Maddy summarySB 9 in Alaska allows parents to legally surrender newborns without facing prosecution by specifying two safe surrender methods: leaving the infant with authorized personnel (like hospital staff, police, or emergency responders) or placing the infant in a designated safety device at approved locations (such as hospitals or fire stations). The law states that doing so legally ends the parent's obligation to support the child and protects surrendering parents from criminal charges. It requires surrendering facilities to notify child welfare services and ensures no civil liability for those receiving surrendered infants. This directly affects parents seeking to relinquish newborns safely while providing clear legal pathways for the process.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 314 defines "project costs" for construction, airport projects, and other infrastructure to explicitly include interior design services, studies, surveys, administrative expenses, and financing costs. It extends the termination date of Alaska's State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors from 2025 to 2033 and revises the board's composition to require one registered interior designer as a voting member. The bill also sets a monthly salary for the board's executive administrator and mandates that the department collect performance statistics for the board and its staff. These changes directly affect registered interior designers, architects, engineers, and the state's regulatory oversight process.
Maddy summaryHB 10 requires the University of Alaska Board of Regents to include at least one full-time, tenured faculty member from one of the three main campuses (Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Southeast) as a regent. This faculty regent must be selected through campus elections by each university's faculty senate, with the governor appointing from the submitted list within 60 days. The bill also reduces the board's quorum requirement from seven to six regents for meetings. These changes directly affect the governance structure of the University of Alaska system, ensuring faculty representation on its governing board.
Maddy summarySB 208 amends Alaska's state land leasing laws to streamline and standardize the process for agricultural land leases. It requires competitive bidding (via public auction or sealed bids) for new agricultural leases, prioritizing the state's financial return, and sets clear renewal rules allowing one renewal for up to the original lease term. The bill directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses seeking to lease state land, mandating detailed applications with land use plans and management proposals. Key provisions include requiring the commissioner to solicit competitive interest publicly and ensuring unsuccessful bidders are reimbursed for survey/appraisal costs incurred under specific conditions.
Maddy summaryHB 176, the Student Fee Transparency Act, requires the University of Alaska to provide enrolled students with 30 days' notice before imposing new fees or increasing existing ones. This notice must detail the fee amount, its purpose, and whether it's permanent or temporary with a set end date. The bill also mandates that the university issue itemized billing statements showing all tuition and fees charged to each student. These requirements take effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting all University of Alaska students.
Maddy summaryHB 249 simplifies the process for transferring vehicle ownership to an insurance company after a claim payment. It allows owners to use electronically signed, non-notarized documents (like power of attorney or odometer forms) instead of traditional notarized paperwork when transferring a vehicle title to an insurer. The bill also requires insurance companies to cover any claims against the state department arising from this electronic transfer process. This change directly affects vehicle owners, insurance companies, and the state department handling vehicle titles.
Maddy summarySB 249 regulates virtual currency kiosks in Alaska by requiring operators to hold a money transmission license and register with the state before operating. It mandates detailed quarterly reports on transactions, locations, and declined transactions, plus annual reports on revenue, user complaints, refunds, and suspicious activity. Operators must also disclose terms clearly to users and provide transaction data to the department upon request. The bill directly affects kiosk operators by imposing licensing, registration, and reporting obligations, while protecting user data confidentiality (with public annual summaries). These provisions aim to ensure transparency and prevent deceptive practices in virtual currency transactions.
Maddy summarySB 63 reduces the size of Alaska's Local Boundary Commission from six to five members, changing the appointment structure. It specifies that the member appointed from the state at large serves as commission chair, removing prior requirements for members from judicial districts to maintain residence in those areas. The bill also clarifies that members appointed after its effective date serve six-year terms, while current members retain their existing terms. This procedural bill directly affects the commission's composition and governance, with no substantive policy changes. It takes effect January 31, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 244 sets new standards for certified nurse aide training programs in Alaska, requiring them to ensure safe, competent care and specific skills. The bill directly affects training programs, which must now teach aides to communicate effectively with clients, support client independence, address cognitive impairments (including dementia), and monitor client well-being. Key provisions mandate training in areas like dementia care, emotional sensitivity, problem-solving, and respecting client dignity, with "activities of daily living" defined as eating, dressing, grooming, bathing, and toileting. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
Maddy summaryHB 246 establishes a funding formula for Alaska's special education service agency, requiring the state department to allocate at least $26.89 per student based on the previous year's average daily student count. If funding is insufficient, allocations are reduced proportionally. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and includes retroactive application to that date. This directly affects Alaska's public school systems and special education programs by setting a specific per-student funding standard for state allocations.