2025 Alaska State Legislative Session Roundup
During the first session of the 34th legislature, the Policy Justice Team tracked many legislative bills. We advocated for bills that align with our values and benefit our communities, and we opposed bills that would be harmful. There are way too many bills to track, so we prioritized a handful that we knew would make significant impacts. Not every bill gets a committee hearing or moves through the house or senate.
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These are our top priority bills that gained traction.
SB 64 Elections
We support this bill because it removes barriers to voting; removing witness signature requirements on absentee by-mail ballots; creating a ballot curing process to allow voters to correct mistakes; allowing same-day voter registration; and employing a rural community liaison to collaborate with tribes, municipalities and ensure early, absentee, and day-of voting is accessible in rural communities.
This bill passed in the Senate and is currently in House Finance.
SB 92 Oil and Gas Corp Tax
We support this bill because it would update Alaska’s state tax code to require oil and gas S-Corp entities to pay tax at the same rate that C-Corps are required to by law. The new S-Corp 9.4% tax would apply only to entities making over $5 million in profits from oil and gas production or pipeline transportation, and only on their profits above $5 million. This closes a loophole that has allowed companies like Hilcorp to get off tax-free.
SB 92 has been referred to Senate Rules and may move to floor sometime next session.
HB 125 Board of Fisheries Membership
We support this bill because it would restore balance to the Board of Fisheries by ensuring equal representation—two seats for subsistence fishing, two for commercial, two for sport, and one for a fisheries scientist.
HB 125 has passed the House and has been referred to it's first committee, Senate Community and Regional Affairs.
HB 170 Reporting Violent Crimes
"Kathleen's Law" We support this bill as part of the movement to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). This bill seeks to increase penalties for failing to report violent crimes committed against adults. This bill is about accountability, justice, and ensuring that silence in the face of violence no longer shields perpetrators from consequences.
HB 170 is in its second committee, House Judiciary.
Other Bills to Support
Here are some of our other priority bills that are important to support, but didn't see much movement during the first session. We talked to legislators about these and sent in letters to let them know these actions are important to us!
SB 112 Oil and Gas Production Tax
Through fiscal year 2025, Alaska will have lost $8.6 billion in revenue due to current per barrel credits. This fiscal year alone, the credits will cost the state $636 million, with an additional $6.5 billion in projected losses through fiscal year 2034. SB 112 proposes reducing the credits to a $5-to-$0 sliding scale and tying them to investment. Under the new provisions, producers can only claim credits matching their qualified capital expenditures from the same tax year. This change incentivizes investment in Alaska, aiming to maintain production, create jobs for Alaskans, and stimulate industry growth.
SB 112 has been heard in its first committee, Senate Resources, but has not moved since.
HB 175 RCA Chair Term and Membership Qualifications
This bill, if passed, would require that at least one member of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska must, at the time of appointment, reside in a rural community served by an electric utility that receives power cost equalization.
This bill has been referred to House Labor and Commerce, and has not been heard.
SB 161/HB 203 Prohibit Bottom Trawling
SB 161 puts an end to trawling in state waters beginning in 2028 and directs ADF&G to study and report to the legislature on the effects of bottom trawling and condition of the sea floor. We support this bill and ask that trawling or dredge fishing gear not be used while the study is conducted.
SB 161 is still in its first committee, Senate Resources.
SB 120 Climate Change Commission
Senate Bill 120 establishes the Alaska Climate Change Emergency Response Commission to provide a coordinated, strategic approach to mitigating climate challenges and enhancing our resilience across the state. They would be charged with developing a comprehensive climate response strategy to identify our most vulnerable sectors and communities and proposing actionable solutions.
SB 120 has been referred to its second committee, Senate Finance, from Senate State Affairs.
Sometimes, there are extreme bills submitted that worry constituents. It's important to talk to your legislators about them, because often what happens is they show up in every legislation but get avoided by the majority of legislators. The following are some such bills, but we've confirmed with many legislators and committee chairs that these bills won't be heard in their committees.
SJR 1 Constitutional Amendment: Abortion Funding
HB 40 Designate Sex for School Sponsored Sports
HB 71/ SB 74 Obstruction of Certain Public Places (Anti-Protest Bill)
Much of what we tracked did not go very far in the legislative process, but we're hopeful during the next session! There is still lots that happened this session that we encourage folks to get familiar with, such as the operating and capital budget allocations, governor vetoes, and other passed legislation. Definitely reach out to us or your legislators if you would like to know more. Many legislators email newsletters or social media accounts for constituents that disseminate more information during their term.
Just because the session is over doesn't mean our work is! Stay tuned for our Legislative Education Series, Season TWO! Plus, with local elections on the horizon, we'll be doing more Get Out The Vote engagement. Make sure you and your loved ones are registered because voting is so, so important!