Budget & Taxes (Small Business)

HB 30 creates an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce to support new businesses in Alaska. It requires state agencies to annually report on contracts with new businesses, including demographic details and geographic locations, and to suggest ways to improve access for these businesses. The bill also waives the initial $50 business license fee for new businesses (as defined by state law) and mandates the Office to issue an annual report on legislation affecting new businesses. These changes aim to streamline support for new business growth and increase transparency in government contracting.

HB 113 creates a tax exemption for certain Alaska corporations classified as "qualified small businesses" under federal tax code (26 U.S.C. §1202 as of January 2012). It directly affects eligible Alaska-based small businesses that meet federal active business requirements, excluding construction, transportation, utility, and fisheries businesses. The bill clarifies that qualifying corporations must be incorporated in Alaska or authorized to operate there, and treats parent-subsidiary groups as a single entity for exemption purposes. The exemption applies to tax years beginning after the bill's effective date, which is immediate under Alaska law. This is a direct policy change modifying tax liability for qualifying businesses, not a procedural or commemorative measure.