ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  FEBRUARY 3, 2026  1:31 P.M.  MEMBERS PRESENT  Senator Kelly Merrick, Chair Senator Forrest Dunbar, Vice Chair Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson Senator Donald Olson Senator Robert Yundt MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 26(TRA) AM "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; and relating to a statewide public and community transit plan." - MOVED CSHB 26(TRA) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 129 "An Act establishing a 30-day deadline for the payment of contracts under the State Procurement Code; establishing deadlines for the payment of grants, contracts, and reimbursement agreements to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and Alaska Native organizations; relating to payment of grants to named recipients that are not municipalities; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED SB 129 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 26 SHORT TITLE: STATEWIDE PUBLIC & COMMUNITY TRANSIT PLAN SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MINA 01/22/25 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25 01/22/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/22/25 (H) CRA, TRA 02/27/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124 02/27/25 (H) Heard & Held 02/27/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 03/18/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124 03/18/25 (H) Heard & Held 03/18/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 03/20/25 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124 03/20/25 (H) Moved CSHB 26(CRA) Out of Committee 03/20/25 (H) MINUTE(CRA) 03/21/25 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 4DP 1DNP 1AM 03/21/25 (H) DP: HOLLAND, HALL, HIMSCHOOT, MEARS 03/21/25 (H) DNP: PRAX 03/21/25 (H) AM: RUFFRIDGE 03/27/25 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/27/25 (H) Heard & Held 03/27/25 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/01/25 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/01/25 (H) Heard & Held 04/01/25 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/10/25 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/10/25 (H) Moved CSHB 26(TRA) Out of Committee 04/10/25 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 04/11/25 (H) TRA RPT CS(TRA) 5DP 2DNP 04/11/25 (H) DP: MOORE, MINA, STUTES, EISCHEID, CARRICK 04/11/25 (H) DNP: MCCABE, TILTON 05/02/25 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 05/02/25 (H) VERSION: CSHB 26(TRA) AM 05/05/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/05/25 (S) CRA, TRA 05/15/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 05/15/25 (S) Heard & Held 05/15/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA) 05/20/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 05/20/25 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 01/27/26 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 01/27/26 (S) Heard & Held 01/27/26 (S) MINUTE(CRA) 02/03/26 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) BILL: SB 129 SHORT TITLE: PAYMENT OF CONTRACTS SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KAWASAKI 03/12/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/12/25 (S) CRA, L&C 04/01/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 04/01/25 (S) Heard & Held 04/01/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA) 04/08/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 04/08/25 (S) Heard & Held 04/08/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA) 04/29/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 04/29/25 (S) Heard & Held 04/29/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA) 02/03/26 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) WITNESS REGISTER  CLAIRE WARNCKE, Staff Representative Genevieve Mina Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified that she was available to answer questions on HB 26. SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, District P Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 129. JENNA COLQUHOUN, Staff Senator Scott Kawasaki Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on SB 129. ACTION NARRATIVE  1:31:45 PM CHAIR MERRICK called the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Yundt, Olson, and Chair Merrick. Senator Dunbar arrived immediately thereafter. CHAIR MERRICK announced an at ease, reconvened the meeting, and noted the arrival of Senator Dunbar. HB 26-STATEWIDE PUBLIC & COMMUNITY TRANSIT PLAN  1:32:43 PM CHAIR MERRICK announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 26(TRA) am "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; and relating to a statewide public and community transit plan." CHAIR MERRICK said this is the third hearing of HB 26 in the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee. She invited the bill sponsor's staff to make comments. 1:33:11 PM CLAIRE WARNCKE, Staff, Representative Genevieve Mina, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, testified that she was available to answer questions on HB 26. 1:33:21 PM CHAIR MERRICK found no discussion or questions. CHAIR MERRICK solicited the will of the committee. 1:33:29 PM SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report CSHB 26(TRA) am, work order 34- LS0276\I.A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s) and authorized Legislative Legal Services to make conforming changes. 1:33:46 PM CHAIR MERRICK found no objection and CSHB 26(TRA) am was reported from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee. 1:33:51 PM At ease. SB 129-PAYMENT OF CONTRACTS  1:35:29 PM CHAIR MERRICK reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 129 "An Act establishing a 30- day deadline for the payment of contracts under the State Procurement Code; establishing deadlines for the payment of grants, contracts, and reimbursement agreements to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and Alaska Native organizations; relating to payment of grants to named recipients that are not municipalities; and providing for an effective date." CHAIR MERRICK said this is the fourth hearing of SB 129 in the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee. She invited the bill sponsor to put himself on the record to briefly reintroduce the bill. 1:35:52 PM SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, District P, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 129, expressed appreciation to committee members for their willingness to move the bill forward. He said SB 129 is a good business bill and a good government bill. He explained that the intent of SB 129 is to improve efficiency and ensure State contractors are paid in a timely manner. 1:36:24 PM CHAIR MERRICK invited committee members to ask questions. 1:36:29 PM SENATOR YUNDT sought confirmation that SB 129 defines prompt payment as 30 days. 1:36:40 PM JENNA COLQUHOUN, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, answered in the affirmative, stating 30 days is the deadline. 1:36:50 PM SENATOR YUNDT expressed appreciation for the bill's intent but raised concerns about the pressure a 30-day deadline could place on accounting offices. He said that during a given month, accounting offices experience periods of heavy workload, and coupled with holidays, the 30-day deadline could create complications. He indicated that he recommended an amendment extending the deadline to 45 to 59 days and said it is something to consider to improve the bill. 1:37:48 PM CHAIR MERRICK solicited the will of the committee. 1:37:50 PM SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report SB 129, work order [34-LS0690\N,] from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s) and authorized Legislative Legal Services to make conforming changes. 1:38:07 PM At ease. 1:38:23 PM [CHAIR MERRICK reconvened the meeting.] SENATOR DUNBAR clarified that the work order number is 34- LS0690\N. 1:38:35 PM CHAIR MERRICK found no objection and SB 129 was reported from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee. 1:38:59 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Merrick adjourned the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting at 1:39 p.m.