Here is a recap of the pre-file bills that were filed prior to the start of the session that may be of interest to our members. Should any of these move forward and get added to our watchlist, we’ll let you know. As it is early in the session, and a more thorough analysis of each of these will be done at that time.

As a reminder, as the session begins, there is a Republican majority in the House, and a bi-partisan majority in the Senate. 

Bills are sorted into areas of interest:

Elections

HB225 Rep. Gray (D-Anchorage) Relating to the tabulation of ballots; and requiring the division of elections to provide unofficial election results before the results of an election are certified.

HB246 Rep. Story (D-Juneau) Relating to voter preregistration for minors at least 16 years of age. 

HB250 Rep. McCabe (R-Big Lake) Relating to municipal and school board elections; declaring Election Day a holiday; relating to terms of office for municipal mayors, municipal governing bodies, elected utility boards, and school boards; and providing for an effective date.

SB 177 Sen. Hughes (R-Palmer) Relating to artificial intelligence; requiring disclosure of deepfakes in campaign communications; relating to cybersecurity; and relating to data privacy.

Education

HB 247 Rep. Story (D-Juneau) Relating to funding for reading improvement plans. 

SB 158 Sen. Myers (R-North Pole)  Relating to funding for school construction and major maintenance relating to school bond debt reimbursement; and providing for an effective date.

Education/Gun Safety

SB 173 Sen. Hughes (R-Palmer) Requiring school districts to grant qualified persons an assigned duty to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds under certain conditions; relating to standards, training, and continuing education in firearms training for qualified persons granted an assigned duty to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds; relating to communication of school districts with state and local law enforcement; and relating to school crisis response plans.

Health Care Services

HB241 Josephson (D-Anchorage) Relating to reproductive health care services; relating to the Uniform Arbitration Act in matters involving reproductive health care services; establishing a civil action for interference with reproductive health care services; relating to arrests and search warrants related to crimes involving reproductive health care services; relating to the Uniform Act to Secure Attendance of Witnesses in Criminal Proceedings in matters involving reproductive health care services; relating to the disclosure of criminal justice information in matters involving reproductive health care services; relating to the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act in matters involving reproductive health care services; relating to health care records that include information about reproductive health care services; relating to the application of laws and court cases from other states in matters involving reproductive health care services; relating to subpoenas and other orders served on telecommunications utilities; and providing for an effective date.

Senior Benefits

HB242 Rep. Vance (R- Homer) Extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program; and providing for an effective date. 

SB 170 Sen. Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) Extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program; and providing for an effective date. 

SB 172 Sen. Hughes (R-Palmer) Extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program; and providing for an effective date. (likely will be determined to be a duplicate of SB 170)

For a complete list of Pre-filed Bills see: 

https://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/2024-Prefiles-First-Release.pdf   and 

https://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/2024-Prefiles-Second-Release.pdf