Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
05/02/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR15 | |
| SB131 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
May 2, 2025
4:14 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bill Wielechowski, Vice Chair
Senator Matt Claman (via teleconference)
Senator Forrest Dunbar
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Senator Shelley Hughes
Senator Robert Myers
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15(CRA)
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.
- MOVED CSHJR 15(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 131
"An Act relating to the duties of the Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute; and relating to the seafood marketing assessment."
- MOVED CSSB 131(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 15
SHORT TITLE: WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HOLLAND
03/24/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/24/25 (H) CRA
04/01/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/01/25 (H) Heard & Held
04/01/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/03/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/03/25 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/08/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/08/25 (H) Moved CSHJR 15(CRA) Out of Committee
04/08/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/09/25 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 6DP
04/09/25 (H) DP: HOLLAND, PRAX, RUFFRIDGE, HALL,
MEARS, HIMSCHOOT
04/25/25 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/25/25 (H) VERSION: CSHJR 15(CRA)
04/28/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/28/25 (S) RES
04/28/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/28/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/28/25 (S) MINUTE(RES)
05/02/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 131
SHORT TITLE: DUTIES OF ASMI BOARD; MEANING OF SEAFOOD
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
03/14/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/14/25 (S) RES, FIN
04/09/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/09/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/09/25 (S) MINUTE(RES)
05/02/25 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE KY HOLLAND, District 9
Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HJR 15.
GREG SMITH, Communications Director
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 131 on behalf of the Senate
Rules Committee by request of the governor.
ROBERT VENABLES, Executive Director
Southeast Conference
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 131.
JASON LESSARD, Executive Director
Alaska Mariculture Alliance (AMA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 131.
ACTION NARRATIVE
4:14:52 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 4:14 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Myers, Kawasaki, Hughes, Dunbar, Claman (via
teleconference), and Vice Chair Wielechowski.
HJR 15-WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
4:15:29 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the consideration of CS FOR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15(CRA) 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.
4:16:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KY HOLLAND, District 9, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, said HJR 15 is the culmination of community work
done over the past 4 months to raise awareness and concern for
the 2025 wildfire season. HJR 15 would bring greater awareness
to state agencies and Alaskans regarding wildfire preparedness
and evacuation plans. He said it has been a rewarding process
and expressed gratitude to the local and state agencies that
helped contribute to HJR 15. He shared that an additional
emergency helicopter will be stationed in Anchorage for 100
days, beginning May 15, 2025. This will provide a more rapid
response in a critical area for potential fire spread. He
acknowledged that many areas across the state are at risk for
wildfires and said HJR 15 highlights the breadth of that concern
and the work that can be done to reduce wildfires.
4:18:05 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked why some first-class cities were left off
the list in HJR 15.
4:18:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND replied that this is a work in process.
He explained that the list of cities began with communities that
could establish the breadth of intent; regions were added later.
He stated that, if done again, he would attempt to display the
breadth of the regions without referring to any specific
communities. He apologized for leaving any cities out and
emphasized that the intention was to convey that HJR 15 is of
interest to many areas across the state. He pointed out that the
phrasing also indicates emerging fire danger in new areas (e.g.
recent rural tundra fires). He reiterated that he did not intend
to suggest that fire danger was limited to specific areas and
clarified that HJR 15 was meant to be inclusive.
4:19:29 PM
SENATOR HUGHES briefly discussed an amendment that she had
considered. She directed attention to the wildfire maps and
expressed surprise that the Aleutian chain is included, as well
as Southeast Alaska. She briefly discussed how the wildfires in
Los Angeles, California have raised awareness of the devastation
wildfires can cause in urban areas. She noted that the Southeast
region has had a dry winter and surmised that the Aleutian chain
has also had a dry winter. She noted that the Aleutian chain is
not listed in HJR 15; however, the region is covered by the
wildfire map.
4:20:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND expressed appreciation and agreed. He
referenced a recent devastating wildfire in Hawaii and said that
fire was a significant wakeup call. He opined that fires in
Hawaii and the recent tundra fires are an indication that
increased vigilance is necessary, including in areas not
previously considered a wildfire risk.
4:21:15 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI opened public testimony on HJR 15;
finding none, he closed public testimony.
4:21:33 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI solicited the will of the committee.
4:21:37 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report CS for HJR 15(CRA), work order
34-LS0726\G, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
4:21:58 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI found no objection and CSHJR 15(CRA) was
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.
SB 131-DUTIES OF ASMI BOARD; MEANING OF SEAFOOD
4:22:12 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the consideration of SENATE
BILL NO. 131 "An Act relating to the duties of the Alaska
Seafood Marketing Institute; and relating to the seafood
marketing assessment."
4:22:40 PM
GREG SMITH, Communications Director, Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute (ASMI), Juneau, Alaska, said that Alaska Statute
prohibits ASMI from promoting aquatic farm products (e.g.
cultivated oysters or seaweed). SB 131 would remove that
prohibition, thus allowing ASMI to promote those products.
4:23:18 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI solicited a motion.
4:23:23 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 34-
GS1072\A.2.
34-GS1072\A.2
Bullard
4/30/25
A M E N D M E N T 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DUNBAR
TO: SB 131
Page 2, lines 9 - 12:
Delete all material and insert:
"(7) "seafood" means finfish, shellfish,
maricultural products, and fish by-products, including
[BUT NOT LIMITED TO] salmon, halibut, herring,
flounder, crab, clam, cod, shrimp, and pollock; in
this paragraph, "maricultural product" has the meaning
given to "aquatic farm product" [, BUT DOES NOT
INCLUDE AQUATIC FARM PRODUCTS AS DEFINED] in
AS 16.40.199."
4:23:29 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for purposes of discussion.
4:23:34 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR referred to SB 131, page 2, line 11, which
includes the phrase "aquatic farm products." He noted that
"mariculture" is the term used in the seafood industry now
rather than "aquatic farm product." He acknowledged that
"aquatic farm product" is defined in Alaska law and explained
that Amendment 1 seeks to better reflect current industry terms.
4:24:50 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked whether Amendment 1 should say
"mariculture" rather than "maricultural."
4:25:07 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR agreed that "mariculture" is a more appropriate
term.
4:25:26 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI moved Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 for
SB 131.
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1 TO AMENDMENT 1
Page 1, line 3:
Delete "maricultural"
Insert "mariculture"
Page 1, line 5:
Delete "maricultural"
Insert "mariculture"
4:25:36 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI sought confirmation of his understanding
that Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 would change
"maricultural" to "mariculture" on lines 3 and 5 of Amendment 1.
4:25:53 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI replied that this is correct.
4:25:59 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI found no objection and Conceptual
Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 for SB 131 was adopted.
4:26:04 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI returned to discussion of Amendment 1
for SB 131.
4:26:09 PM
SENATOR MYERS asked why Amendment 1 removes the language "but
not limited to."
4:26:39 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR said that removing this was not his intention. He
surmised that "including" and "including, but not limited to"
have the same legal force. However, he reiterated that this was
not the intention of Amendment 1.
4:27:49 PM
MR. SMITH said he was reviewing the original version and
contrasting this with Amendment 1.
4:28:14 PM
SENATOR HUGHES commented that "including" means it is not
limited and surmised that "not limited to" may have been removed
to clean up the language.
SENATOR DUNBAR agreed that this is likely the case.
4:28:26 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI agreed that this is a possibility. He
invited comment from Mr. Smith.
4:28:32 PM
MR. SMITH agreed. He opined that the sponsor's intent is
reflected in the wording of the amendment.
4:28:58 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether ASMI has objections or
concerns about Amendment 1, as amended.
4:29:16 PM
MR. SMITH replied no. He shared his understanding that Amendment
1 is aligned with the original intent of SB 131.
4:29:45 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if ASMI supports Amendment 1 as it
is currently written.
4:29:50 PM
MR. SMITH replied that Amendment 1 introduces a term that is
commonly used in the industry and references the statutory
definition of "aquatic farm product." He said this achieves the
intent of SB 131, which is to allow ASMI to promote mariculture
products.
4:30:14 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection to Amendment 1, as
amended. He found no further objection and Amendment 1, as
amended, was adopted.
4:30:31 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI opened public testimony on SB 131.
4:30:44 PM
ROBERT VENABLES, Executive Director, Southeast Conference,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 131. He said he has
heard some concerns regarding the potential for an assessment on
some products. He shared his understanding that SB 131 is a
much-needed definition change and would not result in an
assessment. He briefly discussed Southeast Conference's work and
financial investment in the industry. He emphasized that
Southeast Conference has invested in industry infrastructure
statewide and has funding for marketing. He stated that ASMI is
the gold standard for marketing worldwide but cannot mention
products. SB 131 changes this. He encouraged support and pointed
out that Southeast Conference can provide 12-18 months of
additional funding.
4:32:54 PM
JASON LESSARD, Executive Director, Alaska Mariculture Alliance
(AMA), Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 131. He
provided a brief overview of AMA. He said ASMI marketing
mariculture products has been a topic of discussion since before
the creation of AMA and discussions have become robust in recent
years. He briefly discussed those discussions. This issue was
put to a membership vote and passed with 87 percent of members
supporting the motion. He read the motion and said SB 131 falls
within the scope of that motion. He acknowledged that more work
would be needed in the future, particularly related to defining
relationships between ASMI and the industry, and assessments. He
said SB 131 would have an immediate positive effect on the
industry. He said this legislation would allow ASMI to market
mariculture products - and would allow ASMI to receive money to
support that work. AMA considers SB 131 a positive force for
industry growth.
4:36:32 PM
SENATOR MYERS asked whether any members gave a reason for voting
against the motion related to ASMI marketing mariculture
products.
4:36:42 PM
MR. LESSARD said there was some difference of opinion along
sector lines. He explained that the shellfish industry is well-
defined, particularly oyster farmers, who have worked for
decades to grow their market. He shared his understanding that
oyster farmers are concerned about additional assessments. He
said that seaweed farmers have been supportive of the ASMI
marketing mariculture products. However, he clarified that the
vote was captured anonymously and therefore did not provide
sector-specific data. AMA felt that 87 percent provided a wide
enough margin to continue to pursue the change.
4:38:14 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony on SB 131.
4:38:18 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR briefly discussed an amendment that was not
offered. He emphasized that SB 131 is not intended to apply to
farmed finned fish products. He surmised that Alaskans do not
desire to advertise farmed finned fish products, which are
illegal in Alaska. He further surmised that ASMI is aware that
SB 131 is not intended to apply to farmed finned fish products.
He emphasized that this legislation would support the
development and advertising of other mariculture products in the
state.
4:39:14 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI solicited the will of the committee.
4:39:21 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report SB 131, work order 34-GS1072\A,
as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s). He gave Legislative Legal Services
authority to make any technical and/or conforming changes.
4:39:46 PM
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI found no objection and CSSB 131(RES) was
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.
4:40:06 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Vice Chair Wielechowski adjourned the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting at 4:40 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 131 A.2.pdf |
SRES 5/2/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 131 |