02/10/2026 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB255 | |
| HB216 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 255 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 216 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 10, 2026
8:02 a.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Rebecca Himschoot, Co-Chair
Representative Donna Mears, Co-Chair
Representative Carolyn Hall
Representative Ky Holland
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Steve St. Clair
Representative Garret Nelson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 255
"An Act relating to permanent fund dividend raffles; creating
the senior citizen grants endowment fund and the senior citizen
grants dividend raffle fund; authorizing donations from
permanent fund dividends for grants to organizations that
provide support for senior citizens and for entry into the
senior citizen grants dividend raffle; relating to transfers
from the senior citizen grants endowment fund and the senior
citizen grants dividend raffle fund; relating to the duties of
the Department of Revenue; and relating to the definition of
'gambling.'"
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 216
"An Act approving the transfer of land owned by the Alaska
Railroad Corporation to the City of Whittier; and providing for
an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 255
SHORT TITLE: SENIOR CITIZEN GRANTS DIVIDEND RAFFLE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STAPP
01/20/26 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/16/26
01/20/26 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/20/26 (H) CRA, FIN
01/27/26 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
01/27/26 (H) Heard & Held
01/27/26 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/10/26 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 216
SHORT TITLE: TRANSFER OF RAILROAD LAND TO WHITTIER
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HOLLAND
05/02/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/02/25 (H) TRA, CRA
01/29/26 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
01/29/26 (H) Heard & Held
01/29/26 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
02/03/26 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
02/03/26 (H) Moved HB 216 Out of Committee
02/03/26 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
02/04/26 (H) TRA RPT 3DP 3NR 1AM
02/04/26 (H) DP: G.NELSON, ST. CLAIR, EISCHEID
02/04/26 (H) NR: MINA, STUTES, CARRICK
02/04/26 (H) AM: MCCABE
02/10/26 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP
Representative, Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, gave a summary of HB 255
and answered questions.
VIVIAN STIVER, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 255.
AYDEN NICHOL, Staff
Representative Ky Holland
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation on HB 216 on
behalf of Representative Holland, prime sponsor.
MEGHAN CLEMENS, Director of External Affairs
Alaska Railroad Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of HB
216.
JACKIE WILDE, City Manager
City of Whittier
Whittier, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of HB
216.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:02:03 AM
CO-CHAIR MEARS called the House Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.
Representatives Hall, Holland, St. Clair, G. Nelson, Himschoot,
and Mears were present at the call to order. Representative
Prax arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 255-SENIOR CITIZEN GRANTS DIVIDEND RAFFLE
8:03:33 AM
CO-CHAIR MEARS announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 255, "An Act relating to permanent fund
dividend raffles; creating the senior citizen grants endowment
fund and the senior citizen grants dividend raffle fund;
authorizing donations from permanent fund dividends for grants
to organizations that provide support for senior citizens and
for entry into the senior citizen grants dividend raffle;
relating to transfers from the senior citizen grants endowment
fund and the senior citizen grants dividend raffle fund;
relating to the duties of the Department of Revenue; and
relating to the definition of 'gambling.'"
8:04:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP, Representative, Alaska State
Legislature, as prime sponsor, offered a recap of HB 255, which
is designed to create a voluntary non general fund mechanism to
set up a raffle, similar to the Permanent Fund Dividend
Education Raffle. It would supplement, not replace, existing
services for senior citizens in Alaska. The contribution
allocations are as follows: 50 percent to senior grants
administered by the Department of Health (DOH), 25 percent to
the Senior Citizen Grants Endowment Fund, and 25 percent to the
Senior Citizen Grants Dividend Raffle prize pool to encourage
participation.
8:06:23 AM
CO-CHAIR MEARS opened public testimony on HB 255.
8:07:03 AM
VIVIAN STIVER, representing self, testified in support of HB
255. She answered questions posed during the previous bill
hearing, explaining that supportive housing includes services,
like housekeeping, snow removal, grocery shopping pharmacy
pickup, and appointment reminders. She reported that
transportation services would help supplement existing services
that lack flexibility. She reported that despite receiving
$7,000 from Pick.Click.Give, the Fairbanks Senior Center still
has a waitlist for Meals On Wheels and requires fundraising to
support the program. She explained that nutrition,
transportation, and supportive housing are among the top five
concerns for Alaskan seniors, which is why the bill prioritizes
these services.
CO-CHAIR MEARS closed public testimony and announced that HB 255
would be held over.
HB 216-TRANSFER OF RAILROAD LAND TO WHITTIER
8:11:43 AM
CO-CHAIR MEARS announced that the final order of business would
be, "An Act approving the transfer of land owned by the Alaska
Railroad Corporation to the City of Whittier; and providing for
an effective date."
8:12:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND, as prime sponsor, presented HB 216. He
paraphrased the sponsor statement [included in the committee
file], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
HB 216 provides the limited and specific legislative
authorization required under AS 42.40.285 for the
Alaska Railroad Corporation to convey five identified
parcels of railroad land within the City of Whittier
to the City, subject to fair market value and existing
rights.
In November of 2025, the City Council voted to accept
the Railroad's proposal to sell three parcels of land,
with the option to later acquire two additional
parcels. In December, it authorized the city manager
to negotiate a final purchase agreement. That same
month, the Railroad submitted a conditional letter of
intent conveying its agreement with the terms of the
transfer.
However, current statute prohibits the Railroad from
selling or otherwise conveying its interest in land
without express approval from the legislature. This
bill satisfies that statutory requirement and allows
the Railroad and the City to proceed with a negotiated
transfer to be approved through their respective
governing processes. The parcel descriptions are
provided for authorization purposes and allow for
reasonable modification to accommodate necessary
surveying and platting prior to final conveyance.
HB 216 does not establish the terms of sale, require a
transfer, or direct how the land must be used. It
simply removes the statutory barrier to allow the
parties to complete a mutually agreedupon
transaction.
8:14:18 AM
AYDEN NICHOL, Staff, Representative Ky Holland, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Holland, prime sponsor,
offered a PowerPoint presentation on HB 216 [included in the
committee file], beginning on slide 2, "History: Whittier and
the Alaska Railroad," which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Whittier (pop. 272) connects Anchorage with Prince
William Sound shipping and ferry routes, and is a
popular cruise destination
For most of its history, the Alaska Railroad was the
only land route connecting Whittier with the rest of
the state, via the the Anton Anderson Tunnel
The Alaska Railroad has long benefitted from its
significant land holdings within the city limits,
which constitute 85% of Whittier's developable land
In 1998, the Railroad agreed to lease 250 acres to the
City for development
MR. NICHOLE continued to slide 3, "From a lease to City
ownership," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
The status of the land under the City's lease
discourages investment and prevents the City from
bringing in tax
revenue from businesses situated on the property.
Early in 2024, negotiations began for the transfer of
ownership of five parcels of land from the Railroad to
the City.
In December of 2025, the City Council authorized the
City Manager to negotiate a final agreement for three
parcels, and the Railroad submitted a conditional
letter of intent to proceed with the sale.
Legislative approval is a critical element required to
allow this deal to proceed: under AS 42.40.285, the
Railroad is prohibited from relinquishing land without
the authorization of the legislature.
8:16:06 AM
MR. NICHOLE continued to slide 4, which showed a map of the
Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) Area of Interest (AOI).
Slides 5-6 offered a sectional analysis of the bill, which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Section 1
Authorizes the Railroad to transfer the five parcels
to the city for fair market value per AS 42.40.285
Describes the five parcels authorized for transfer
Recognizes that further platting and surveying is
necessary to complete the exchange, subject to
agreement by the parties
5
Ensures that this section meets the requirements for
dispensation of land under statutes governing the
Railroad
Section 2
Establishes an immediate effective date
8:18:08 AM
CO-CHAIR MEARS announced that the committee would hear invited
testimony on HB 216.
8:18:24 AM
MEGHAN CLEMENS, Director of External Affairs, Alaska Railroad
Corporation (ARRC), gave invited testimony in support of HB 216.
She noted that selling land is not something that the railroad
takes lightly. The process requires both legislative approval
and approval by the ARRC Board of Directors with the board
obligated to find that the land is not necessary for railroad
purposes and that the sale would serve the best interest of the
state. She explained that ARRC and the City of Whittier have
engaged in ongoing discussions over the past two years that
culminated in a proposal at the board's direction to sell three
parcels of land in the city's core downtown district at fair
market value, as required by statute. Following the proposal,
ARRC received a conditional letter of intent from the city and
last week, the board passed a resolution approving the sales of
AOI 1, 2, and 3. She noted that completing the sale of parcels
1-3 would not preclude a potential future sale of parcels 4 and
5. She added that legislative approval of this sale would
expedite the process in the future.
8:21:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether ARRC has a plan to provide
services in Whittier.
MS. CLEMENS reminded the committee that to sell the land, it
must not be necessary for railroad purposes. The parcels in
question have been under joint master agreement with the City of
Whittier for a number of years and already been commercially
developed for non-railroad purposes under a lease share
agreement with the city. Given this situation, parcels 1-3 are
not deemed necessary for railroad operational purposes, and it
was determined that selling these parcels would be mutually
beneficial.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether an environmental assessment
has been conducted, or whether one is needed.
MS. CLEMENS said HB 216 strictly authorizes the sale of the land
and certainly much more is involved in completing the
transaction. The conditional letter of intent provided by the
city outlines the full scope of the purchase and sale agreement,
as well as the required due diligence.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX opined that the legislature should move this
bill forward.
8:25:19 AM
CO-CHAIR MEARS asked whether there are any contingencies
associated with the sale.
MS. CLEMENS answered no, it would be a complete sale of the land
to the City of Whittier.
8:26:12 AM
JACKIE WILDE, City Manager, City of Whittier, gave invited
testimony in support of HB 216. She explained that this sale is
almost 40 years in the making because in 1998, the city entered
into a master lease with ARRC, which allowed the city to operate
the land while paying 40 percent of gross revenues. She noted
the need for economic development with the new cruise ship
terminal being built and the need for more housing. She added
that the city owns very little land, including the Buckner
building, which is an abandoned U.S. military building on a
large, contaminated site, and the "tank farm" at the head of the
bay. She said the bill would be a large first step towards
working together for decades to come.
8:29:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HALL asked whether there are particular economic
development projects that the city hopes to pursue.
MS. WILDE said the City of Whittier has already drafted a
waterfront economic development plan and is looking to develop a
master transportation plan with Department of Transportation &
Public Facilities (DOT&PF). She reported that Whittier receives
over 7,000 visitors per year, which drives the need to build
additional storefronts, housing, and economic development.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL asked about the timeline for these plans.
MS. WILDE said the city has a 30-year capital improvement plan
to use this land in the best way possible for the city, state,
and railroad.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL asked about barriers to these development
plans.
MS. WILDE said the biggest challenge is that the city doesn't
own the land, which makes it hard to apply for federal funding
for community block grants. The master lease, she said, while
well intended was not a great idea and illustrates the
importance of terminating the lease and working with the
railroad on this deal.
8:33:12 AM
CO-CHAIR MEARS announced that the bill would be held over.
8:34:33 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 8:34 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 255 Combined Letters of Support 2.9.2026.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 3/19/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 255 |
| HB 255 Supporting Doc, Senior Snapshot 2024.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 3/19/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 255 |
| HB 216 Version A.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 216 |
| HB 216 Fiscal Note ARC.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 2/17/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 216 |
| HB 216 Version A Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 216 |
| HB 216 Version A Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 216 |
| HB 216 Supporting Docs Whittier Resolution.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 216 |
| HB 216 Supporting Docs AOI Maps.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 216 |
| HB 216 HCRA Presentation.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 2/17/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 216 |
| HB 255 DOR Response to HCRA Questions on 1.27.26.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 255 |
| HB 255 Sponsor Response to HCRA Questions 1.27.2026.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 255 |
| HB 255 HSS - Sr Citizen budget.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 3/19/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 255 |
| HB 255 Supporting Document - 2026 Senior Snapr Shot ACOA-SFY2025-AnnualReport.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM HCRA 3/19/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 255 |
| HB255 LOS.pdf |
HCRA 2/10/2026 8:00:00 AM |
HB 255 |