SENATE BILL NO. 80 "An Act extending the termination date of the Big Game Commercial Services Board; extending the termination date of the Board of Massage Therapists; extending the termination date of the Marijuana Control Board; and providing for an effective date." 9:04:24 AM Co-Chair Stedman relayed that it was the first hearing for SB 80. The committee would hear the bill sponsor, invited testimony, and public testimony. 9:05:02 AM SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, SPONSOR, relayed that SB 80 extended the sunset dates of three boards: The Board of Massage Therapists, The Big Game Commercial Services Board, and The Marijuana Control Board. The bill backdates the board extensions from SB 189, passed in the previous session, and provided for an immediate effective date. Co-Chair Stedman asked for more detail on the Big Game Commercial Services Board. Senator Bjorkman explained that the Big Game Commercial Services Board was composed of 9 members who prepared and issued guide licenses, adopted regulations, and assisted the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Commerce and Community Development in big game investigations. The board provided guides with guidance, and a voice, in regulating their profession. Co-Chair Stedman opened invited and public testimony. 9:07:29 AM CABOT PITTS, CHAIR, ALASKA PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS ASSOCIATION, WASILLA (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. He asserted that the board was necessary for the long-term health of the guiding industry in Alaska. He believed that it was in the best interest of the state and the public to have well qualified hunting guides and the board maintained that integrity. He said that if the board were to sunset, oral testing would not be possible and licensing standards would suffer. He stated that the apprenticeship process of guide licensing was particularly attractive to those in rural areas, and the method of training guides through culminated in written testing and oral boards, which were only possible with the licensing board. He spoke to the board's previous debt, which was zeroed out by licensing fees and was now in the black. 9:09:32 AM AT EASE 9:09:49 AM RECONVENED 9:11:32 AM LACY WILCOX, VICE PRESIDENT, ALASKA MARIJUANA INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU (via teleconference), 9:11:10 AM Co-Chair Stedman CLOSED public testimony. 9:12:00 AM AT EASE 9:12:30 AM RECONVENED Senator Merrick MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for SB 80, Work Draft 34-LS0416\N (Nauman, 2/17/25). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 9:13:05 AM LIZ HARPOLD, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, addressed the Committee Substitute (CS). She explained that the changes from Version A to Version N: Title: Adds the Alaska Commission on Aging Sections 5 and 6: Extends the termination date for the Alaska Commission on Aging from 2024 to 2032 Sections 7 - 11: Previous sections 5 - 9, renumbered Co-Chair Stedman announced that amendments to the bill were due the following day. SB 80 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.