HB 6 prohibits Alaska's state retirement funds, the Alaska Retirement Management Board, and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation from making investment decisions intended to advance social, political, or ideological goals. Specifically, it bans actions like divesting from companies over climate policies, restricting investments based on diversity initiatives, limiting access to abortion or gender-affirming care, or avoiding firearm-related businesses. The bill defines prohibited actions as those "committing to" reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enforcing diversity criteria, divesting over environmental standards, or restricting firearm industry investments. These restrictions apply to all investment decisions by the affected boards, overriding any voluntary efforts to align portfolios with such interests. The bill directly affects how Alaska's public retirement and permanent funds manage investments.
HB 36 amends Alaska law to allow minors aged 16 or older in foster care to consent to up to five outpatient mental health sessions without parental permission. After five sessions, mental health providers must obtain parental consent for medication or continued treatment. The bill also establishes documentation standards for homeless minors (16+ years) to self-certify eligibility for consent, requiring verification from specific officials or professionals. It directly affects youth in Alaska’s child welfare system receiving mental health services, particularly those in foster care or experiencing homelessness.
SB 45 requires Alaska's state medical assistance program (Medicaid) to comply with federal mental health and substance use disorder parity laws. It mandates the health department to review all complaints about coverage disparities, examine how treatment limitations (like prior authorization or step therapy) are applied, and compare these practices between mental health/substance use benefits and medical/surgical benefits. The bill also requires an annual report to the legislature by March 1st, detailing processes for determining medical necessity, identifying any stricter limitations for mental health care, and confirming compliance with federal parity standards. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees and providers by ensuring mental health and substance use disorder coverage is treated equally to physical health coverage under the state program.
HB 62 establishes a state-wide tracking system for sexual assault examination kits (also called "rape kits") to ensure they are properly collected, stored, and handled throughout the criminal justice process. The bill requires law enforcement and healthcare providers to log each kit's status - such as collection, testing, and storage - into a centralized digital system, preventing loss or delays. This directly affects sexual assault victims (who receive more reliable evidence handling), law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors, ensuring kits are available for investigation and court use. The tracking system aims to improve case resolution by reducing administrative errors and ensuring evidence is not misplaced or overlooked. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Finance Committee.
SB 58 allocates $21.2 million from the general fund to support the Alaska Psychiatric Institute and other mental health programs for fiscal year 2026. It provides funding for day-to-day operations, facility maintenance, and services like behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment, and juvenile justice mental health programs across multiple state agencies. The bill directly affects Alaskans accessing mental health services through state-run facilities and programs. It does not create new policies but ensures continued funding for existing mental health infrastructure and services.
SB 134 amends Alaska's insurance code to expand regulatory oversight of pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and third-party administrators. The bill requires the state insurance director to examine these entities whenever necessary, adding them to the list of entities subject to routine financial and operational reviews. It also clarifies that these entities must be licensed to operate in Alaska and establishes payment procedures for examination costs. The bill directly affects PBMs and third-party administrators providing pharmacy benefit services in the state, increasing their regulatory compliance obligations.
HB 149 expands regulatory oversight of pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and third-party administrators in Alaska. It amends insurance code to explicitly include PBMs and third-party administrators in the director’s authority to conduct examinations, requiring them to be inspected under the same standards as other insurance entities. The bill also clarifies examination fees and licensing requirements for these entities, ensuring they must be licensed to operate in Alaska and pay reasonable costs for regulatory reviews. This focuses on strengthening accountability for entities managing pharmacy benefits, directly affecting PBMs and third-party administrators operating in the state.
HB 27 amends Alaska law to clarify and expand the definition of "major emergencies" in medical services, explicitly including heart attacks and strokes. It updates the Department of Health's responsibilities to coordinate emergency medical services (including trauma care), award grants to support providers, and establish standards for hospitals to qualify as trauma centers. The bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and emergency medical personnel by defining which conditions require specialized emergency response systems. Key provisions require the department to develop criteria based on national standards for trauma center designation and ensure coordination across public and private emergency care providers. This is a procedural update to existing emergency medical system administration, not a new funding or program.
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.
This bill (SB 44) protects minors receiving inpatient mental health care in psychiatric hospitals. It requires hospitals to provide minors with weekly confidential communication (via phone or video) with parents or approved adults, and mandates hospitals to notify parents within one business day of any seclusion or restraint use. The Department of Health must publish annual reports tracking restraint use, inspect hospitals twice yearly (interviewing at least 50% of minor patients), and collect data on minors’ care from other agencies. These provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
