Healthcare

signed · Alaska · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 178: An Act relating to early intervention services for certain children; relating to optional services under the medical assistance program; and providing for an effective date.

SB 178 expands eligibility for early intervention services under Alaska's medical assistance program to include children under age 3 who are at risk of developmental delays or disabilities, not just those already diagnosed. It adds "early intervention services for children eligible under AS 47.20.080" to the list of optional medical assistance services and requires the department to develop a state plan for these services. The bill also mandates training programs for paraprofessionals serving these children and establishes requirements for monitoring service effectiveness. This directly affects infants and toddlers with developmental concerns, their families, and providers of early intervention services in Alaska.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands medical assistance coverage for early intervention services to at-risk children under 3, increasing access to healthcare for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

in committee · Alaska · House May 6, 2026

HB 49: An Act relating to tobacco, tobacco products, electronic smoking products, nicotine, and products containing nicotine; raising the minimum age to purchase, exchange, or possess tobacco, a product containing nicotine, or an electronic smoking product; relating to the tobacco use education and cessation fund; relating to the taxation of electronic smoking products and vapor products; and providing for an effective date.

HB 49 raises Alaska's minimum age for purchasing, possessing, or exchanging tobacco products, electronic smoking devices, and nicotine products from 19 to 21 years old. It prohibits individuals under 21 from possessing these items, with exceptions for FDA-approved nicotine cessation products prescribed by a healthcare provider or provided through state-approved programs. The bill also updates vending machine rules, allowing them only in specific licensed venues with strict supervision or in controlled workplace areas requiring clear warning signs. These changes aim to reduce youth access to nicotine products while maintaining medical use pathways.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRaises tobacco purchase age to 21 to prevent youth access, aligns with public health initiatives and supports cessation programs via healthcare providers.92% confidence

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Feb 5, 2025

SB 84: An Act making supplemental appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

SB 84 is a budget bill that modifies existing state funding allocations for fiscal year 2025 (July 2024-June 2025). It adjusts specific line items across multiple state agencies, including $4.1 million for Corrections' Population Management, $228.6 million for Medicaid Services, and $30,000 for the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. The bill reallocates money within current budget structures without creating new programs or changing tax policies. It affects how state departments distribute existing funds during the upcoming fiscal year.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $228.6M specifically to Medicaid Services, directly increasing healthcare funding without restrictions or cuts to core health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Alaska · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 161: An Act relating to minimum paid sick leave requirements; and providing for an effective date.

HB 161 requires most Alaska employers to provide paid sick leave: businesses with 50+ employees must offer 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (capped at 56 hours yearly), while smaller businesses (fewer than 15 employees) must offer 1 hour per 30 hours (capped at 40 hours yearly). Employees can use this leave for their own medical care, family health needs, or domestic violence situations, with accrual starting at hire or July 1, 2025. Unused leave carries over annually but cannot exceed the yearly caps. The law applies to private sector workers and allows cashing out accrued leave upon request.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly permits paid sick leave for 'medical care' and 'family health needs', directly improving access to health services. Aligns with healthcare access indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid sick leave for workers, expanding benefits and protecting health needs, aligning with labor protections for workplace rights and safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Alaska · House Feb 27, 2025

HB 85: An Act making supplemental appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

HB 85 is a budget bill that adjusts funding allocations for Alaska state agencies during the 2025 fiscal year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025). It specifies exact dollar amounts for departments like the Department of Commerce ($30,000 for Oil and Gas Conservation), Corrections ($4.1 million for Population Management), Health ($3.1 million for Behavioral Health), and Medicaid ($228.6 million). The bill reassigns, adds, or removes funds within existing budgets but does not create new programs or change laws. It directly affects state agencies by determining their available operating funds for the upcoming fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates specific funds to state agencies (e.g., $228.6M Medicaid, $3.1M Health) within existing budget framework, strengthening program funding without tax changes.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $3.1M to Behavioral Health and $228.6M to Medicaid, directly funding healthcare services without cuts or restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Alaska · Senate May 2, 2025

SB 189: An Act relating to minimum paid sick leave requirements; and providing for an effective date.

SB 189 requires employers with 50 or more employees in Alaska to provide paid sick leave, mandating 1 hour of leave for every 30 hours worked (capped at 56 hours annually). Smaller employers (fewer than 15 employees) must offer 1 hour per 30 hours worked but are capped at 40 hours annually. The leave can be used for personal illness, family care, preventative health, or safety-related needs like domestic violence, and accrues from hire or July 1, 2025, carrying over yearly. Employers with existing paid leave policies meeting these standards are exempt from providing additional leave.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly permits sick leave use for preventative health, improving access to healthcare services by enabling employees to seek care without wage loss.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid sick leave for workers, expanding benefits and protecting rights to address personal illness, family care, and safety needs like domestic violence.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · Alaska · House May 19, 2026

HB 138: An Act establishing a behavioral health crisis services surcharge; establishing the behavioral health crisis services fund; and providing for an effective date.

HB 138 creates a $0.98 monthly surcharge on all wireless phone numbers and landline telephone access lines in Alaska. Phone companies must collect this fee separately from regular bills and send the funds to a new "behavioral health crisis services fund" within 60 days. The money in this fund will be used to support Alaska's 988 mental health crisis hotline system, including staffing, technology, and infrastructure improvements. This surcharge applies to every residential and business phone service in the state, with specific rules to prevent double-charging for multiple lines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated $0.98 monthly surcharge to fund Alaska's 988 mental health crisis hotline system, directly strengthening mental health services infrastructure and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Alaska · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 95: An Act relating to midwives and the practice of midwifery; relating to apprentice midwives; renaming the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives as the Board of Licensed Midwives; relating to the Board of Licensed Midwives; extending the termination date of the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives; relating to insurance; and providing for an effective date.

HB 95 renames the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives to the Board of Licensed Midwives, extends the board’s termination date from 2025 to 2031, and requires insurance coverage for midwifery care regardless of delivery location. It directly affects licensed midwives (including those transitioning from "certified direct-entry" status), pregnant people seeking home births, and insurance providers. Key provisions include updating legal definitions to reflect the new board name, ensuring midwifery services are covered under insurance policies, and codifying the legislature’s intent to support home births with licensed midwives. The bill aims to remove barriers to non-hospital births while maintaining oversight of midwifery practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for midwifery care regardless of delivery location, expanding access to medical care under insurance and medical care subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Alaska · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SB 119: An Act relating to fundamental rights.

SB 119 prohibits discrimination against Alaskans based on protected characteristics like race, religion, disability, gender, or housing status. It guarantees specific rights including access to public spaces, medical care, employment, housing, and religious participation without denial or harassment. The bill establishes legal remedies, allowing courts to award damages, attorney fees, and injunctions for violations. It directly affects all Alaskans by setting clear standards for equal treatment in daily life and public services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGuarantees access to medical care without discrimination, directly protecting patient rights under healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing status discrimination, guaranteeing equal access to housing without denial or harassment per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment discrimination based on protected characteristics, guaranteeing equal treatment in hiring and workplace access per bill summary and subjects list.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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passed · Alaska · House Mar 18, 2025

HJR 6: Urging the United States Congress to safeguard the Universal Service Fund to ensure continued funding for essential programs that support critical broadband and telecommunication infrastructure and services for low-income rural residents of the state.

HJR 6 is a non-binding resolution from the Alaska Legislature urging the U.S. Congress to protect the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF provides critical funding for broadband and telecommunication services in rural Alaska, directly supporting low-income residents, schools, hospitals, and libraries. Without continued USF funding, rural communities would face significant losses, including $221 million annually for health clinics, loss of affordable broadband for 500 schools, and reduced communication access for 137,600 students. The resolution calls on Congress to safeguard the USF through legislative action to maintain these essential services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUrges protection of Universal Service Fund (USF) funding for rural broadband and essential services, directly supporting critical programs like health clinics and schools.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects Universal Service Fund funding that prevents loss of affordable broadband for 500 schools, directly supporting educational access and infrastructure as stated in summary.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects USF funding critical for rural health clinics, preventing $221M annual loss to healthcare services as explicitly stated in summary.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly seeks to protect Universal Service Fund funding for broadband infrastructure, ensuring internet access for rural residents, schools, and hospitals per its summary and subjects including 'INTERNET'.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

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