SB 161-POLITICAL PARTY DEFINITION  4:33:21 PM CHAIR SHOWER 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." CHAIR SHOWER asked the sponsor if he had any additional information or comments. 4:33:46 PM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 161, thanked the chair and offered to answer questions. 4:34:03 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI noted that he did not have a fiscal note in the bill packet and asked if the bill would be cost neutral. 4:34:21 PM DAVID DUNSMORE, Staff, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered his understanding that the administration submitted a zero fiscal note. He added that the expectation is that this will result in some minor savings for the Division because it would have fewer petitions to assess for presidential candidates. CHAIR SHOWER read the last sentience in the Analysis section of the fiscal note. "Passage of this legislation will have no fiscal impact on the division." 4:35:08 PM SENATOR REINBOLD said she continues to question how the bill will affect the Green Party and others. MR. DUNSMORE related that, at her request, the sponsor's office reached out to the local affiliates of both the Green Party and the Constitution Party and the Green Party expressed support for lowering the threshold. The Constitution Party didn't respond but on the national level it is a member of a coalition for fair and open elections, which advocates for bills like SB 161 that lower thresholds for parties to appear on the ballot. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI pointed out that the number of registered voters varies from election to election and the threshold for a party to appear on the ballot is based on a percentage so the threshold can change quite a bit. For a party to be recognized currently, it must have 10,600 registered voters. SB 161 fixes that number at 5,000 registered voters, which would make it easier for parties to get access to the ballot. Ne noted that he introduced the legislation at the request of a constituent who is a member of the Libertarian Party. 4:36:52 PM SENATOR HOLLAND recalled that the threshold varied 50 percent between the last two elections. He said he appreciates that the bill will provide more stability. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI referenced the chart in the bill packet that shows the thresholds for recent elections. In 2010 the threshold was 8,000 registered voters and it increased to more than 10,000 in 2020. SENATOR HOLLAND said he believes he was looking at older statistics. 4:38:00 PM CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 161; finding none, he closed public testimony. He asked if the committee had comments or questions. SENATOR REINBOLD asked the sponsor to do what he could to encourage House committee chairs to pass Senate bills from committee. CHAIR SHOWER solicited a motion. 4:39:40 PM SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report SB 161, work order 32-LS1361\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and SB 161 was reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.