Sen. Cathy Giessel

Maddy summarySB 34 repeals a specific rule (AS 24.05.150(b)) that previously defined the duration of Alaska's regular legislative sessions. This procedural bill directly affects the Alaska Legislature by removing the existing time limit for sessions. It does not establish a new duration or change session length; it simply eliminates the current statutory provision. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Finance Committee.

Maddy summarySB 201 requires Alaska superior courts to report specific data on involuntary commitment orders to the Department of Public Safety by December 31, 2026. The bill targets court records related to involuntary commitments under Alaska Statutes 47.30.735-47.30.755 and related mental health disability orders under 47.30.851(b), focusing on information previously not submitted. This procedural requirement aims to improve data collection on mental health commitments without changing eligibility or treatment standards. The bill was withdrawn by its sponsor on January 23, 2026, after initial committee referral.

Maddy summarySB 199 repeals the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Limited Entry Commission and transfers its duties to the Department of Fish and Game and the Office of Administrative Hearings. The commission currently sets standards for experimental fishing and commercial licensing under Alaska law, and these responsibilities will now be managed by the two state agencies. This change shifts administrative oversight of commercial fishing permits and experimental fishing programs from the commission to the Department of Fish and Game and the Office of Administrative Hearings. The bill does not alter existing fishing regulations but changes which agency handles licensing and permit processes.

Maddy summarySB 220 establishes a certification program for community health workers (CHWs) in Alaska, requiring the Department of Health to create regulations for qualifications, training, scope of practice, and renewal. It adds certified CHW services as a covered medical assistance benefit under the state's Medicaid program, making these services eligible for state-funded coverage. The bill defines CHWs as nonmedical professionals who connect individuals to health services and improve care coordination, while clarifying that certification is required for Medicaid coverage (though services can be provided without it). Reciprocity agreements with other states' certification programs are permitted under the law. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 57 sets maximum classroom sizes for Alaska public schools, requiring districts to maintain an average of no more than 23 students per class for grades K-6 and 30 for grades 7-12, excluding certain specialized classes. It mandates annual reporting on class sizes, student performance data (including reading proficiency for early grades), and high school graduate outcomes like career and postsecondary education tracking. The bill also updates procedures for charter school applications and requires school boards to establish clear application processes for new charter schools. These provisions directly affect all public school districts, students, and educators across Alaska.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 1) establishes a special committee within the Alaska State Legislature to study Arctic-related issues. The committee, composed of five senators (with two co-chairs), will examine topics like economic interests, environmental concerns, Indigenous community impacts, and strategic opportunities in the Arctic. It has no policy-making authority but will provide recommendations to the legislature. The committee will operate until the start of the next legislative session (Thirty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature).

Maddy summaryHJR 9 is a joint resolution from Alaska's legislature urging the U.S. Congress to extend enhanced federal tax credits that make health insurance premiums affordable under the Affordable Care Act. These credits currently help over 23,000 Alaska residents avoid higher costs, but they expire at the end of 2025. Without extension, premiums would more than double for tens of thousands of Alaskans, forcing difficult choices between health care, housing, and food. The resolution requests Congress act through budget processes to maintain these credits, emphasizing their role in preventing market instability and preserving access to care. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a law, so it directly affects Alaska residents by advocating for federal action.)

Maddy summarySJR 17 is a ceremonial resolution honoring The Energy Council's 50th anniversary. It does not enact new laws or affect policies, people, or programs. The resolution formally commends The Energy Council - established in 1975 as a nonpartisan forum for energy policy collaboration among U.S. states and Canadian provinces - for its role in shaping energy discourse over five decades. It serves solely as a symbolic gesture of recognition, with no substantive policy changes or obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 174 creates a dedicated fund to support rural school districts and Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Alaska. It provides funding for school construction and major maintenance projects at these locations, as well as for maintenance of state-owned teacher housing located within rural school districts. The bill specifies that the fund must not hold more than $70 million in unspent balances and prioritizes school construction projects. This directly affects regional educational attendance areas, small municipal school districts, and teachers working in those communities.

Maddy summaryHJR 5 is a resolution passed by the Alaska Legislature urging the U.S. Congress and President to reinstate and permanently fund the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. This act provided critical funding to rural communities near national forests (like those in Southeast Alaska) that historically relied on payments from federal timber revenue to support schools, roads, public safety, and infrastructure. The resolution specifically requests retroactive funding for fiscal year 2025 after the program expired in January 2025 and asks Congress to make the funding mechanism permanent. It does not create new law but formally advocates for federal action to prevent budget shortfalls in affected rural areas.