ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  March 12, 2026 4:53 p.m. DRAFT MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Ashley Carrick, Chair Representative Andi Story, Vice Chair Representative Rebecca Himschoot Representative Ky Holland Representative Kevin McCabe MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Sarah Vance Representative Steve St. Clair COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 295 "An Act relating to allowable absences for eligibility for a permanent fund dividend; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD & HELD HOUSE BILL NO. 221 "An Act establishing June 21 as Alaska Arts and Culture Day; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSHB 221(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 152 "An Act establishing an education tax on the income of individuals, partners, shareholders in S corporations, trusts, and estates; repealing tax credits applied against the tax on individuals under the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing for an effective date." - BILL HEARING CANCELED HOUSE BILL NO. 189 "An Act relating to a permanent fund dividend for an individual whose conviction has been vacated, reversed, or dismissed; and relating to the calculation of the value of the permanent fund dividend by including payment to individuals eligible for a permanent fund dividend because of a conviction that has been vacated, reversed, or dismissed." - BILL HEARING CANCELED PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 295 SHORT TITLE: PFD ELIGIBILITY; PILOT ALLOWABLE ABSENCE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MCCABE 02/06/26 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/06/26 (H) STA, FIN 03/05/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 03/05/26 (H) 03/10/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 03/10/26 (H) Heard & Held 03/10/26 (H) MINUTE(STA) 03/12/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 BILL: HB 221 SHORT TITLE: ARTS AND CULTURE DAY SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HALL 05/07/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/07/25 (H) STA 03/10/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 03/10/26 (H) Heard & Held 03/10/26 (H) MINUTE(STA) 03/12/26 (H) STA AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN HALL Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, offered a recap regarding the purpose of HB 221. BEN BROWN, Chair Alaska State Council on the Arts Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing on HB 221. ACTION NARRATIVE 4:53:16 PM CHAIR CARRICK called the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 4:53 p.m. Representatives Holland, Himschoot, Story, and Carrick were present at the call to order. Representative McCabe arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 295-PFD ELIGIBILITY; PILOT ALLOWABLE ABSENCE  4:54:26 PM CHAIR CARRICK announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 295, "An Act relating to allowable absences for eligibility for a permanent fund dividend; and providing for an effective date." CHAIR CARRICK opened public testimony on HB 295. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she announced that she would leave public testimony open for a future hearing on the bill. [HB 295 was held over.] 4:55:26 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:55 p.m. HB 221-ARTS AND CULTURE DAY  4:55:38 PM CHAIR CARRICK announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 221 "An Act establishing June 21 as Alaska Arts and Culture Day; and providing for an effective date." CHAIR CARRICK noted that the committee had its first hearing on the bill earlier in the week and would be considering amendments today. She noted that her office consulted with the bill sponsor's office and have proposed a date change. 4:56:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN HALL, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 221, reviewed that the bill, as currently written, would establish June 21 as Arts and Culture Day for Alaska, and she emphasized the importance of a day focused on arts and culture. 4:57:34 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:57 p.m. to 4:59 p.m. 4:59:39 PM CHAIR CARRICK announced the committee would consider amendments. She noted other amendments would not be offered in favor of an upcoming conceptual amendment. 5:00:28 PM BEN BROWN, Chair, Alaska State Council on the Arts, talked about the advantage of changing the date from June 21, which is already a busy day, to another day of the year. He noted that the month of October is federally designated as National Arts and Humanities month. A day in September was also discussed with the bill sponsor, with one advantage to having the day be celebrated while students are still attending school. He indicated that choosing the first Friday in October would fit in well with the art exhibits celebrated on "First Friday." 5:03:40 PM CHAIR CARRICK moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to HB 221, to change the date from June 21 to the first Friday in October. CHAIR CARRICK then objected for the purpose of discussion. She said she enjoyed working with the bill sponsor's office and the Alaska Council on the Arts to identify a date that would work best. 5:04:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE HALL stated that she thinks the new date would be a wonderful compromise, and she reemphasized the importance of teaching youth about the importance of art and culture. 5:05:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND stated his support of Conceptual Amendment 1 while expressing concern about adding "one more thing" for educators to do. He said the legislature needs to provide them with more support to make this date meaningful. REPRESENTATIVE HALL concurred regarding the concern about overburdening teachers, and she pointed out that on page 1, line 6, the bill read that the designated day "may" be observed. She stated that there are no requirements related to HB 221. 5:07:22 PM MR. BROWN noted that since his appointment, the council's educational programs are the ones that have grown the most. Over half the budget comes from nongovernmental monies. 5:08:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed support for the legislation. She noted some districts have art specialists, and she spoke about art kits that have been developed. She suggested there could be a partnership with administrators and the council. She suggested there could be an art kit focused on Arts and Cultural Day. 5:09:34 PM CHAIR CARRICK removed her objection. There being no further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 to HB 221 was adopted. CHAIR CARRICK recapped the comments that had been stated. 5:10:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY move to report HB 221, as amended, out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee, with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes and authorizing Legislative Legal Services to make any necessary and conforming changes. There being no objection, CSHB 221(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee. 5:11:52 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 5:11 p.m.