Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/05/2026 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
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| Start | |
| SB188 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 188 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 5, 2026
3:31 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Scott Kawasaki, Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Vice Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Cathy Tilton
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 188
"An Act expanding the Tanana Valley State Forest; and providing
for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 188
SHORT TITLE: TANANA VALLEY STATE FOREST
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
05/02/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/02/25 (S) STA, RES
02/03/26 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/03/26 (S) Heard & Held
02/03/26 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/05/26 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
BRENT GOODRUM, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided the sectional analysis for SB 188.
JEREMY DOUSE, State Forester and Director
Forestry and Fire Protection
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding SB 188.
JOE YOUNG, Owner
Young's Timber Inc.
Tok, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 188.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:45 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Bjorkman, Gray-Jackson, Tilton, Wielechowski
and Chair Kawasaki.
SB 188-TANANA VALLEY STATE FOREST
3:32:19 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
188 "An Act expanding the Tanana Valley State Forest; and
providing for an effective date."
3:33:33 PM
BRENT GOODRUM, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural
Resources, Anchorage, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis
for SB 188 and moved to slide 9.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Section 1 (Page 1) Repeals and reenacts AS
41.17.400(d), Public Resources; Forest
Resources and Practices; Article 6 State
Forests; Tanana Valley State Forest. The
reenacted section describes the parcels
comprising the Tanana Valley State Forest.
Included are the existing Tanana Valley
State Forest and 43 new units.
Section 2 (Page 67) Adds a new subsection to AS
41.17.400, Public Resources; Forest
Resources and Practices; Article 6 State
Forests; Tanana Valley State Forest,
defining "section" and "sections" as both
surveyed sections and surveyed protracted
sections.
Section 3 (Page 67) Adds a new section to uncodified
law allowing the Department of Natural
Resources to adopt regulations to implement
the bill.
Section 4 (Page 67) Sets an immediate effective date
for section 3.
Section 5 (Page 67) Sets a July 1, 2025, effective
date for sections 1 and 2.
MR. GOODRUM made a correction to the sectional analysis in
Section 2; surveyed protracted sections should say "un-
surveyed".
3:35:06 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI referenced slide 3 of the presentation, noting
that the map essentially shows a "checkerboard" pattern. He
pointed out that some areas are contiguous and adjacent to the
proposed orange zones but are not included within them. He asked
whether the deputy commissioner or the state forester could
explain why the areas appear so sporadically placed.
3:35:49 PM
JEREMY DOUSE, State Forester and Director, Forestry and Fire
Protection, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Anchorage,
Alaska, answered questions regarding SB 188. He explained that
the checkerboard, non-contiguous pattern of the state forest
results from several factors, including mixed land ownership
such as federal and military lands that interrupt state lands.
He said the planning process identified more beneficial uses for
certain state parcels, such as mining due to mineral resources
or habitat protection, while some forestry lands also carry dual
classifications, like forestry and habitat.
3:36:56 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that earlier in the fall there was a
comment from the Department of the Army's Installation
Management Command at Fort Wainwright. The comment, which
included a two-page document and a map, addressed aspects of the
proposed state forest expansion and referenced "disposable
interest" in the area. He asked if there were any comments on
the comment.
3:37:34 PM
MR. DOUSE explained that the Army's concerns relate to areas
north of the Donnelly Training Area West. Although the land is
currently state-owned, it is designated for disposal and could
become private property, potentially for settlement or remote
recreation. He said the Army is concerned that private
development near the installation boundary could interfere with
training activities and pose safety risks due to a history of
wildfires in the area.
3:38:42 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that some committee members are possibly
visiting the Joint Pacific Multi-Readiness Center (JPMRC),
including the Donnelly Dome area, which is used for training
activities such as strafing exercises. He explained that, while
not speaking on behalf of the Army, his understanding of the
letter suggests the Army would prefer not to have nearby private
development.
3:39:29 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN noted that a large, contiguous area of state
land appears west of Delta on the map and in online mapping
tools. He asked why some portions of this area are included in
the proposed state forest while others are carved out and not
included.
3:40:06 PM
MR. DOUSE explained that the land is currently classified for
remote recreation. Although it is state land, it has a different
classification and is designated for disposal rather than
forestry.
3:41:02 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 188.
3:41:29 PM
JOE YOUNG, Owner, Young's Timber Inc., Tok, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 188 and stated that Young's Timber Inc., a multi-
generational family business, supports SB 188 to expand the
Tanana State Forest. The expansion would transfer management to
the Alaska Division of Forestry, protect boreal forest from
development, reduce state costs, and provide a stable long-term
timber supply. He said his company has invested about $1 million
in new harvesting equipment and noted that timber harvest also
supports multiple uses, such as berry picking, trapping,
hunting, and fire protection.
3:44:13 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that the map does not clearly show the area
near Tok and asked whether it is forested. He commented it is
difficult to understand the landscape without seeing the land in
person.
3:45:06 PM
MR. YOUNG replied that the area is a continuous forest and noted
that wildfires are a major concern in the Tok area, referencing
the 1990 Tok River Fire. He said that mosaic-style timber
harvesting can help mitigate fire risk while also maintaining an
aesthetically pleasing landscape from the air.
3:46:29 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI kept public testimony open for SB 188.
[CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 188 in committee.]
3:48:40 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kawasaki adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 3:48 p.m.
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