HB 1 Alaska House · 34th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relating to specie as legal tender in the state; and relating to borough and city sales and use taxes on specie.

HB 1 clarifies that gold and silver coins (defined as "specie") cannot be subject to borough or city sales and use taxes in Alaska. It also updates Alaska's legal tender definition to include federal, recognized foreign, or state-authorized gold/silver coins, while explicitly stating individuals are not required to accept such coins for payments. The bill primarily affects local tax policies and defines the conditions under which specie qualifies as legal tender, without creating new taxes or altering existing tax obligations.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed Jun 4, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB 1 → CSHB 1(STA) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify that taxes cannot be levied on the actual metal value of gold or silver coins, rather than the coins themselves. Additionally, the definition of who must accept specie was expanded to include governmental entities, and the legislative committee was tasked with studying consumer protections related to these transactions.

Scope change

The scope of tax exemptions was narrowed to specifically target the metal content of specie, and the obligation to accept specie was broadened to include government bodies.

REQUIREMENT

Tax exemptions for specie were changed to apply only to the value of the gold or silver metal within the coin, rather than the coin as a whole.

The requirement to accept specie as payment was expanded to include governmental entities, not just private individuals.

A new mandate was added for the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to study consumer protections and consumer behavior regarding the sale and use of specie.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

(S) PASSED Y19 N1

upper

May 8, 2026

Committee

(S) FIN REFERRAL WAIVED

upper

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

lower

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) PASSED Y40

lower

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) STA CS ADOPTED UC

lower

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

(H) Moved CSHB 1(STA) Out of Committee

lower

May 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Moved CSHB 1(STA) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 15 min Following Session --

lower

1 primary · 21 co-sponsors