SENATE BILL NO. 63 "An Act relating to the Local Boundary Commission; and providing for an effective date." 9:05:41 AM Co-Chair Hoffman relayed that it was the first hearing for SB 63. 9:06:03 AM Senator Mike Cronk, Sponsor, explained that SB 63: Senate Bill 63 is the final product of last session's HB 279, which passed the House unanimously, made it through the Senate committee process and was calendared for Senate Floor vote, but the clock ran out before it could be voted on. SB 63 is adding language to exiting statute to accomplish three goals: 1.) To ensure commissioners appointed from each of the four Judicial Districts actually live in and vote in the Judicial District from which they are appointed. 2.) To create an additional seat on the Commission and ensure that at least one of the six Commissioners come from the Unorganized Borough. 3.) To change statute regarding the selection of the Commission chair. Instead of the chair automatically being the member from the state at-large, the chair of the commission will be elected from amongst its members. Note: The effective date of January 31, 2026 is selected so the present Local Boundary Commission (LBC) makeup will be retained until the next LBC seat becomes open. At that time a person from the Unorganized Borough will be selected. 9:07:31 AM PAUL MENKE, STAFF, SENATOR MIKE CRONK, provided a sponsor statement: Section 1: - Changes the number of seats on the Local Boundary Commission from 5 seats to 6 seats. - Changes the terms for the commissioner seats from 5 years to 6 years. - Establishes that at least one Commissioner be from the unorganized Borough. - Requires a commissioner appointed from a Judicial District to be domiciled and registered to vote in that District. - Establishes that the Chair of the Local Boundary Commission be elected from among its members, rather than the Chair being the member at-large by default.   Section 2: Amends the uncodified law of the State of Alaska to state that members appointed to the Local Boundary Commission will serve six-year terms, and this act will not affect the term of a member appointed prior to January 31, 2026. Section 3: Establishes an effective date of January 31, 2026 Co-Chair Hoffman relayed that there were two individuals available to answer questions. 9:09:15 AM Co-Chair Hoffman OPENED public testimony. 9:09:25 AM KATHY LEARY, CITY ADMINISTRATOR, CITY OF GUSTAVUS, GUSTAVUS (via teleconference), expressed support for the bill. She relayed that communities not in organized boroughs currently had no voice on the commission. She asserted that the lack of direct representation was inequitable. She expounded on the various ways the lack of representation negatively impacted unorganized boroughs. She urged passage of the legislation. 9:13:06 AM COLLEEN STANSBURY, SELF, GUSTAVUS (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. She was a 40-year resident of Gustavus. She shared her recent experience with the commission regarding the Hoonah Borough petition. She said that the process revealed to her deep dysfunction within the commission's policies and process. She expounded on the need for reformation of representation on the Local Boundary Commission. 9:15:21 AM Co-Chair Hoffman CLOSED public testimony. Senator Kiehl reviewed a new zero fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, OMB Component 2879. Senator Cronk thanked the committee for their time. SB 63 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.