/12/23 in reporting CSHB 4(JUD) out of committee. There being
no objection, it was so ordered.
1:17:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 4, Version 33-LS0094\U, Klein, 1/15/24,
as the working document.
1:17:35 PM
JAKE ALMEIDA, on behalf of Representative Vance, prime sponsor
of HB 4, presented the summary of changes in Version U [included
in the committee packet], which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Section 5: New section deletes the disclosure
requirements of intermediaries and the certification
from the campaign treasurer. This was a new campaign
finance disclosure section implemented by Ballot
Measure 2 of 2020.
Section 6: New section deletes a campaign finance
requirement and relating to contributions while acting
as an intermediary, as implemented by Ballot Measure 2
of 2020.
Section 8: New section deletes the inclusion of
television broadcast and internet advertisements from
keeping the "paid for by" language on the screen for
the entirety of the ad, as implemented by Ballot
Measure 2 of 2020.
Section 11: New section deletes penalties for failure
to report under AS 15.13.050(a), as implemented by
Ballot Measure 2 of 2020.
Section 66: New additions to the repeal section are AS
15.13.050(r), 15.13.090(g), 15.13.110(k),
15.13.400(5), 15.13.400(15), and 15.13.400(19).
1:19:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected to the adoption of Version U
for the purpose of discussion.
CHAIR VANCE sought questions from members of the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked whether Version U would repeal
Ballot Measure 2 in its entirety.
1:20:54 PM
NOAH KLEIN, Attorney, Legislative Legal Services, Legislative
Affairs Agency (LAA), answered yes, Version U would bring the
status of Title 15 back to where it was before Ballot Measure 2
was enacted.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN inquired about the rescinded action and
asked why the bill was before the committee again.
CHAIR VANCE explained that last session, she did not transmit
the bill packet to the Chief Clerk's Office because she had a
question about the fiscal note. After additional conversations
with the public, she decided to bring the bill back before the
committee for further work.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked why [the state] would want less
transparency in its elections.
CHAIR VANCE conveyed that from the public's perspective, Ballot
Measure 2 made the election process more difficult. She said
she was acting on behalf of her constituents who were in favor
of "one person one vote."
1:22:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked about the disclosure requirements in
political advertisements and whether that would have increased
transparency.
CHAIR VANCE shared her understanding that the "paid for by"
disclosure was still required; however, displaying it for the
entirety of the advertisement was not obligatory. In response
to a follow up question, she said money disclosures were still
required, but those limitations were different than the ones
imposed by Ballot Measure 2. She added that the courts declared
campaign contributions as political free speech. Consequently,
she opined that individual contributions should not be limited.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked how disclosing which organization
donated money was a limitation on free speech.
CHAIR VANCE clarified that she was speaking about individual
contributions. In response to a follow-up question, she stated
that individuals were still required to disclose their campaign
contributions.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked whether organizations were required to
disclose campaign contributions.
MR. KLEIN said the campaign finance provisions would be returned
to how they were prior to Ballot Measure 2. He offered to
follow up with the requested information.
1:26:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GROH observed that Version U deleted the language
in Section 6 regarding dark money. He asked whether people in
the bill sponsor's district had indicated that they liked dark
money and requested for an increase in its roll in Alaska's
elections. He shared that people in his district were concerned
about the role of intermediaries and dark money in the state's
elections.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER made a point of order not to impugn
Alaskans' beliefs. He suggested that constituents were not on
trial and that questions should be concentrated on the policy in
the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE GROH asked whether the legislation was intended
to increase the role of dark money in Alaska.
CHAIR VANCE said her intent was to return the election process
to "one person one vote." She shared that Alaskans felt
deceived by Ballot Measure 2 in regard to campaign
contributions.
REPRESENTATIVE GROH said he was struggling to understand why the
language making it more difficult for dark money to come into
Alaska elections was being removed.
1:29:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked who was allowed to vote in a
democratic primary versus a republican primary prior to the
passage of Ballot Measure 2.
MR. KLEIN explained that parties' bylaws determine whether their
primaries are limited to members of their party or open to
everyone. In addition, parties can choose to have joint
primaries.
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD expressed her appreciation for the bill
and opined that repealing Ballot Measure 2 was necessary.
1:32:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN shared his understanding that prior to
the passage of Ballot Measure 2, Alaska had some of the more
robust voting regulations. After the measure passed, ranked
choice voting (RCV) and the new reporting requirements put the
state in a "league of its own." He opined that returning to a
heavily regulated process would not eliminate transparency.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER removed his objection to the adoption
of Version U.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY objected.
1:34:52 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Carpenter, C.
Johnson, Eastman, Allard, and Vance voted in favor of adopting
CSHB 4, Version U. Representatives Gray and Groh voted against
it. Therefore, Version U was adopted by a vote of 5-2.
1:35:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD moved that the House Judiciary Standing
Committee zero out the attached fiscal note for HB 4 from the
Division of Elections (DOE), Office of the Governor, OMB
Component Number 21. There being no objection, it was so
ordered.
CHAIR VANCE explained the purpose of DOE's fiscal note was to
return [the state] back to the prior system of voting. She
argued that it should not take a full campaign to teach people
"one person one vote." She said she would leave it up to the
House Finance Committee to determine the appropriate amount.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN recalled that there was an outstanding
request for additional funds for an educational component on
RCV. He sought to confirm that with passage of Version U, that
funding would not be necessary.
CHAIR VANCE answered, "Correct." She sought final comment from
committee members.
1:38:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY stated that Version U deliberately
obfuscated large campaign donations by allowing donors to hide
their contributions behind intermediaries. Alaskan people
deserve to know the true source of campaign donations and who is
influencing elections, he opined. He said the bill was an
attempt to undo the will of Alaskans who voted for Ballot
Measure 2.
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD shared her understanding that Ballot
Measure 2 was funded by dark money. She opined that returning
to the prior system of voting was "the right way to do it,"
adding that the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) would
handle the concerns about dark money.
REPRESENTATIVE GROH reiterated his opposition to Version U and
bringing the bill back before the committee to "gut" the
campaign finance requirements.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN said he was glad to be voting on a bill
that would repeal Ballot Measure 2. He spoke to the public
contention regarding the measure.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER said he bristled every time he heard
the words "dark money," characterizing the term a scare tactic
without true meaning that was used to pass Ballot Measure 2.
It was clear to him, he said, that voters had "buyers' remorse"
when it came to RCV. He stated his support for Version U.
1:44:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD moved to report CSHB 4, Version 33-
LS0094\U, Klein, 1/15/24, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY objected.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Carpenter, C.
Johnson, Eastman, Allard, and Vance voted in favor of reporting
CSHB 4(JUD) from committee. Representatives Groh and Gray voted
against it. Therefore, CSHB 4(JUD) was reported out of the
House Judiciary Standing Committee by a vote of 5-2.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 129 - Amendment #1 (B.7)(as conceptually amended) by Chair Vance.pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 129 |
| HB 129 - Amendment #6 (B.9)(as conceptually amended).pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 129 |
| HB 4 - Summary of Changes (01-17-24).pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 4 |
| HB 4 - v.U (01-15-24).pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 4 |
| HJR 7 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 7 |
| HJR 7 - v.B.PDF |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 7 |
| HJR 7 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 7 |
| HJR 7 - Div. of Elections Fiscal Note.pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 7 |
| HJR 7 Presenatation - Permanent Fund Dividend.pdf |
HJUD 1/17/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HJR 7 |