Alaska Legislature: Senate Floor Session, 3/30/26, 11am

Will the Senate please come to order,

and will members please signify your presence by voting.

The role shows 19 members present.

Senator Keel is excused from the call of the Senate today.

Thank you. With 19 members shown as present,

we have a quorum to conduct business.

The invocation this morning will be given by Senior Pastor Tim Harrison with Chapel by the Lake. Members please rise.

Mr. President and outed senators,

with great respect for the religious beliefs of each person here,

I invite you into a time of prayer and reflection.

Let us pray.

Gracious God,

you are the fount of all wisdom and truth.

The depths of your grace and mercy are beyond our imagination.

Your power and purpose is manifest in the glorious creation that surrounds us.

You protect us even when we are unaware of the perils of life.

As your servants gather this morning to lead,

please shower them with wisdom and discernment.

While we grieve the deep divisions in our communities,

our state,

our country, and across the world,

we also celebrate the many ways people come together to support and serve their neighbors and those in need.

Show us the way of peace.

Give us a vision for unity and of purpose and care.

As we gather today,

we ask for strength for all those who serve in our schools,

our hospitals,

and our many rural care points.

We thank you for the many people who serve us in our communities.

May they know your tender encouragement and our heartfelt gratitude.

Finally, may all who witness the work and governance of this legislative session give thanks for the gifts of freedom and self-determination, and I offer these things in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

And may God bless you and encourage you with every good gift needed to fulfill the work not only of this session,

but of this legislative season.

Thank you.

Thank you, Pastor Harrison. Senator Wolkowski, will you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

one nation under God,

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Senator Wolkowski.

Will the secretary please certify the journals?

I certify as to the correctness of the journals for the 65th through 69th legislative days.

Thank you, Madam Majority Leader.

Mr. President,

I move and ask unanimous consent that the journals be approved as certified by the Senate Secretary.

Hearing no objection,

the journals have been approved.

Senator Hoffman. Thank you, Mr. President.

I move and ask unanimous consent that the prayer be spread on the journal.

Thank you. Seeing no objection,

the prayer has been spread upon the journal.

At this time, are there guests for introduction?

Seeing none,

are there messages from the governor?

A message dated March 27 stating,

On January 22,

2026,

a list of appointees was submitted to the legislature for confirmation.

Due to the appointees'

resignation,

the following appointee is withdrawn from consideration effective immediately.

Alaska Labor Relations Agency Tammy Schultz.

Those are all the messages from the governor this morning, Mr. President.

Thank you, Madam Secretary. Are there messages from the House?

Messages dated March 25 and March 27 stating the house has

past and is transmitting for consideration see as for House Joint Resolution number 32 passed by the House Health and Social Services Committee expressing commitment to the rural health transformation program acknowledging the critical health care challenges facing rural areas of the state and urging action by the governor and the Alaska delegation in Congress to continue to advocate for the state's interests and advance the rural health transformation program

referred to health and social services.

House Bill number 216 by Representatives Holland,

Josephson,

an act approving the transfer of land owned by the Alaska Railroad Corporation to the city of Whittier and providing for an effective date.

Community and regional affairs.

House Bill number 243 by Representative Kerik, by request,

an act relating to the powers and duties of the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers and the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; and providing for an effective date.

Labor and Commerce.

CS for House Bill number 278, State Affairs by the House State Affairs Committee,

an act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission and providing for an effective date.

Refer to state affairs.

Those are all the messages from the House this morning,

Mr. President.

Thank you, Madam Secretary. Are there communications?

I have no communications today.

Are there standing committee reports?

There are no reports of standing committees this morning, Mr.

President.

Thank you. Are there reports of special committees?

I have no special committee reports today.

Day.

Moving on to Senate resolutions for introduction,

Madam Secretary.

Suspending Rules 24C,

35,

41B, and 42E,

Uniform rules of the Alaska State Legislature concerning House Concurrent Resolution No. 4,

proclaiming May 2025 as Myositis Awareness Month.

Thank you. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 16 will lay on the Secretary's desk.

Those are all the Senate resolutions for introduction this morning, Mr. President.

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

Are there Senate bills for introduction?

I have no Senate bills for introduction today.

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

Please read the first item on today's calendar.

Senate Bill No.

164 by Senator Merrick, an act eliminating deductions for the remittance of the motor fuel tax, tobacco taxes,

and tire fees relating to discounts on cigarette stamps and providing for an effective date.

The Labor and Commerce Committee considered the bill and recommended it be replaced with the Labor and Commerce Committee substitute.

New fiscal note, signing no recommendation,

Senator Bjorkman, Chair.

Senator Junt signing due pass.

Senators Merrick,

Gray-Jackson.

The Finance Committee considered the bill and recommended the adoption of the previous Labor and Commerce Committee substitute,

previous fiscal note,

signing do pass Senators Olson, Stedman, Hoffman, co-chairs,

Senators Kronk, Merrick,

signing no recommendation,

Senators Kaufman,

Kiel.

There is a Labor and Commerce Committee substitute.

Thank you. Senator Bjorkman.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I move and ask unanimous consent that the Labor and Commerce Committee substitute for SB 164 be considered and adopted in lieu of the original bill.

Thank you, Senator Bjorn. Would you explain the changes?

Absolutely,

sir.

The summary of changes are that while being heard in the Labor and Commerce Committee,

Senate Bill 164 was amended to change the effective date to July 1,

2026.

Thank you, Senator Bjorklund.

Hearing no objection,

the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee substitute has been adopted.

This bill will advance to third reading on our next legislative calendar.

Madam Secretary.

Senate Bill No. 180 by the Senate Resources Committee,

an act relating to the regulation of liquefied natural gas import facilities by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

The Resources Committee considered the bill,

new zero fiscal note,

signing due pass,

Senator Giesel,

Chair,

Senators Kawasaki,

Dunbar,

Klayman,

Willakowski,

signing no recommendation,

Senators Myers,

Rauscher.

The Labor and Commerce Committee considered the bill and recommended it be replaced with the Labor and Commerce Committee Substitute.

Previous zero fiscal note, signing no recommendations,

Senator Bjorkman,

Chair,

Senator Yunt.

Signing due pass,

Senators Dunbar,

Gray Jackson.

There is a Labor and Commerce Committee Substitute.

Thank you, Senator Bjorkman.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

I move and ask unanimous consent that the Labor and Commerce Committee substitute for Senate Bill 180 be adopted in lieu of the original bill.

Thank you. Would you explain the changes,

Senator?

Absolutely,

Mr.

President.

While being heard in the Labor and Commerce Committee,

Senate Bill 180 was amended by adding an immediate effective date clause.

Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Bjornman.

Hearing no objection,

the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee substitute

It has been adopted.

This bill will also advance the third reading on our next legislative calendar.

Secretary, please read the next item on our calendar.

Senate Bill number 237 by the Senate State Affairs Committee by request,

an act relating to data sharing by the Department of Administration for driver's license data verification purposes and providing for an effective date.

The State Affairs Committee considered the bill, new zero fiscal note,

signing due pass. Senator Kawasaki,

chair,

Senator Gray-Jackson signing a recommendation. Senators Willekowiski,

Tilton,

Bjorkman.

The Judiciary Committee considered the bill and recommended it be replaced with a Judiciary Committee substitute,

previous zero fiscal note,

signing due pass, Senator Klayman,

Chair,

Senators Tobin,

Keel,

signing no recommendation,

Senators Stevens,

Tilton,

there is a Judiciary Committee substitute.

Thank you, Senator Klayman.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent that we adopt the Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Bill 237.

Thank you Senator Clement. Would you explain the changes?

Thank you, Mr. President. On page two, lines six and seven, we deleted the word requests.

and inserted upon the request of a person or the person's designee and inserted following information about that person so that that reads the department shall upon the request of a person or the person's designee. The purpose of that change was to really tighten up who could act actually ask for the information and not just make it anybody.

Thank you. Senator Klobman, hearing no objection,

the Senate Judiciary Committee substitute has been adopted.

This bill will also advance to third reading on our next legislative calendar.

Madam Secretary, please read the next item on our calendar.

Senate Bill No. 9 by Senators Myers,

Giesel,

Hughes,

Cronk, Gray Jackson.

An act relating to the surrender of infants and providing for an effective date.

The Health and Social Services Committee considered the bill and recommended it be replaced with a Health and Social Services Committee substitute.

New zero fiscal notes, signing no recommendation. Senator Dunbar, chair.

Senator Giesel, signing due pass.

Senator Hughes.

The Judiciary Committee considered the bill and recommended it be replaced.

be replaced with a Judiciary Committee substitute,

new zero fiscal note,

previous zero fiscal notes,

signing no recommendation,

Senator Klayman,

Chair,

Senators Tobin,

Keel,

signing due pass,

Senator Myers,

there are two Committee substitutes.

Senator Klaman.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask that we adopt the Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Bill 9.

Thank you, would you please explain the changes?

Yes, Mr. President. Thank you. There are three changes. First,

it removes the authority of the Commission of the Department of Family and

Community Services to designate additional appropriate locations for an infant safety device beyond the approved list listed designated facilities as requested by the department.

Second,

it deletes assessment considerations for determining whether to approve a proposed infant safety device and adds the requirement that the infant safety device must be installed, operated and maintained according to the manufacturer's guidelines and regulations that are adopted by the department.

And then third, it adds that the infant safety devices must be inspected upon installation and annually by the manufacturer or the manufacturer's designee and inspected monthly by the designated facility that installed the device. These inspections are required to be logged by the designated facility and must include the testing of the device's alarms,

cameras,

climate control systems and locks. So these are all largely to create consistent practices for how they're monitored.

Thank you, Senator Kleinman. Hearing no objection,

the Senate Judiciary Committee substitute has been adopted,

and this bill will advance the third reading on our next legislative calendar.

Madam Secretary, please read the next item on today's calendar.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 2 proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to actions upon veto before the Senate in third reading on final passage.

Thank you. Madam Majority Leader.

Mr. President,

I move and ask unanimous consent that the resolution be held in third reading for the next legislative calendar.

Thank you, Madam Majority Leader.

Hearing no objection,

the Senate Joint Resolution 2 will remain in third reading for our next legislative calendar.

Madam Secretary, please read the next item on our calendar.

Citations honoring Alaska's Coalition of BIPOC Educators 2025 Annual Backpack Drive.

In memoriam, Penelier Teresa Abraham.

Thank you, Madam Majority Leader.

Mr. President,

I move and ask unanimous consent that the citations on today's calendar be approved.

Hearing no objection,

the citations on today's calendar are approved.

Senator Molokowski.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent to roll back up the calendar to introduction of guests.

Without objection,

so ordered.

Introduction of guests,

Senator Wilkowski.

Thank you, Mr. President.

If I could have Annabelle Slinker stand.

Annabelle is a freshman at West Anchorage High School.

She plays the cornet in her school's symphonic and jazz bands,

participates in academic competitions,

and loves to golf.

She enjoys her role as the ambassador on the Alaska National Guard Youth Council because it is an opportunity to support other National Guard kids and the council has become like a second family to her.

I also have three guests that are with her,

two from the

Eagle River District Senate District L.

Annabelle is accompanied by Susie Morrow,

the Alaska National Guard Youth and Family Program Director, and also Ashley Shelton, the Director for the Alaska National Guard Warrior and Family Services.

And also accompanied by a constituent of the senator from Anchorage Senate District F,

Octavia Thompson,

who's the outgoing director of the Alaska National Guard Warrior and Family Services. If you could please help me welcome these guests to the Senate.

Thank you, Senator Wolakowski.

Are there additional guests for introduction?

Senator Hoffman.

Thank you,

Mr.

President.

It gives me great pleasure this morning to introduce newly appointed school principal for Kshunimic School District which is located in Chivac, Alaska.

Please give a warm welcome to Lilian Olson.

Thank you, Senator Hoffman. Additional guests for introduction.

Moving back down the calendar then to today's calendar,

Madam Secretary, please read the next item on our calendar.

There are three special order of business citations on members'

desks honoring Alaska Council of School Administrators in memoriam Gordon E.

Evans,

in memoriam Roxanne Roxy Lillian Swenson Lee.

Thank you, Madam Majority Leader.

Mr. President,

I move and ask unanimous consent that the Senate take up the special order of business citations on today's calendar.

Thank you. Hearing no objection,

the special order of business citations

are before the Senate.

Madam Majority Leader.

Mr. President,

I move and ask unanimous consent that the special order of business citations be approved.

Hearing no objection,

the special order of business citations are approved.

Madam Secretary,

There are no further items for consideration on today's daily calendar.

thank you. Is there unfinished business at this time?

Unfinished business.

Senator Gray Jackson.

Thank you, mr President. I move and ask unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on April 23rd for state and personal business. Thank you, mr President.

Objection so ordered.

April 23rd.

Any further unfinished business?

Moving on to committee announcements.

I seeing none,

are there other announcements?

Are there special orders?

Madam Majority Leader.

Mr.

President,

I move and ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until tomorrow at 10.30 a.m., that's Tuesday,

March 31,

2026.

Thank you. Hearing no objection,

the Senate is adjourned.