SB 161-POLITICAL PARTY DEFINITION  1:42:13 PM CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 161 "An Act relating to the definition of 'political party'; and providing for an effective date." [SB 161 was previously heard on 3/14/22, and public testimony was opened and closed.] CHAIR HOLLAND asked if there were amendments. 1:42:53 PM SENATOR MYERS moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1. After each decennial federal census, the Division of Elections shall by regulation adjust this number by the percentage the state's population has changed since the 2020 decennial federal census, rounded to the nearest 500. CHAIR HOLLAND objected for discussion purposes. 1:43:05 PM At ease 1:43:20 PM CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting and asked Senator Meyers to read the conceptual amendment. 1:43:26 PM SENATOR MYERS said following the word "state" on page 1, [line 6] insert: After each decennial federal census, the Division of Elections shall by regulation adjust this number by the percentage the state's population has changed since the 2020 decennial federal census, rounded to the nearest 500. 1:43:49 PM SENATOR MYERS explained that it had been nearly 40 years since the legislature updated this statute. He expressed concern that it might be another 40 years before it would be considered again. He stated the intent was to keep the statute updated. He said he agreed with the sponsor's goal, which would lower the barrier to becoming a political party and remove the complicated formula from statute. 1:44:51 PM CHAIR HOLLAND asked the sponsor to comment. SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 161, stated that he did not object to Conceptual Amendment 1. He asked for clarification that this would not apply to the 2020 census. He stated his preference to retain 5,000 as the threshold figure and adjust it to the nearest 500 rather than to put in .68 percent, which was in the Legislative Legal draft amendment A.1 [not offered]. He said the intent was to keep it simple so parties could view a specific figure in statute. 1:46:02 PM SENATOR HUGHES said she liked tying it to the 5,000 population figure. She recalled the bill sponsor indicated it would be "rounded to the nearest 500." She asked if this referred to rounding the population or the registered party members to the nearest 500. SENATOR MYERS envisioned that the required party members would be rounded to the nearest 500, which is how Conceptual Amendment 1 is written. He suggested that if [a political party with at least] 5,000 registered voters in the state changed in the next census to 5,427, it would be rounded up 5,500, but if it increased to 5,700 in the next election, the figure would be rounded down to 5,500. 1:47:18 PM SENATOR HUGHES said she thought it was important for the record to reflect his intent. 1:47:32 PM CHAIR HOLLAND stated that he would probably maintain his objection because he preferred the "bright line" of an exact number. He was uncomfortable relating this to the 2030 decennial federal census and he was unsure of the specific language once Legislative Legal made any conforming and technical changes. 1:48:06 PM CHAIR HOLLAND maintained his objection. 1:48:22 PM A roll call vote was taken. Senators Hughes, Myers, and Kiehl voted in favor of Conceptual Amendment 1, and Senator Holland voted against it. Therefore, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted on a 3:1 vote. CHAIR HOLLAND stated that with 3 yeas and 1 nay, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:48:56 PM SENATOR HUGHES wondered if the Division of Elections would post the figure after the 2030 census or if people would need to calculate it themselves. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI responded that he strongly suspects that the Division of Elections would post those figures online. CHAIR HOLLAND asked the sponsor if he had final comments on SB 161. 1:49:47 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that he does not have any strong views on the amendments to the bill. However, he would not object to removing the amendment language on the Senate floor if it didn't come out the way the committee intended. 1:50:06 PM SENATOR HUGHES moved to report the committee substitute (CS) for SB 161, work order 32-LS1361\A, as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR HOLLAND found no objection, and CSSB 161(JUD) was reported from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.