Unorganized Borough Gains First Seat on Boundary Commission

The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill May 11, 2026, that creates the first seat for the Unorganized Borough on the Local Boundary Commission, the state body that decides municipal boundaries and incorporations.

Senate Bill 63 passed the House 37-3 after clearing the Senate unanimously. The legislation now awaits action from Governor Mike Dunleavy.

The bill by Senate Minority Leader Mike Cronk updates the rules and regulations of the Local Boundary Commission and adds a commission seat designated for a resident of the Unorganized Borough, the vast region of Alaska that falls outside organized borough government.

Senate Bill 63 is a reintroduction of last session's House Bill 279, which passed the House unanimously and cleared Senate committees before running out of time for a floor vote. Cronk said constituents raised concerns about people being incorporated without a voice on the commission that decides such matters.

"When people try to incorporate everybody in and without a voice, it becomes a real problem," Cronk said. "So what we are just trying to do is to make sure that there is a voice on the Boundary Commission, that the unorganized areas are being heard."

The Local Boundary Commission reviews petitions for new boroughs, annexations, and incorporations. Its decisions affect how Alaska communities organize local government and collect taxes.

"The Unorganized Borough is an expansive, vast, and sparsely populated region of our state," Cronk said. "Having a perspective from the people who live there ensures the LBC is well-rounded as it issues its decisions. SB 63 provides a voice to those who are currently voiceless."

Senate Bill 63 makes two other changes to commission rules. The bill changes how the commission selects its chair and requires all commissioners to live and vote in the district they represent.

Cronk, who represents Tok and Northway, said the bill follows the Alaska Constitution's principle that political power comes from the people.

"SB 63 aligns the LBC with the constitutional mandate," Cronk said. "The bill was drafted on the principle that government should be built from the people up, not imposed from the State down."