Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
04/14/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR11 | |
| SJR19 | |
| SJR18 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 139 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 14, 2025
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski, Vice Chair
Senator Matt Claman
Senator Forrest Dunbar
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Senator Shelley Hughes
Senator Robert Myers
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11(RES) AM
Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and
Alaska.
- MOVED CSHJR 11(RES) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19
Urging the United States Congress to honor the terms of the
Mineral Leasing Act and the Alaska Statehood Act and provide the
state with a 90 percent share of all bonuses, royalties, and
rentals received by the federal government from the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska.
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18
Urging the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources,
division of forestry and fire protection, the Department of
Public Safety, municipalities of the state and relevant wildfire
planning and response agencies, and the Alaska delegation in
Congress to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season.
- HEARD & HELD
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 139
"An Act relating to who may own or hold certain land; relating
to certain agreements having to do with critical infrastructure;
and providing for an effective date."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 11
SHORT TITLE: RECOGNIZING ALASKA/CANADA RELATIONSHIP
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KOPP
02/26/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/26/25 (H) RES
03/10/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/10/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/14/25 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/14/25 (H) Moved CSHJR 11(RES) Out of Committee
03/14/25 (H) MINUTE(RES)
03/17/25 (H) RES RPT CS(RES) 7DP 1NR
03/17/25 (H) DP: FIELDS, HALL, ELAM, RAUSCHER,
MEARS, DIBERT, BURKE
03/17/25 (H) NR: COULOMBE
03/24/25 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/24/25 (H) VERSION: CSHJR 11(RES) AM
03/26/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/26/25 (S) RES
03/31/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/31/25 (S) Heard & Held
03/31/25 (S) MINUTE(RES)
04/14/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SJR 19
SHORT TITLE: ANWR & NAT'L PETRO RESERVE: STATE SHARE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) BJORKMAN
04/10/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/10/25 (S) RES
04/11/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/11/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/11/25 (S) MINUTE(RES)
04/14/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SJR 18
SHORT TITLE: WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
SPONSOR(s): RESOURCES
04/02/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/02/25 (S) RES
04/14/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK KOPP, District 10
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HJR 11.
LAURA ACHEE, Staff
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a brief overview of SJR 19.
INTIMAYO HARBISON, Staff
Senator Cathy Giessel
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 18 on behalf of the Senate
Resources Committee, Senator Giessel, Chair.
NORM MCDONALD, Deputy Director
Division of Forestry and Fire Protection
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SJR 18.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:26 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL called the Senate Resources Standing Committee
meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to order were
Senators Dunbar, Kawasaki, Myers, Wielechowski, Hughes and Chair
Giessel. Senator Claman arrived immediately thereafter.
HJR 11-RECOGNIZING ALASKA/CANADA RELATIONSHIP
3:32:20 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 11(RES) am Recognizing and honoring the
relationship between Canada and Alaska.
3:32:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK KOPP, District 10, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said that HJR 11 is a nonpartisan
acknowledgement of the strong commitment between Alaska and
Canada. He noted the strong working relationship that exists. He
stated that HJR 11 recognizes the bonds of trade, security, and
friendship that stretch across borders and acknowledges the
thousands of jobs, communities, and families that depend on
cross-border cooperation. He stated that HJR 11 sends a clear
message that Alaska values and stands by Canada in both easeful
and challenging times. He acknowledged that some would see this
as a symbolic gesture. He disagreed with this and stated that
HJR 11 is a reaffirmation of Alaska's commitment to diplomacy,
economic stability, and mutual respect between Canada and
Alaska. He stated that HJR 11 is a call for continued
collaboration, stewarding shared resources and strengthening
industries. HJR 11 would ensure that US and Canadian policies do
not harm the region. He emphasized that Canada and Alaska are
not only neighbors but also partners, allies, and friends.
3:34:47 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on HJR 11; finding none,
she closed public testimony.
3:35:03 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL solicited the will of the committee.
3:35:09 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved to report CSHJR 11(RES) am, work
order [34-LS0532\H.A], from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). He gave
authorization for Legislative Legal Services to make technical
and conforming changes.
3:35:27 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL found no objection and CSHJR 11(RES) am was
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.
SJR 19-ANWR & NAT'L PETRO RESERVE: STATE SHARE
3:35:52 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 19 Urging the United States Congress to honor the
terms of the Mineral Leasing Act and the Alaska Statehood Act
and provide the state with a 90 percent share of all bonuses,
royalties, and rentals received by the federal government from
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum
Reserve in Alaska.
3:36:26 PM
LAURA ACHEE, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said that Congress debated Alaska's
statehood with the awareness that the federal government had
previously claimed a large portion of valuable land in the
region. In addition, Congress was aware that the small
population, remote location, and large geographic size meant
that the state would not have sufficient population and/or
industry to support itself from taxes alone. Therefore, the
Alaska Statehood Act addressed this by granting the State of
Alaska a 90 percent revenue share from the production of
minerals (including oil and gas) on federal lands. SJR 19 urges
Congress to hold to that promise. She noted that, according to
the statehood agreement, the State of Alaska is due those
revenues. She also pointed out that the state is experiencing
fiscal challenges.
3:37:30 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL asked for confirmation that currently, the
revenues are evenly split, with 50 percent going to the State of
Alaska. She shared her understanding that Alaska's share is
received as a pass-through, which goes directly to the impacted
communities on federal land.
3:37:46 PM
MS. ACHEE shared her understanding that this is region
dependent. She said that the revenues from the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) (which was a part of the Statehood Act,
and which fell under the Mineral Leasing Act), was changed to an
even 50-50 split. She added that SJR 19 also addresses the
National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPR-A), which was not part of
the Statehood Act and did not come under the Mineral Leasing
Act. Revenues from NPR-A are also an even 50-50 split. She said
that Alaska faces the same issues with regard to supporting NRR-
A (e.g. write-offs that result against revenues for production
on those lands); therefore, NPR-A is included in SJR 19.
3:38:51 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SJR 19; finding none,
she closed public testimony.
3:39:13 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL held SJR 19 in committee.
SJR 18-WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
3:39:30 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 18 Urging the Governor, the Department of Natural
Resources, division of forestry and fire protection, the
Department of Public Safety, municipalities of the state and
relevant wildfire planning and response agencies, and the Alaska
delegation in Congress to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season.
3:39:57 PM
INTIMAYO HARBISON, Staff, Senator Cathy Giessel, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said that SJR 18 underscores the
critical need for enhanced wildfire preparedness in Alaska. He
explained that, in recent years, wildfire season in Alaska has
increased in severity. He noted that many other states are also
experiencing increased wildfire risk. He reiterated that SJR 18
emphasizes the need for wildfire preparedness.
3:40:58 PM
MR. HARBISON directed attention to SJR 18, page 2, lines 23-27:
[Original punctuation provided.]
BE IT RESOLVED that, in preparation for the 2025
wildfire season, the Alaska State Legislature urges
the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources,
division of forestry and fire protection, and relevant
municipal and local agencies to enhance wildfire
preparedness and response coordination by reviewing
and developing comprehensive interagency wildfire
response plans specific to high-risk wildland-urban
interface communities;
MR. HARBISON read from SJR 18, page 3, lines 4-7:
[Original punctuation provided.]
FURTHER RESOLVED that, in preparation for the 2025
wildfire season, the Alaska State Legislature urges
the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources,
division of forestry and fire protection, and relevant
municipal and local agencies to expand public outreach
and education
MR. HARBISON explained that Alaska lacks wildfire preparedness
education and outreach.
3:41:35 PM
MR. HARBISON directed attention to SJR 18, page 3, lines 13-15
and emphasized the need for emergency response and evacuation
drills. He pointed to the recent wildfires in California as
evidence for the need for evacuation plans. He stated that
wildfires can grow out of control faster than communities can
evacuate. Preparedness is key to preventing loss of life and
property.
MR. HARBISON directed attention to SJR 18, page 3, lines 20-23
and said this section encourages the governor and the Department
of Natural Resources (DNR), and local agencies to bolster fire
suppression resources across Alaska. He then turned to SJR 18,
page 3, lines 27-30 and explained that this section encourages
the governor, DNR, and local agencies to improve fire detection
and early warning systems. He directed attention to SJR 18, page
4, lines 2-4 and stated that this section encourages Alaska's
congressional delegation and other federal representatives to
advocate for increased federal funding to support Alaska's
wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts.
3:43:45 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked who would receive copies of SJR 18.
Specifically, he asked whether SJR 18 would be sent to North
Pole, Alaska. He wondered if the recipient list in the
resolution is inclusive.
3:44:15 PM
MR. HARBISON replied that the recipient list in SJR 18 is non-
comprehensive and additional communities could be added.
3:44:37 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL said that [associate professor Jen Schmidt at the
Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of
Alaska Anchorage] has developed a wildfire prediction model
capable of determining the direction a fire would take as it
swept through the Hillside neighborhood in Anchorage. She opined
that this is very interesting and noted the level of detailed
information Ms. Schmidt's models provide. She shared her
understanding that Chugach Electric has added sensing devices to
utility poles to detect fires. She noted a recent incident in
Bear Valley in which a utility pole came down during a winter
windstorm and the electrical device ignited. She emphasized the
risk of wildfires regardless of season. She said the
Municipality of Anchorage's Firewise Home Assessment program has
been highly publicized and more residents are building
defensible perimeters around their homes as a result. She noted
that the Anchorage Regional Landfill Wood Lot would be free for
residents in 2025. However, she was uncertain about wildfire
preparations in other municipalities.
3:46:19 PM
SENATOR MYERS said that Golden Valley Electric Association
(GVEA) is proactively planning for wildfires; however, right-of-
way boundaries have created challenges, particularly with downed
trees. He pointed out that downed trees have caused wildfires in
the past. He said there is interest in maintaining defensible
spaces and public education has been a priority. He said the
focus has been on education and expressed uncertainty about
whether specific changes are underway for fire season. He noted
discussions about evacuation planning. He stated that, while he
is aware that changes are underway, he does not have full
details.
3:48:11 PM
SENATOR HUGHES mentioned Kenai Peninsula and Big Lake fires and
emphasized that fire is always a concern. She said she is
unaware of any specific plans related to planning. She expressed
concern about potential fires in the Hillside neighborhood in
Anchorage. She opined that it is wise to maximize wildfire
preparedness, particularly in areas with a high concentration of
homes.
3:48:55 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN commented that both Southeast and Southcentral
Alaska have experienced lower-than-average snowfall during the
current (2024-2025) winter season, which often leads to drier
summer conditions. He noted recent fires in Los Angeles,
California and fires in various parts of Alaska. He stated that
these fires serve as reminders of the real potential for
wildfires and emphasized the importance of preparedness. He
indicated support for SJR 18.
3:49:54 PM
NORM MCDONALD, Deputy Director, Division of Forestry and Fire
Protection, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Palmer,
Alaska, said that DNR provides the Kenai Peninsula, Denali,
Anchorage, Mat-Su, and Fairbanks Northstar Boroughs with funding
for woody debris lots. In addition, DNR hosts debris lots in
Tok, Delta, and Copper River. He said this is part of a
statewide effort to decrease on-site woody debris fires and
increase fire safety.
3:50:47 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL emphasized the usefulness of this program, which
is free of charge for 2025.
3:50:53 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SJR 18; finding none,
she closed public testimony.
3:51:11 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL held SJR 18 in committee.
3:51:26 PM
MR. HARBISON directed attention to supporting documents for SJR
18, particularly the Arctic Urban Risks and Adaptations (AURA)
wildfire factsheets prepared by Robert Zeal (University of
Alaska). He noted that these documents address wildfires in and
around Fairbanks and Anchorage. He also directed attention to
the Public Order, Emergency Declaration of Fire Season, signed
by Jeremy Douse (State Forester and Division Director with DNR).
He stated that SJR 18 is an attempt to support those efforts.
3:52:52 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Giessel adjourned the Senate Resources Standing Committee
meeting at 3:52 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 18 Factsheet Anchorage Wildfire.pdf |
SRES 4/14/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 18 |
| SJR 18 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SRES 4/14/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 18 |
| SJR 18 Factsheet Fairbanks Wildfire.pdf |
SRES 4/14/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 18 |
| SJR 18 Sponsor Statement .pdf |
SRES 4/14/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 18 |
| DNR Response to HRES re wildland fire at 3.14.25 meeting.pdf |
SRES 4/14/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 18 |
| SJR 18 Emergency Fire Season Declaration 3.5.25.pdf |
SRES 4/14/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 18 |