Alaska Bills | MyRepTracker

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 287: An Act establishing the Joint Legislative Alaska Native Languages Academic Task Force.

This bill establishes a Joint Legislative Alaska Native Languages Academic Task Force within the Alaska State Legislature to oversee the preservation and instruction of Alaska Native languages. The task force will consist of six members, with three appointed by the House speaker and three by the Senate president. Within 90 days of the law taking effect, the group must hold public meetings to gather input from communities and experts while reviewing academic activities at the University of Alaska system. Their review will specifically examine teacher training programs, research archives, and staffing levels to support the documentation and instruction of these languages.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 278: An Act relating to the required local contribution made by a city or borough school district for public school funding; and providing for an effective date.

This bill modifies how Alaska calculates the required local contribution that city and borough school districts must make toward public school funding. It updates the formula used to determine state aid by adjusting how student enrollment numbers are counted, particularly when districts experience significant enrollment decreases or school consolidations. The law allows districts to use previous years' enrollment data to offset drops in funding for up to three years following enrollment declines, and for four years following school consolidations, provided the enrollment drop meets specific thresholds. These changes aim to provide more stability in funding calculations during periods of enrollment fluctuation or district reorganization.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 268: An Act relating to minimum paid sick leave requirements for individuals employed in seafood processing.

SB 268 would exempt seafood processing workers in Alaska from the state's existing minimum paid sick leave requirements. Specifically, it amends Alaska Statute 23.10.069 to add that "seafood processing workers" (defined as those handling tasks like heading, gutting, filleting, or canning seafood) are not subject to sick leave laws covering other workers. This bill directly affects employees in the seafood processing industry by removing a requirement that applies to most other workers. The legislation is currently in committee referral stage and has not yet been voted on.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

failed · Alaska · House May 16, 2026

HB 222: An Act relating to workplace violence protective orders; relating to attorney fees; relating to the crime of violating a protective order; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; amending Rules 4 and 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date.

HB 222 creates a new legal pathway for employers to seek protective orders against individuals threatening or committing violence in the workplace. It establishes "workplace violence protective orders" under new Section 18.65.875, allowing employers to request court orders after reasonably believing an individual committed workplace violence. The bill prohibits courts from awarding attorney fees against employers or employees seeking these orders, and requires a central registry for all protective orders (including workplace orders) to improve law enforcement access. These changes aim to strengthen workplace safety protections while streamlining the legal process for affected employers.

passed · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 140: An Act relating to a matching grant program for fire station construction and renovation; and providing for an effective date.

SB 140 creates a state matching grant program to help local fire departments fund construction or renovation of fire stations. The program provides up to 50% of eligible project costs (with the applicant covering the other half), administered through a dedicated fund in the state department. Money in the fund does not expire and must be used annually for grants, with at least half of the prior year's balance allocated each fiscal year. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly benefiting fire departments seeking to build or upgrade stations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 83: An Act relating to health care insurance; relating to insurance reimbursement for health care services provided through telehealth; relating to telehealth; providing for an effective date by repealing the effective date of secs. 9 and 10, ch. 38, SLA 2022; and providing for an effective date.

SB 83 requires health insurers in Alaska to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate and on the same basis as in-person care. This applies directly to health care insurers and providers offering telehealth services, including municipal health plans for government employees. The bill amends existing insurance codes to mandate this reimbursement parity and defines "telehealth" using current law. It does not create new programs but standardizes payment rates for existing telehealth services. The law would take effect immediately upon passage, repealing a prior effective date provision.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Alaska · Senate May 16, 2026

SB 35: An Act relating to transportation network companies and delivery network companies; and relating to occupational accident insurance.

SB 35 amends Alaska law to explicitly exempt transportation network company drivers (like Uber or Lyft drivers) from being classified as employees under workers' compensation and labor laws. The bill adds a new exemption (section 11) for drivers who provide prearranged rides through digital networks, and defines independent contractor status (section 12) with specific criteria like having an express contract, being free from employer control over work methods, and incurring business expenses. This directly affects ride-share drivers in Alaska, removing them from coverage under certain labor protections. The bill focuses on defining contractor status through clear, operational requirements rather than altering broader employment standards. The legislation is currently pending in committee review.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 283: An Act relating to staffing standards for registered nurses; and providing for an effective date.

Senate Bill 283 establishes minimum staffing standards for registered nurses in Alaska hospitals by limiting the maximum number of patients each nurse can be assigned during a shift in various units, such as intensive care, emergency departments, and labor and delivery. The bill requires hospitals to create written staffing plans and mandates that nurses be physically present in the care area, explicitly prohibiting the use of remote workers, care coordinators, or artificial intelligence to meet staffing requirements. Additionally, the legislation ensures that every nurse assigned to a patient care unit must have completed sufficient orientation to demonstrate current competence in that specific clinical area.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Alaska · Senate May 15, 2026

SR 5: Recognizing the importance of preserving agricultural land in the state.

This Senate resolution formally recognizes the importance of preserving agricultural land in Alaska and encourages various stakeholders to support voluntary conservation efforts. The bill directly affects state agencies, local governments, landowners, and community partners by promoting incentive-based programs that keep farmland in active agricultural use. It highlights how agricultural land supports food security, local economies, and environmental resources while acknowledging the ongoing loss of farmland to development. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a statement of intent to prioritize agricultural land preservation across the state.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Alaska · House May 15, 2026

HB 301: An Act relating to and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

HB 301 amends Alaska's anti-discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in covered contexts like housing and employment. It adds new definitions to the statute, clarifying that "gender identity or expression" includes a person's self-image or behavior regardless of sex assigned at birth, and expands "sex" to include both sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill directly affects Alaskans by extending legal protections against discrimination in areas governed by the existing anti-discrimination statute. The legislation focuses on updating definitions within current law rather than creating new enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alaska · House May 15, 2026

HB 371: An Act requiring a group supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot proposition in a state or local election to maintain an address in the state; amending campaign contribution disclosure requirements; requiring the disclosure of certain persons who coordinate and aggregate individual campaign contributions; limiting contributions to groups or nongroup entities that make only independent expenditures; requiring certain groups and nongroup entities to register with the Alaska Public Offices Commission as majority-nonresident-funded entities; requiring certain disclosures in communications funded by independent expenditures; relating to disbursement of campaign assets after an election; and providing for an effective date.

HB 371 requires election-related groups (supporting/opposing candidates or ballot measures) to maintain a physical Alaska address and register with the Alaska Public Offices Commission if they receive majority funding from nonresidents. It mandates new disclosures about contributors coordinating or aggregating individual donations, limits contributions to groups making only independent expenditures, and requires detailed spending reports for communications funded by such groups. The bill aims to increase transparency around campaign financing, particularly for nonresident-funded election activities, to help voters understand funding sources. These changes apply to political committees, independent expenditure groups, and nongroup entities operating in Alaska elections.

passed · Alaska · House May 15, 2026

HB 202: An Act designating the O-S Cross cabbage, commonly known as 'giant green cabbage,' as the official state vegetable; and providing for an effective date.

HB 202 designates giant cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) as Alaska's official state vegetable. The bill amends state code to formally include this designation and takes effect immediately upon enactment. This is a symbolic measure with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on residents or state programs.

DeLena Johnson (R) · 22 co-sponsors