SSCR 1-DISAPPROVE EO 136  ^EO 136 EO-136 - ESTABLISH DEPT OF AGRICULTURE  3:31:12 PM CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE SPECIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 Disapproving Executive Order No. 136. CHAIR GIESSEL read the resolution: [Original punctuation provided.] SENATE SPECIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1  IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF Alaska THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Introduced: 1/27/25 Referred: Resources, Finance A RESOLUTION  Disapproving Executive Order No. 136. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF  ALASKA:  WHEREAS the governor, under authority of art. III, sec. 23, Constitution of the State of Alaska, has proposed in Executive Order No. 136, to establish a Department of Agriculture and transfer functions relating to agriculture that are currently performed by the Department of Natural Resources to the newly established Department of Agriculture; and WHEREAS art. III, sec. 23, Constitution of the State of Alaska, provides that unless disapproved within 60 days of a regular session by resolution concurred in by a majority of the members of the legislature in joint session, an executive order becomes effective at a date designated by the governor; 11 BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that Executive Order No. 136 is disapproved. 3:33:17 PM CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SSCR 1. 3:33:49 PM DUNCAN FIELDS, President, Kodiak Livestock Co-op, Kodiak, Alaska, testified in support of EO 136. He said the co-op, which operated a slaughter facility and included most local livestock raisers, has had a good working relationship with the [Department of Natural Resources (DNR)], Division of Agriculture but noted that funding has often been insufficient due to the division's low priority within the Department of Natural Resources. Despite concerns about costs, as indicated by a zero fiscal note, the co-op advocated for the creation of a separate department to support the agriculture industry in Alaska. 3:35:16 PM CHAIR GIESSEL thanked Mr. Fields and sought to clarify that the zero fiscal note [from the Department of Natural Resources, OMB Component Number 0, dated February 18, 2025] was for SSCR 1 and that EO 136 had a [Statement of Cost, dated February 11, 2025] for $2.7 million. 3:36:06 PM CHAIR GIESSEL closed public testimony on SSCR 1. 3:36:14 PM CHAIR GIESSEL solicited the will of the committee. 3:36:18 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved EO 136 with individual recommendations be reported from committee and SSCR 1, work order 34-LS045\A with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s) be reported from committee for further consideration in the Senate. 3:36:38 PM SENATOR HUGHES objected. 3:36:39 PM CHAIR GIESSEL invited Senator Hughes to speak to her objection. 3:36:44 PM SENATOR HUGHES emphasized the once in a multi-generational opportunity to establish a Department of Agriculture, citing its potential benefits and cost-effectiveness compared to existing departments. She highlighted support from producers and the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force, noting the department's potential to contribute to the state's GDP and address new agricultural opportunities due to climate change. 3:38:27 PM SENATOR HUGHES discussed the limitations of the current Division of Agriculture. She said the current commissioner indicated that he could not handle the 35 or 36 recommendations from the task force due to other priorities within his department. She emphasized the importance of having a seat at the cabinet table for future governors, emphasizing the long-term benefits. 3:40:37 PM SENATOR HUGHES argued that petty politics should not hinder the establishment of the Department of Agriculture, citing past support from legislators and the importance of supporting farmers and ranchers. She noted federal support for locally grown nutritious food and the potential for exports to countries like Japan. SENATOR HUGHES suggested delaying the establishment of the Department of Agriculture could put Alaska in a disadvantageous position in the future and said it was an issue of life and safety, arguing that good, nutritious food was essential for community health and education. She argued against comparing the Department of Agriculture to education funding, stating that the Department of Agriculture was crucial for providing nutritious food for children in schools. SENATOR HUGHES reiterated the small financial impact of the Department of Agriculture and the tremendous bipartisan support it had in the public. She said she hoped members would not let petty politics prevent the establishment of the Department of Agriculture, emphasizing its long-term benefits. 3:43:16 PM SENATOR CLAMAN raised a point of order. He objected to references to "petty politics", and said it impugned the motives of other members of the committee and the legislature. 3:43:25 PM SENATOR HUGHES urged members to consider what was best for Alaskans and the [agriculture] industry, a responsive and efficient system to remove barriers and coordinate activities like transportation and product movement. She concluded by stating she would vote against moving the rejection out of committee. 3:44:10 PM CHAIR GIESSEL recognized the presence of Senator Kelly Merrick, Representative Elexie Moore and Representative Jubilee Underwood in the audience. 3:44:28 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI clarified that voting to move [SSCR 1] out of the committee was not a rejection of [EO 1] but a necessary step to send it to the Finance Committee. He explained the unique constitutional structure that allows for a joint vote. He emphasized that 13 positions created by EO 1 were not related to farming but were part of a new bureaucracy within the government. He highlighted the significant fiscal note attached to EO 1, amounting to $2.7 million to start, with expected additional costs of millions more in following years. He pointed out the $500 million deficit expected in the next two years and the Finance Committee's scrutiny of bills with fiscal notes. He said there was a possibility he would vote for [EO 1] in the end but stressed the importance of evaluating the financial implications first. He concluded by urging members to support the motion's referral to the Finance Committee. 3:46:46 PM SENATOR CLAMAN said he would be voting to move [SSCR 1] to the Finance Committee. He also said it would be appropriate for a joint session to take up. He said supporting [SSCR 1] or voting not to support a Department of Agriculture was not equivalent with a lack of support for the [agriculture] industry in Alaska. He pointed out that current initiatives proposed and presented to the legislature would be supported by the current [Division of Agriculture] structure. He urged passing [SSCR 1] to the next committee. 3:47:38 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI noted his participation in the Food and Farm Caucus and said creating a Department of Agriculture was often discussed; he emphasized the complexity of creating a new department. He noted that he had co-sponsored a bill introduced by Representative Thompson in 2011, and he supported an agriculture department separate from the current DNR structure. He argued that the creation of a new department should be debated in a deliberative committee setting rather than on the floor of the house or during a joint session. He expressed support for advancing the issue to the Finance Committee for further consideration. 3:49:05 PM SENATOR HUGHES relayed clarification from the Farm Bureau that the administrative positions referred to in the Statement of Cost for EO 136 would be relieved of administrative duties that they now do to increase their opportunity to focus on the producers. She said the deputy commissioner and commissioner [of the new department] would be focused on working with the producers and the ranchers rather than on administration. 3:50:12 PM CHAIR GIESSEL found the objection was maintained and asked for a roll call vote. A roll call vote was taken. Senators Dunbar, Claman, Wielechowski, Kawasaki and Giessel voted in favor of reporting SSCR 1 with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note from committee for further consideration and Senators Myers and Hughes voted against it. The vote was 5:2. 3:50:36 PM CHAIR GIESSEL announced that EO 136 and SSCR 1 were reported from committee on a vote of 5 yeas and 2 nays.