03/17/2025 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

House JUD 03/17/2025 13:01

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Audio	Topic
01:01:35 PM	Start
01:02:28 PM	HB21
01:09:45 PM	Adjourn

* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled

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+=	HB 97	ORG. RETAIL THEFT/FUND;MKTPLACE SALES TAX	TELECONFERENCED
		<Bill Hearing Canceled>
		-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+=	HB 21	VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR MINORS	TELECONFERENCED
		Moved CSHB 21(STA) Out of Committee
+		Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled	TELECONFERENCED

pdf txt

ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE March 17, 2025 1:01 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Andrew Gray, Chair Representative Chuck Kopp, Vice Chair Representative Ted Eischeid Representative Genevieve Mina Representative Sarah Vance Representative Mia Costello Representative Jubilee Underwood MEMBERS ABSENT All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR HOUSE BILL NO. 21 "An Act relating to voter preregistration for minors at least 16 years of age; and relating to confidentiality of voter registration and preregistration records of minors at least 16 years of age." - MOVED CSHB 21(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 97 "An Act relating to theft; relating to organized retail theft; relating to property crimes; relating to aggravating factors at sentencing; establishing a statewide marketplace facilitator sales tax; and establishing the organized retail theft fund in the general fund." - BILL HEARING CANCELED PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION BILL: HB 21 SHORT TITLE: VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR MINORS SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STORY 01/22/25 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25

01/22/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

01/22/25 (H) STA, JUD 02/11/25 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 02/11/25 (H) Heard & Held 02/11/25 (H) MINUTE(STA) 02/13/25 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 02/13/25 (H) Heard & Held 02/13/25 (H) MINUTE(STA) 02/20/25 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 02/20/25 (H) Moved CSHB 21(STA) Out of Committee 02/20/25 (H) MINUTE(STA) 02/21/25 (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 4DP 2DNP 02/21/25 (H) DP: HOLLAND, HIMSCHOOT, STORY, CARRICK 02/21/25 (H) DNP: MCCABE, MOORE 03/10/25 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 03/10/25 (H) Heard & Held 03/10/25 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 03/17/25 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on CSHB 21(STA). MICHAELA THOMPSON, Division Operations Manager Division of Elections Office of the Lieutenant Governor Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on CSHB 21(STA). ACTION NARRATIVE 1:01:35 PM CHAIR ANDREW GRAY called the House Judiciary Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Representatives Kopp, Eischeid, Mina, Vance, Costello, Underwood, and Gray were present at the call to order. HB 21-VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR MINORS 1:02:28 PM CHAIR GRAY announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 21, "An Act relating to voter preregistration for minors at least 16 years of age; and relating to confidentiality of voter registration and preregistration records of minors at least 16 years of age." [Before the committee was CSHB 21(STA).] 1:03:06 PM REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked how many 17-year-olds are pre- registered to vote. 1:03:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, directed the question to Ms. Thompson. 1:03:47 PM MICHAELA THOMPSON, Division Operations Manager, Division of Elections (DOE), Office of the Lieutenant Governor, did not know the answer; however, she said it is not a large number of voters. 1:04:17 PM CHAIR GRAY invited the bill sponsor to give closing comments on the bill. 1:04:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she viewed the bill as a civics education bill, and a bill to encourage young people to talk about the responsibility of voting. She opined that 16 is a much better age to register to vote with the help of teachers and trusted adults because senior year is an intense time where kids are thinking about their postsecondary plans and ending a chapter of life. She added that the bill has a fiscal note that accounts for the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) preregistration. She reminded the committee that DOE would put those who pre-register into a pending status and send a notice th 90 days before their 18 birthday to confirm their Alaska residency. If the notice is returned, a voter registration card would be sent to the voter. She said research has shown that voting early is more likely to establish a lifelong habit, which the bill hopes to encourage. 1:07:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE KOPP asked whether anything in the bill changes existing identification or residency requirements, or whether it simply changes the age of preregistration. REPRESENTATIVE STORY confirmed that everything would still need to be verified and follow existing voter registration requirements. 1:08:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report CSHB 21(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 21(STA) was reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee. 1:09:45 PM ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:09 p.m.

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