Environment in Alaska | MyRepTracker

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

Sub-Topics Conservation Tags Agriculture

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 21, 2026

HJR 37: Supporting federal, state, and local efforts to clean up and remove marine debris from the state; urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to provide additional funding for those efforts and to remove barriers faced by tribes and rural communities in accessing those funds; and urging the Alaska Congressional delegation to advocate for increased federal funding and support for marine debris prevention, clean up, removal, backhaul, and education.

HJR 37 is a non-binding Alaska legislative resolution urging federal agencies like NOAA and the EPA to increase funding for marine debris cleanup and remove barriers preventing tribes and rural communities from accessing those funds. It directly affects Alaska's coastal communities, tribes, and rural areas struggling to clean up debris along the state's over 50,000-mile shoreline. The resolution requests federal support for debris prevention, cleanup, removal, and education efforts, and asks Alaska's congressional delegation to advocate for more federal funding. It does not create new laws but expresses legislative support for existing cleanup initiatives.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Recycling

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 25, 2026

HJR 35: Urging federal fisheries managers to reduce trawl bycatch, maintain existing bycatch limits, and strengthen enforcement; and supporting federal efforts aimed at reducing bycatch and benthic habitat contact.

Alaska's HJR 35 is a resolution urging federal fisheries managers to maintain current bycatch limits for trawl fishing in federal waters off Alaska, require vessels to process and donate unintended catch (like salmon and seafloor species) instead of discarding it, and strengthen enforcement. It specifically targets trawl fisheries that incidentally capture salmon and bottom-dwelling species (such as crab and halibut), which affects commercial, subsistence, and sport fisheries. The resolution also calls for penalties for damaging seafloor habitats and supports federal research on reducing bycatch through better monitoring and gear innovation. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but requests specific actions from federal agencies like the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 253: An Act relating to the sulfur content of marine fuel.

SB 253 sets limits on sulfur content in marine fuel used by vessels operating in Alaska's coastal waters. It requires that marine fuel contain no more than 0.1% sulfur by weight within Alaska's emission control area (aligned with the North American Emission Control Area) and no more than 0.5% sulfur by weight outside that area. The bill includes exemptions for ocean voyages without multiple stops, emergencies, government vessels, and vessels meeting equivalent sulfur output standards. These rules directly affect all commercial and private vessel operators using marine fuel in Alaska's coastal waters.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 321: An Act relating to state refuges, sanctuaries, and fish and game critical habitat areas; relating to the hunting of brown bear; and providing for an effective date.

HB 321 prohibits the hunting of brown bears in specific areas of the Katmai region, including the McNeil River Wildlife Sanctuary and designated sections of land adjacent to Katmai National Park and Preserve. The bill defines exact boundaries using geographic descriptions (e.g., Township 14 South, Range 32 West) to restrict hunting on both state and federal lands in these zones. This directly affects hunters seeking to hunt brown bears within the defined areas. The bill also updates management standards for wildlife refuges but does not change general hunting regulations outside these protected zones. The prohibition applies to all brown bear hunting in the specified locations, regardless of permit type.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Wildlife

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 23, 2026

HJR 40: Supporting the Alaska Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2022 - 2027; supporting public and private sector investment, economic opportunities, and development in the state; supporting the prioritization of healthy and sustainable wild food and renewable resources; encouraging the private and public sectors to collaborate on educating students about the state's economic reliance on sustainable resource development; and supporting payment of an annual dividend.

This non-binding resolution supports Alaska's 2022-2027 Economic Development Strategy by endorsing public-private investment in resource development, prioritizing sustainable wild food and renewable resources, and encouraging collaboration between sectors to educate students about the state's resource-based economy. It also expresses support for the Permanent Fund dividend, which provides annual payments to Alaska residents. The resolution directly affects Alaskans by shaping economic priorities focused on resource development, job creation, and fiscal stability through sustainable growth.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Tags Economic Development

in committee · Alaska · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 332: An Act relating to microplastic testing; and relating to a microplastic strategy plan.

HB 332 requires Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation to develop and implement a statewide plan for regularly testing water, soil, fish, wildlife, and other environmental media for microplastics (defined as plastic particles under 5 millimeters). The department must use scientifically sound methods and update the testing schedule annually before July 1 in even-numbered years. This bill directly affects state environmental agencies by establishing mandatory testing protocols and reporting requirements for microplastic pollution. It does not alter existing public assistance programs, despite an unrelated amendment to health department duties appearing in the bill text.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

in committee · Alaska · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 366: An Act relating to the use of heavy petroleum fuel oil as a marine fuel; relating to the duties of the Department of Environmental Conservation; and providing for an effective date.

HB 366 bans the use of high-viscosity or high-sulfur heavy petroleum fuel oil in vessel engines operating within Alaska's coastal waters, directly affecting commercial and recreational vessel operators in those areas. The bill includes exemptions for ocean voyages through coastal waters without entering state ports (if continuous and expeditious), emergencies, or distress situations requiring assistance. Violations would be subject to fines established by the Department of Environmental Conservation through regulations. The law defines "applicable waters" per federal standards and specifies "heavy petroleum fuel oil" as fuel exceeding 380 centistokes viscosity or 0.1% sulfur content.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 23, 2026

HJR 34: Urging the United States Congress and federal fisheries managers to make changes to the federal Prohibited Species Donation program to reduce the waste of edible bycatch, increase vessel participation, and improve food security in the state.

This resolution urges the U.S. Congress and federal fisheries managers to reform the Prohibited Species Donation program (also called the Bycatch to Food Banks program) to reduce waste of edible fish bycatch - such as salmon and halibut caught accidentally in Alaskan fisheries. Currently, fishing vessels face high costs and regulatory barriers that discourage participation, leading to discarded food that could address Alaska’s food insecurity. The resolution requests targeted changes to make donation easier for vessels while maintaining the program’s voluntary nature, strict monitoring, and prohibition on financial incentives that might increase bycatch. It does not propose new laws but asks federal agencies to adjust the program to better align with conservation goals and food security needs.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation

in committee · Alaska · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 312: An Act relating to a state energy policy; relating to the green energy grant fund; and providing for an effective date.

HB 312 establishes a green energy grant fund in Alaska by directing 20% of revenue from the state's carbon offset program into it. The fund finances new renewable energy projects, including hydroelectric facilities, direct renewable energy use, and hydrogen fuel cell projects powered by renewable resources, with priority given to projects in areas where average energy costs exceed the state average. It also sets loan terms for eligible projects (up to 50 years) and requires interest rates to be at least 3% below standard rates (but not below 1%). The fund must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing grant applications and recommendations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Hydroelectric Renewable Energy

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