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Passed Out of the Senate
SB 104 CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUND
SB 104 increases the funding available for the Alaska Legal Services Corporation, safeguarding low-income Alaskan's access to the civil justice system. This bill was unanimously passed out of the senate on February 21, and is currently in the House Finance Committee.
SB 159 ALASKA VETERANS' POPPY DAY
SB 159 will make the Friday before Memorial Day "Alaska Veterans' Poppy Day." Alaskans will be encouraged to wear poppies on this day to show our gratitude for those who have served and died in war. SB 159 was unanimously passed out of the senate on February 21, and is currently referred to the House Rules Committee.
SJR 13 AMEND NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT
Senate Joint Resolution 13 supports the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023 which would dissolve the Municipal Lands Trust and return lands to Alaska Native Village Corporations. This resolution was passed out of the Senate on February 14, and was heard this morning in the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee.
Currently in Senate Committees
SB 56 AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY
SB 56 will update the Alaska Performance Scholarship in order to increase access to post-secondary education in Alaska. Updates include increasing the award amount, increasing the eligibility window, allowing career technical education courses to count towards eligibility, along with several other changes. This bill was passed out of the Senate Finance Committee on February 19, and is now in Senate Rules. The House companion bill, HB 148, is waiting for a hearing in Senate Finance.
SB 166 MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCHEDELIC MED. TASK FORCE
SB 166 will establish the Alaska Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force. This will allow the state to be prepared if the federal government approves psychedelics for medicinal use. This bill mad it out of Senate Judiciary on yesterday and is currently waiting for its House companion bill to move.
New Bills!
SB 239 AIDEA WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
SB 239 gives AIDEA the ability to use their loan program to finance the construction of new multi-family housing. SB 239 was read for the first time on February 19 and has been referred to Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.
SB 233 CHILD CARE PROVIDER EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
SB 233 will allow childcare workers to become licensed providers in the daycare assistance program without having to gain a high school diploma or have a GED. This will allow more people to enter the childcare workforce. SB 233 was read for the first time on February 15 and has been referred to Senate Health and Social Services Committee.
SCR 9 MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE ASSISTANCE PARITY
Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 will encourage the state to pass parity standard regulations, which will ensure Alaskan's have fast and easy access to behavioral health care. SCR 9 was read for the first time on February 19 and has been referred to Senate Health and Social Services Committee.
If you would like to track any of these bills, you can text a bill number to 559-245-2529 to receive text alerts.
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