Criminal Justice in Alaska

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 247: An Act relating to crime and criminal procedure; relating to generated obscene child sexual abuse material; relating to teaching certificates; and relating to licensing of school bus drivers.

SB 247 creates new criminal offenses for distributing and possessing "generated obscene child sexual abuse material," defined as computer-generated images or videos that appear to depict children engaged in sexual acts but were created without real children. The bill specifies that possessing 100 or more such items is prima facie evidence of intent to distribute, with distribution classified as a class B felony (or class A felony for repeat offenders). It establishes a legal standard requiring such material to appeal to a prurient interest, depict a child (via manipulation) in a patently offensive way, and lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. The bill does not address the other provisions mentioned in its title (teaching certificates, school bus drivers), as the provided text focuses solely on the criminal provisions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 203: An Act relating to the definition of 'prohibited weapon.'

SB 203 amends Alaska Statute 11.61.200 to clarify the legal definition of a "prohibited weapon." It directly affects Alaskans who possess or use specific firearms or devices, including short-barreled rifles (under 16 inches), short-shotguns (under 18 inches), suppressors (devices muffling firearm noise), automatic firearms, and certain explosive devices. Key provisions explicitly define prohibited items like rifles modified to be under 26 inches overall, devices converting handguns to automatic fire, and weapons designed to cause serious injury. The law applies to offenses occurring on or after its effective date, updating existing firearm regulations without creating new prohibitions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Firearms

signed · Alaska · House Jun 20, 2026

HB 239: An Act relating to crime and criminal procedure; relating to civil claims by victims of sexual abuse of a minor; relating to homicide; relating to assault; relating to sexual assault; relating to stalking; relating to sexual abuse of a minor; relating to enticement and unlawful exploitation of a minor; relating to cruelty to animals; relating to endangering the welfare of a child; relating to indecent exposure; relating to theft; relating to generated obscene child sexual abuse material; relating to sending an explicit image of a minor; relating to solicitation or production of an indecent picture of a minor; relating to distribution of indecent material to minors; relating to prostitution; relating to the Controlled Substances Advisory Committee; relating to the testimony of children in criminal proceedings; relating to sentencing; relating to sexual assault examination kits; restricting the release of certain records of convictions; relating to teaching certificates; relating to the definition of 'victim counseling center' for disclosure of certain communications concerning sexual assault or domestic violence; relating to motor vehicle offenses; relating to the board of parole; relating to parole; relating to medical release for service of sentence by electronic monitoring; relating to licensing of school bus drivers; creating and relating to the address confidentiality program; and providing for an effective date.

HB 239 amends Alaska law to increase penalties for criminally negligent homicide committed while operating a motor vehicle and failing to stop or provide assistance after an accident. It upgrades this offense from a Class B felony to a Class A felony (with a 7-11 year sentencing range under AS 12.55.125(c)(D)), directly affecting drivers involved in collisions who violate existing duties to stop and assist under AS 28.35.050/060. The bill does not change the underlying duty to stop but significantly raises the criminal consequences for violating it. This adjustment specifically targets cases where a driver’s failure to stop causes death, making it a more serious felony than other negligent homicide scenarios.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Sentencing Public Transit

passed · Alaska · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 47: An Act relating to distribution of a forged digital likeness; relating to crime and criminal procedure; relating to distribution of a generated sexual depiction; relating to generated obscene child sexual abuse material; relating to teaching certificates; relating to licensing of school bus drivers; relating to civil penalties for an organization that facilitates the generation of child sexual abuse material; relating to social media and minors; and providing for an effective date.

HB 47 creates two new criminal offenses related to AI-generated or manipulated child sexual abuse material in Alaska. It makes distributing such material a class B felony (or class A felony with prior convictions), and possessing 100 or more items is presumed to indicate intent to distribute. The bill defines "generated obscene child sexual abuse material" as content depicting manipulated images of children engaged in sexual acts, lacking serious value, and appealing to prurient interest under community standards. It specifically excludes tech employees acting in their job duties to prevent or report such material. The law does not address the other topics listed in the bill's title (teaching certificates, school bus licensing).

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Alaska · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 155: An Act relating to the crime of failure to report a violent crime.

SB 155 amends Alaska law to make failure to report a violent crime committed against an adult a class B misdemeanor (a criminal offense), rather than a non-criminal violation. This change directly affects individuals who witness such crimes and do not report them to authorities. The bill establishes this new misdemeanor penalty for failing to report these specific offenses. It applies only to violent crimes committed on or after the law's effective date. The law does not change the definition of violent crime or alter existing reporting requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

in committee · Alaska · House May 16, 2025

HB 170: An Act relating to a failure to report a violent crime.

HB 170 makes it a class B misdemeanor (a punishable offense) for an adult who witnesses a violent crime against another adult to fail to report it to law enforcement. The bill specifically targets individuals who observe violent crimes but do not notify authorities, imposing legal consequences for non-reporting. It amends Alaska Statute 11.56.767(d) to define this failure as a criminal violation. The law applies to incidents occurring on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

in committee · Alaska · Senate Jan 27, 2025

SB 74: An Act relating to obstruction; and providing for an effective date.

This Alaska bill (SB 74) strengthens penalties for obstructing public spaces like sidewalks, roads, or emergency access. It classifies obstruction creating injury risk or interfering with emergency response as a class C felony, otherwise making it a class A misdemeanor. The bill also establishes automatic civil damages: $10,000 for nominal harm, $50,000 for property damage, $100,000 for bodily injury, and $500,000 for death, plus joint liability for those aiding obstruction. It applies to anyone blocking public areas, including through dropped substances or physical barriers, while excluding permitted activities and service vehicles.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Alaska · House Mar 20, 2026

HB 134: An Act relating to misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree; and establishing the offense of misconduct involving weapons in the sixth degree.

HB 134 amends Alaska law to clarify and expand criminal offenses related to weapons. It defines "misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree" as specific acts, including possessing a firearm while impaired, discharging a firearm on a highway, or selling weapons to minors without parental consent. The bill also establishes a new "misconduct involving weapons in the sixth degree" offense for keeping a firearm on premises without it being under the owner's control, when a minor could access it. This directly affects individuals who handle firearms in these ways, particularly focusing on preventing underage access and addressing unsafe storage practices. The law aims to standardize penalties for these specific behaviors without creating new rights or policies.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Firearms

in committee · Alaska · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 71: An Act relating to obstruction; and providing for an effective date.

HB 71 strengthens Alaska's obstruction laws by increasing criminal penalties and creating new civil liability for obstructing public spaces. It classifies severe obstruction (creating injury risk or disrupting emergencies) as a class C felony, otherwise a class A misdemeanor. The bill also establishes strict civil liability requiring $10,000 to $500,000 in damages per incident based on harm caused - $10,000 for nominal rights violations, $50,000 for property damage, $100,000 for bodily injury, and $500,000 for death. This applies to anyone obstructing public areas (e.g., blocking sidewalks or roads) and extends liability to those who knowingly encourage obstruction through "actual malice."

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Alaska · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 106: An Act relating to organized theft; relating to theft of medical records and medical information; relating to mail theft; and providing for an effective date.

HB 106 strengthens Alaska's theft laws by adding new penalties for specific offenses. It creates "organized theft" as a class A felony when three or more people coordinate two or more thefts for group benefit. The bill also explicitly includes medical records and mail theft as aggravating factors for second- and third-degree theft charges, respectively. These changes apply to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025. The law directly affects individuals committing these specific thefts, particularly those targeting medical information or postal mail.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

All criminal justice bills