SB 166-NOTICE REQS. FOR STATE ACTIONS  4:12:15 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 166 "An Act relating to notice requirements for certain state actions." 4:12:55 PM JASON OLDS, Director, Division of Air Quality, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Juneau, Alaska, presented SB 166 on behalf of the administration read the following: [Original punctuation provided.] • This bill is closely modeled after legislation passed by the Senate during the 33rd Legislature, which unfortunately expired on the house floor before adjournment on day 121 of last year. Like its predecessor, SB 166 seeks to update and modernize longstanding public notice practices used by the Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Natural Resources (DNR). • The State is trying to meet people where they are efficient, and without driving up the costs for business. • In the year we have seen notable print circulation reduced to select days of the week. • While we know some populations may reply on print, the largest newspapers readership is 90% online. • This bill retains flexibility for print where appropriate without strictly requiring it. • SB 166 would amend public notice requirements for several state actions, including those tied to land use, water use, and regulatory processes governed by the Administrative Procedure Act. • The bill does not alter the substance of any permitting or regulatory process. It simply allows state agencies to fulfill notice obligations through the Alaska Online Public Notice System (OPNS), with the optionrather than the requirementto use newspaper advertisements. • The bill also removes mandates for multiple print publications or geographically targeted newspaper ads, allowing agencies to assess when additional advertising is warranted. • SB 166 seeks to reduce agency and private business costs and modernize the state's current system to align with trends in public engagement. • The pricing for public newspapers ranges from $500 to $1,500, this depends on the length of the publication and the individual newspaper. • These costs are passed on to permit applicants and can slow down routine permitting. SB 166 helps agencies direct limited resources more efficiently. 4:15:33 PM MR. OLDS provided the sectional analysis for SB 166 and read the following sectional summary: [Original punctuation provided.] Section 1 AS 38.05.073(c)  This section updates how the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) gives early public notice when it's planning to lease land for recreational development like campgrounds or public-use cabins. Section 2 AS 38.05.073(e)  Once DNR is ready to move forward with leasing land for recreational purposes, this section governs how they notify the public and interested parties. Requires all requests for proposals (RFPs) to be posted on the OPNS. Section 3 AS 38.05.205(a)  This section affects how DNR announces the issuance of mineral leases after a claim has been recorded. Section 4 AS 38.05.945(b)  This section applies to a variety of DNR land decisions that require public notice, such as preliminary findings or other land use authorizations. Section 5 AS 44.62.175  This section adds land and environmental notices under Titles 38 and 46 to the list of required items that must be posted on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. Section 6 AS 44.62.190(a)  This section updates how agencies notify the public when proposing new regulations or amendments. 4:16:30 PM MR. OLDS continued with the sectional analysis for SB 166:   Section 7 AS 44.62.190(f)  This is a cleanup section that modernizes expectations around notice formatting. It acknowledges that digital communication doesn't require a formal printed "title." Section 8 AS 44.62.245(b)  When agencies incorporate outside documentslike federal manualsinto regulations, and those documents change, the public must be notified. This section modernizes how those updates are shared. Section 9 AS 44.62.300(b)  This section helps protect agencies from lawsuits based on small technical mistakes in public notices like an unclear subject line or missing formatting. Section 10 AS 46.03.110(b)  This section affects how the Department of Environmental Conservation issues public notices for waste disposal permits. Section 11 AS 46.15.065(b)  This section applies when DEC reviews and verifies existing water rights in a given area. It updates the required notice process to include the OPNS as the primary platform. Section 12 AS 46.15.133(b):  This section modernizes notice procedures when an agency proposes to use or sell water resources. 4:17:44 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI expressed a concern with Section 6 of SB 166. He noted that while many people read newspapers online, a significant number do not. He asked how the commissioner will decide whether to use online notices or local newspapers. 4:18:15 PM MR. OLDS recommended using print notices for rural areas, contentious issues, or populations with limited internet access to ensure broad engagement. Federally required plans, like PM2.5 State Implementation Plan (SIP) are examples where this approach is appropriate. 4:19:17 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI expressed concern that controversial issues might not reach everyone if published only online, noting that some people do not use online systems. 4:19:49 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked what percentage of Alaskans would have access to the online system. 4:20:00 PM MR. OLDS replied that he has no data on accessibility but noted that the system can be accessed via cell phones. Cell phone access has improved over the past decade, as seen in places like Yakutat, though no specific numbers are available. 4:20:38 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 166; he found none and kept public testimony open. 4:21:26 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 166 in committee.