Rep. Mia Costello

Maddy summaryHB 258 creates a statewide fund to help low-income Alaskans spay or neuter their pets and manage feral cat and dog populations. The fund, financed by fees from special pet owner license plates, donations, and federal/private grants, reimburses veterinarians, shelters, or clinics up to 80% of costs for spay/neuter surgeries or vaccinations for pets owned by households earning ≤130% of federal poverty guidelines. It also allows municipalities to use the program for trapping, spaying/neutering, and vaccinating feral animals under local ordinances. The Department of Environmental Conservation must report annually on program use and funding, and promote public awareness about pet population control. This bill directly affects pet owners, animal service providers, and local governments managing feral animal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 159 creates a new process for property owners or their agents to request peace officers to remove people occupying residential property without legal right. It applies specifically to occupants who entered without permission, haven’t been told to leave, lack rental agreements, aren’t family members, and aren’t involved in pending court cases. The bill requires a sworn written request detailing these conditions and warns that false claims could lead to liability for damages and legal fees. It amends Alaska’s civil procedure rules to formalize this removal method while addressing related offenses like trespass. This bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 40 requires public schools and certain private schools competing against public schools to designate athletic teams or sports as male, female, or coeducational. It mandates that students participating in female-designated teams must be assigned female sex based on their birth certificate at birth, defining "sex" as biological characteristics present at birth. The bill prohibits schools from taking adverse action against institutions that follow these designations and allows students to sue schools that violate the policy. It applies to all school-sponsored athletic programs in Alaska and explicitly preserves access to courts for related disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 157 requires courts to determine and document whether post-adoption contact with siblings is in the best interest of a child being adopted from foster care. The bill defines "sibling" broadly to include both blood relatives and children raised together in the same household, ensuring this expanded definition applies to adoption proceedings. It is based on legislative findings that sibling bonds are important, often irreplaceable, and should be preserved when possible during adoption. The law aims to help maintain family connections by encouraging courts to include provisions for ongoing contact in adoption decrees.

Maddy summaryHB 187 amends Alaska's legislative council and Legislative Budget and Audit Committee membership rules to require representation from each major political party on both committees. The bill specifies that each committee must include at least one member from each major party, replacing prior references to "minority" with this explicit requirement. This procedural change affects how committee members are appointed, ensuring both major parties have a voice in these key legislative bodies. The bill does not create new policies or funding but alters committee composition rules for transparency and representation.

Maddy summaryHB 257 exempts small portable solar devices (under 1,200 watts) from utility connection rules and fees if they meet safety standards. It requires these devices to comply with the National Electrical Code and carry UL certification, while prohibiting utilities from charging fees, demanding approvals, or requiring extra equipment. The bill directly affects homeowners using portable solar units - like small panels plugged into standard outlets - to offset their home electricity use. Utilities are also shielded from liability for damage caused by compliant devices. This creates a streamlined pathway for low-wattage residential solar adoption without utility oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 77 amends Alaska's theft statute to specifically classify the theft of mail or items within mail as "theft in the second degree." This directly affects individuals who steal physical mail (letters, packages, or items inside mail) from post offices, mailboxes, or after delivery to authorized locations. The bill defines "mail" broadly to include USPS-delivered items with postage, placed in authorized depositories or given to postal employees. Key provisions include criminalizing the theft of mail from post offices, mail receptacles, or after delivery, and adding "mail" as a new category under second-degree theft. The law applies to all mail covered by USPS delivery standards, not just commercial parcels.

Maddy summaryHB 338 establishes the Alaska Work and Save Program, allowing employees without access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan to voluntarily contribute to retirement savings using their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) payments. The bill modifies the PFD application process to let eligible Alaskans direct $25-$100+ (in $50 increments) from their PFD toward the program, with automatic enrollment at a default contribution rate. The Department of Revenue will administer the program, handle contributions, and charge a 7% administrative fee (not deducted from PFD payments). This applies to all Alaska workers who earn compensation in the state and lack workplace retirement plans, using existing PFD funds rather than creating new government spending.

Maddy summaryHB 74 creates a new criminal offense called "airbag fraud" for knowingly selling, installing, manufacturing, or offering for sale vehicles with unsafe airbags. It prohibits selling replacement airbags that don’t meet federal safety standards, counterfeit airbags, or nonfunctioning airbags (including those that hide defects), and selling vehicles known to have such airbags. Violations are punishable as a class A misdemeanor, or a class C felony if death or serious injury results. The law exempts police vehicle installations, dealers without knowledge of faulty airbags, and insurance companies handling totaled vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 373 requires the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation to invest at least 25% of fund assets in a U.S. stock market index tracking 500 companies. It also directs the Corporation to prioritize in-state investments when they offer comparable risk and return to other options. The bill repeals outdated investment rules (sections 37.13.120(a) and 37.13.120(e)) and removes administrative procedure requirements for the Corporation’s regulations. The changes take effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting how the Permanent Fund manages its $60+ billion portfolio.