ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE  March 27, 2024 1:03 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Tom McKay, Chair Representative George Rauscher, Vice Chair Representative Thomas Baker Representative Kevin McCabe Representative Dan Saddler Representative Stanley Wright Representative Jennie Armstrong Representative Donna Mears Representative Maxine Dibert MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 22 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to subsistence use of replenishable natural resources by state residents; and providing for an effective date for the amendment. - HEARD & HELD HOUSE BILL NO. 349 "An Act relating to leases of public land for renewable energy projects; and providing for an effective date." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD HOUSE BILL NO. 388 "An Act relating to state loans for oil and gas projects in the Cook Inlet sedimentary basin; relating to the Alaska Energy Authority; relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; and providing for an effective date." - BILL HEARING CANCELED HOUSE BILL NO. 359 "An Act relating to the permanent fund dividend and a one-time permanent fund dividend payment and land voucher; and providing for an effective date." - BILL HEARING CANCELED PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HJR 22 SHORT TITLE: RESIDENT SUBSISTENCE USE OF FISH/GAME SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) BAKER 02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/20/24 (H) RES, JUD 03/13/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/13/24 (H) Heard & Held 03/13/24 (H) MINUTE(RES) 03/20/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/20/24 (H) Heard & Held 03/20/24 (H) MINUTE(RES) 03/27/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER No witness to record ACTION NARRATIVE 1:03:08 PM CHAIR TOM MCKAY called the House Resources Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Representatives Mears, Armstrong, Dibert, McCabe, Wright, Baker, and McKay were present at the call to order. Representatives Rauscher and Saddler arrived as the meeting was in progress. HJR 22-RESIDENT SUBSISTENCE USE OF FISH/GAME  1:03:46 PM CHAIR MCKAY announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 22, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to subsistence use of replenishable natural resources by state residents; and providing for an effective date for the amendment. 1:05:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE BAKER, as prime sponsor, presented HJR 22. He said that his office was planning to have public testimony today, but it was delayed due to administrative duties. He said that his office requested the given opinion from Legislative Legal Services based off of the question of a rural- or race- based subsistence use permit. He said per the legal opinion, the memo would likely violate the constitution and its Alaska Native subsistence preference and it would violate the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). 1:07:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG asked if Legislative Legal Services had advised that HJR 22 would be unconstitutional. REPRESENATIVE BAKER answered no, as HJR 22 currently stands, it would bring the constitution in line with ANILCA. He said that it would be in conflict with both the constitution and ANILCA if it were amended to include "a race-based or an Alaska Native only subsistence priority." REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG asked if he requested the opinion based off of the AFN testimony. REPRESENATIVE BAKER said that he had requested it not only based off of the AFN testimony, but off of his own research into the topic of subsistence. 1:10:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if someone who is Native and grew up in a city would have preference over a non-Native person who grew up in a rural area, despite the necessity of subsistence in that scenario. REPRESENATIVE BAKER said that is correct, that the intent of HJR 22 is for rural preference in subsistence. He gave empirical evidence for times when there is no stock of groceries in the rural communities of Alaska. REPRESENATIVE BAKER said that there will be one or two more legal opinions that his office will be able to speak on. [HJR 22 was held over.] 1:14:02 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:14 p.m.