SB 167 allows Alaskans denied a permanent fund dividend due to a criminal conviction to receive back payments if their conviction is overturned (set aside or reversed) and either the charges are dismissed or they are retried and found not guilty. To qualify, individuals must apply within one year of the dismissal or not guilty verdict, with a special one-year window after the bill's effective date for those who had these events before the law passed. The bill also updates the dividend calculation method to include payments for these individuals in annual computations, ensuring they receive the dividends they were previously denied due to their conviction status.
SB 104 allows Alaska boat and vehicle owners to designate a beneficiary to automatically inherit the title upon their death through a "transfer on death" (TOD) title. Owners must apply to the Department of Administration with 1-2 beneficiary names and pay a fee to set up the TOD. The transfer occurs automatically at death without requiring the beneficiary's acceptance, payment, or probate. Owners can change or revoke the designation anytime during their life without the beneficiary's consent.
SB 146 creates a dedicated fund to support education infrastructure in Alaska. It provides grant funding for regional and small municipal school districts, funds construction/maintenance at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, and covers major maintenance for state-owned teacher housing located within those school districts. The fund, capped at $70 million in unspent balances, directly affects regional school districts, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, and teachers working in those areas by addressing facility and housing needs. This bill focuses on concrete funding mechanisms for school infrastructure and teacher housing, without altering educational standards or policies.
SB 23 requires Alaska public high schools to implement a standardized civics curriculum covering U.S. and Alaska government, founding documents, citizenship rights, and global governance systems. Students must complete a semester-long civics course and pass two assessments: a 100-question test based on the U.S. citizenship exam and a civics project-based assessment to earn a high school diploma. The bill directly affects all Alaska public high school students, with exemptions for transfers after 10th grade, students with prior history credits, or those with disability waivers. Schools must document passing scores on transcripts and may allow retakes for the assessment.
SB 79 amends Alaska's wage payment laws to establish clear rules for employers using payroll cards. It requires employers to get employee consent before depositing wages into a payroll card account and to provide detailed disclosures about fees, free access methods, and account terms. The bill mandates that payroll cards must offer at least one free weekly withdrawal, free balance checks via phone or online, and no fees for basic account setup, card issuance, or wage transfers. This directly affects Alaskan employers and workers who receive wages via payroll cards, ensuring greater transparency and preventing excessive fees while requiring account insurance.
This bill changes Alaska's regulations for physician assistants (PAs). It requires PAs with less than 4,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience to maintain a written collaborative agreement with a physician, detailing oversight methods, competency assessments, and specialty training. The agreement must specify specialties the PA is learning and allows telehealth oversight for PAs in remote areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that PA applicants graduate from American Medical Association-accredited programs and updates the State Medical Board to include one licensed PA member.
HB 48 updates funding rules for Alaska's civil legal services fund, which provides legal aid to low-income residents. The bill limits annual appropriations to funds from the general state budget and up to 10% of court filing fees collected in the previous fiscal year (reducing the prior cap from 25%). It specifies that funds must support organizations serving individuals with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. The bill clarifies the fund remains part of the general state budget, not a dedicated account, and does not create new funding sources.
SB 192 establishes a standardized color-coded evacuation system for Alaska's emergency planning: "Level 1 Ready" (green) for potential emergencies, "Level 2 Set" (yellow) for imminent evacuation, and "Level 3 Go" (red) for immediate danger requiring evacuation. The bill directly affects Alaskans living in areas covered by emergency plans, particularly those near facilities handling hazardous substances. It requires all emergency plans under Alaska's Disaster Act to adopt these color codes in public messaging and evacuation maps, including provisions for precautionary evacuations and alternate traffic routes. The law amends existing requirements to ensure consistent, clear public communication during disasters.
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.
SB 40 designates September 15 to October 15 each year as Hispanic Heritage Month in Alaska. This bill requires schools, community groups, and public or private organizations to observe this period with activities honoring Hispanic Americans' contributions to Alaska and U.S. history and culture. It amends Alaska Statute 44.12 to formally establish the observance period without creating new programs or funding. The bill is purely ceremonial, focusing on recognition rather than policy changes.
HB 33 amends Alaska's ethics rules for members of the Board of Fisheries and Board of Game. It clarifies that these members are not disqualified from participating in board discussions if they have personal or family financial interests in fish or game-related businesses, but they must refrain from voting if a supervisor or majority determines their involvement would violate ethics laws. The bill requires members to disclose conflicts in writing and allows the supervisor or board to decide whether voting is permitted, ensuring transparency while permitting deliberation. This procedural change directly affects board members managing fisheries and wildlife resources, with no substantive policy shifts beyond ethics compliance.
HB 289 is an appropriations bill that allocates funding for Alaska's 2025-2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) to state agencies. It provides specific funding amounts for agencies like the Department of Corrections ($20 million for Population Management), the Alaska Energy Authority ($250,000), and the Department of Fish and Game (e.g., $651,400 for Commercial Fisheries). The bill does not create new policies or programs but directs existing funds to support ongoing state operations and services. It affects all state agencies receiving these allocations, as well as Alaskans who rely on services funded through these appropriations.
