Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/12/2025 05:15 PM Senate LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
MARCH 12, 2025
5:15 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sara Hannan, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Louise Stutes
Senator Matt Claman
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Jesse Kiehl
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Donna Mears (alternate)
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Löki Tobin (alternate)
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator James Kaufman
AGENDA
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SANCTIONING OF CHARITABLE EVENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION
SPEAKER REGISTER
Megan Wallace, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA), Legal
Services Chief Counsel
I. CALL TO ORDER
5:18:32 PM
CHAIR HANNAN called the Legislative Council meeting to
order at 5:18pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Room 532
(Senate Finance) of the State Capitol. Present at the call
were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,
Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl,
Stevens.
Ten members present.
Representative Kopp joined the meeting at 5:22pm.
Representative Stutes joined the meeting at 5:32pm.
II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
5:20:06 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council approve the agenda as presented.
The motion passed without objection.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. February 12, 2025, Minutes
5:20:29 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council approve the minutes dated February 12,
2025, as presented.
The minutes were approved without objection.
IV. SANCTIONING OF CHARITABLE EVENTS
1. Kenai River Junior Classic August 5-6, 2025
2. Ted Stevens Kenai River Classic August 20-22, 2025
3. Kenai River Women's Classic September 11-13, 2025
5:20:56 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council ratify the Chair's sanctioning of the
following charitable events per AS 24.60.080(a)(2)(B):
1. Kenai River Junior Classic - August 5 - 6, 2025
2. Ted Stevens Kenai River Classic - August 20 - 22, 2025
3. Kenai River Women's Classic - September 11 - 13, 2025
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and
stated that the 501(c)(3) status of the Kenai River
Sportfishing Association had been verified.
There was no discussion. Chair Hannan removed her objection
and the sanctioning of the three charitable events were
ratified.
V. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Consideration of an Appeal in Legislative Council v.
Attorney General Treg Taylor, et al.
CHAIR HANNAN stated that Legislative Council would go
into Executive Session for a briefing and consideration
of an appeal to the State Supreme Court following the
Superior Court's February 18 decision in the Legislative
Council versus State Department of Law litigation.
5:22:21 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that the Legislative Council go
into Executive Session under Uniform Rule 22(B)(1),
discussion of matters, the immediate knowledge of which
would adversely affect the finances of a government unit
and 22(B)(3), discussion of a matter that may, by law, be
required to be confidential. The following people may
remain in the room or on-line for the Executive Session:
Whitney Brown, Jessica Geary, Santé Lesh, Megan Wallace,
Emily Nauman, any legislators not on Legislative Council,
and any staff of Legislative Council members.
5:23:20 PM
Council went into Executive Session.
6:08:27 PM
Council came out of Executive Session.
A roll call vote was taken to establish a quorum.
Present at the call were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon,
Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman,
Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Stevens.
Twelve members present.
6:09:52 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council authorize
the appeal of the superior court's decision in Legislative
Council v. Taylor, et al, Case No. 3AN-24-04218 CI and
approve an amendment to the existing contract with Stoel
Rives, dated August 22, 2024, and amended February 14,
2025, to increase the contract amount by $120,000 for a
total amount not to exceed $230,000, for legal services,
litigation, and appeal costs.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and
asked Megan Wallace to speak to this item.
MEGAN WALLACE, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA) Legal
Services Chief Counsel, stated that the motion before the
committee today pertains to the case of the Alaska
Legislative Council versus Attorney General Treg Taylor
concerning appropriations made by the legislature in FY21
and FY22 for legal contracts related to the interpretation
of the Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees decision. She explained that on
February 18, 2025, the Anchorage Superior Court ruled the
lawsuit moot and granted the Attorney General's motion for
summary judgment, effectively dismissing the case. The
motion will decide whether to appeal the case to the Alaska
Supreme Court and whether to increase the funding for
outside counsel, currently Stoel Rives, to continue the
litigation.
CHAIR HANNAN removed her objection.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP asked for a roll call vote.
6:12:04 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,
Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,
Kiehl, Stevens
NAYS: Representative Kopp
The motion passed 11-1.
VI. ADJORNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the
Legislative Council meeting was adjourned at 6:13pm.
6:13:48 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 2025.3.12 Legislative Council Agenda.pdf |
JLEC 3/12/2025 5:15:00 PM |
|
| JLEC Meeting Minutes Feb. 12 2025.pdf |
JLEC 3/12/2025 5:15:00 PM |
|
| Sanctioning of Charitable Events _ Kenai River Classic .pdf |
JLEC 3/12/2025 5:15:00 PM |
|
| 02.18.2025 Superior Court Order--Leg Council v. AG and DOL.pdf |
JLEC 3/12/2025 5:15:00 PM |