ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL    MARCH 12, 2025  5:15 PM    MEMBERS PRESENT  Representative Sara Hannan, Chair  Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair  Representative Ashley Carrick  Representative Bryce Edgmon  Representative Chuck Kopp  Representative Mike Prax  Representative Calvin Schrage  Representative Louise Stutes  Senator Matt Claman  Senator Cathy Giessel  Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson  Senator Jesse Kiehl    MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Donna Mears (alternate)  Senator Lyman Hoffman  Senator Bert Stedman  Senator Löki Tobin (alternate)    OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT  Senator James Kaufman    AGENDA  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  APPROVAL OF MINUTES  SANCTIONING OF CHARITABLE EVENTS  EXECUTIVE SESSION    SPEAKER REGISTER  Megan Wallace, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA), Legal  Services Chief Counsel    I. CALL TO ORDER    5:18:32 PM  CHAIR HANNAN called the Legislative Council meeting to  order at 5:18pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Room 532  (Senate Finance) of the State Capitol. Present at the call  were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,  Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl,  Stevens.    Ten members present.    Representative Kopp joined the meeting at 5:22pm.  Representative Stutes joined the meeting at 5:32pm.    II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA    5:20:06 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that  Legislative Council approve the agenda as presented.    The motion passed without objection.    III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  a. February 12, 2025, Minutes    5:20:29 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that  Legislative Council approve the minutes dated February 12,  2025, as presented.    The minutes were approved without objection.    IV. SANCTIONING OF CHARITABLE EVENTS  1. Kenai River Junior Classic August 5-6, 2025  2. Ted Stevens Kenai River Classic August 20-22, 2025  3. Kenai River Women's Classic September 11-13, 2025    5:20:56 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that  Legislative Council ratify the Chair's sanctioning of the  following charitable events per AS 24.60.080(a)(2)(B):    1. Kenai River Junior Classic - August 5 - 6, 2025  2. Ted Stevens Kenai River Classic - August 20 - 22, 2025  3. Kenai River Women's Classic - September 11 - 13, 2025    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and  stated that the 501(c)(3) status of the Kenai River  Sportfishing Association had been verified.    There was no discussion. Chair Hannan removed her objection  and the sanctioning of the three charitable events were  ratified.    V. EXECUTIVE SESSION  a. Consideration of an Appeal in Legislative Council v.  Attorney General Treg Taylor, et al.    CHAIR HANNAN stated that Legislative Council would go  into Executive Session for a briefing and consideration  of an appeal to the State Supreme Court following the  Superior Court's February 18 decision in the Legislative  Council versus State Department of Law litigation.    5:22:21 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that the Legislative Council go  into Executive Session under Uniform Rule 22(B)(1),  discussion of matters, the immediate knowledge of which  would adversely affect the finances of a government unit  and 22(B)(3), discussion of a matter that may, by law, be  required to be confidential. The following people may  remain in the room or on-line for the Executive Session:  Whitney Brown, Jessica Geary, Santé Lesh, Megan Wallace,  Emily Nauman, any legislators not on Legislative Council,  and any staff of Legislative Council members.    5:23:20 PM  Council went into Executive Session.    6:08:27 PM  Council came out of Executive Session.    A roll call vote was taken to establish a quorum.    Present at the call were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon,  Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman,  Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Stevens.    Twelve members present.    6:09:52 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council authorize  the appeal of the superior court's decision in Legislative Council v. Taylor, et al, Case No. 3AN-24-04218 CI and  approve an amendment to the existing contract with Stoel  Rives, dated August 22, 2024, and amended February 14,  2025, to increase the contract amount by $120,000 for a  total amount not to exceed $230,000, for legal services,  litigation, and appeal costs.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and  asked Megan Wallace to speak to this item.    MEGAN WALLACE, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA) Legal  Services Chief Counsel, stated that the motion before the  committee today pertains to the case of the Alaska  Legislative Council versus Attorney General Treg Taylor  concerning appropriations made by the legislature in FY21  and FY22 for legal contracts related to the interpretation  of the Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees decision. She explained that on  February 18, 2025, the Anchorage Superior Court ruled the  lawsuit moot and granted the Attorney General's motion for  summary judgment, effectively dismissing the case. The  motion will decide whether to appeal the case to the Alaska  Supreme Court and whether to increase the funding for  outside counsel, currently Stoel Rives, to continue the  litigation.    CHAIR HANNAN removed her objection.    REPRESENTATIVE KOPP asked for a roll call vote.    6:12:04 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,  Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,  Kiehl, Stevens    NAYS: Representative Kopp    The motion passed 11-1.    VI. ADJORNMENT    There being no further business before the committee, the  Legislative Council meeting was adjourned at 6:13pm.    6:13:48 PM