SFLR-20260504-1030

Will the Senate please come to order, and will members— members please signify your presence by voting.

The roll shows 19 members present. Thank you. With 19 members shown as present, we have a quorum to conduct business. The invocation will be given by Secretary Adam Bauer with the Juneau Baha'i Assembly. Members, please rise.

Oh thou kind Lord, this gathering is turning to thee These hearts are radiant with thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of thy glad tidings. Oh God, let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees, even as it has aspired to material degrees. And render this just government victorious. Confirm this reverend nation to uprise the standard of oneness of humanity, to promulgate the most great peace, to become therefore most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world.

O God, this American nation is worthy of thy favors and deserving of thy mercy. Make it precious and near to thee through thy bounty and bestowal. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Secretary Bauer.

Senator Steadman, would 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 Steadman. Will the Secretary please certify the journal? I certify as to the correctness of the journals for the 102nd through 104th 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.

Thank you. Hearing no objection, the journals have been approved. Senator Keele. 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?

Senator Kyl. Thank you, Mr. President, and good morning. It is my pleasure to introduce in the Ziegler Gallery Richard Hatch. And Mr. Hatch has a family connection here in the Senate chamber this morning. He is the father of Deputy Senate Secretary Kathryn Hatch.

Who, while not at the desk at the moment, is serving the institution every day. Mr. Hatch holds a pair of graduate degrees in physics from Yale University, but he ultimately discovered that it's easier to make it look like you're defying the laws.

Physics than it is to find and describe the actual laws of physics. And so his childhood interest in magic became a lifelong obsession and he works professionally as a deceptionist and he has done since 1983. After a few years working in a club, in a nightclub, Mr. Hatch devotes himself exclusively to private and corporate work. He's traveled internationally. He also researches and writes on the illusionist's arts, Mr. President.

That's one of his his writing hobbies along— or rather endeavors— along with translating books about illusionists and lore from German to English as he lectures around the world. He and his wife, Rosemary Kimura Hatch, live in Utah. They are here visiting family. Rosemary is a professional violinist. You can see why Mr. Hatch calls himself a deceptionist and not a magician.

If you have a magician and a musician, people get confused very easily. Mr. Hatch is giving a free show this evening. It is at the synagogue just across The Bridge, Congregation Sukkot Shalom. It's 211 Cordova Street. It's free, but if you'd like to bring a donation of food for our food bank, we'd love to see everyone there.

Please help me welcome Mr. Hatch to the Senate today.

Thank you, Senator Keogh. Further guests for introduction? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, are there messages from the governor? I have no messages from the governor this morning, Mr. President. Thank you.

Messages from the House? A message dated May 1st stating the House as heard in the Senate Amendment to CS for HB 26 Transportation, amended, thus adopting Senate CS for CS for HB 26 Transportation Statewide Public and Community Transit Plan. The bill has been referred for enrollment. A message dated May 1 stating the House has passed and is transmitting for consideration House Joint Resolution 45 by the House Education Committee urging the United States Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Refer it to the Education Committee.

CS for House Bill Number 211, Labor and Commerce, by the House Labor and Commerce Committee, an act relating to prepaid legal plans. Refer it to Labor and Commerce.

CS for House Bill Number 217, Community and Regional Affairs, amended by the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee, an act relating to commercial motor vehicle licensing examinations relating regulating autonomous vehicles and providing for an effective date. Transportation. House Bill number 298 by Representatives Galvin, McCabe, an act relating to the Legislative Ethics Act, relating to legislative subpoenas, relating to the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman, and providing for an effective date. Judiciary Committee. House Bill number 314, amended by Representatives Prox, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Galvin, An act relating to registered interior designers and interior design.

Relating to project costs for the construction, enlargement, or improvement of airports. Extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors. Relating to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors. Establishing requirements for the practice of registered interior design. Relating to the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture.

And retired registered interior design relating to the scope of the certification requirements for architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and registered interior designers relating to immunity for design professionals relating to the cost of construction for recreation centers relating to liens for labor or materials furnished relating to the procurement of landscape architectural and interior design services relating to the cost of construction of safe water and hygienic sewage disposal facilities in villages and providing for an effective date. Any bill with a title that long goes to Finance.

Those are all the messages from the House this morning, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Other communications? I have no communications today. And are there standing committees?

Report dated May 1st, stating in accordance with Article 3, Section 25 of the Alaska Constitution and AS3905080, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the following appointee. A signature on this report does not reflect intent by any of the members to vote for or against the confirmation of the individual during any further sessions. Attorney General, Department of Law, Stephen Cox. Signing the report: Senator Clayman, Chair, Senators Tilton, Kiel, Tobin, Stevens. The Judiciary Committee considered Senate Bill 207, Property Possession and Property Crimes, and recommended it be replaced with the Judiciary Committee substitute, new fiscal and zero fiscal notes.

Signing no recommendation, Senator Clayman, Chair, Senators Kiel, Tobin, Stevens. Signing amend, Senator Tilton. The bill has a further referral to the Labor and Commerce Committee. The Labor and Commerce Committee considered Senate Bill number 262, Social Media Minors, and recommended it be replaced with the Labor and Commerce Committee substitute, New Zero Fiscal Note. Signing do pass, Senator Bjorkman, Chair, Senator Dunbar.

Signing no recommendation, Senators Merrick, Gray Jackson. The bill has a further referral to the Judiciary Committee. Those are all the standing committee reports this morning, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Are there reports of special committees?

I have no special committee reports today. And are there Senate resolutions for introduction? There are no Senate resolutions for introduction today. Thank you. 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 200 by Senator Bjorkman, an act relating to municipal assessments of farm or agricultural land and providing for an effective date. The Community and Regional Affairs Committee considered the bill and recommended it be replaced with a Community and Regional Affairs Committee substitute.

New zero fiscal note. Signing no recommendations, Senator Merrick, Chair. Senators Dunbar, Gray Jackson, Yunt. Signing do pass. Senator Olson.

The Resources Committee considered the bill and recommended it be replaced with the Resources Committee substitute, previous zero fiscal note. Signing do pass: Senator Giesel, Chair Senator Dunbar. Signing no recommendation: Senators Clayman, Rauscher, Myers, Wilkowski. Signing amend: Senator Kawasaki. There are two committee substitutes.

Thank you. Senator Giesel. Mr. President, I move and ask unanimous consent that the Senate Resources Committee substitute for Senate Bill 200 be adopted in lieu of the original bill. Thank you. Would you please explain the changes?

Yes, Mr. President. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 200 made the following changes. Number 1, excludes municipalities with population over 200,000 people, which is effectively Anchorage, from having to provide the municipal property tax deferral to eligible agricultural operations. And second, has a February 1st, 2027 effective date At the request of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. There was no change in the fiscal note.

Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Giesel. Hearing no objections, the Senate Resource Committee substitute has been adopted and this bill will advance to third reading on our next legislative calendar. Madam Secretary.

House Bill number 48 by Representatives Hannon, Fields, Eichide, Schrag, Jimmy, Story, Galvin, Gray, Josephson, Freer, Mena, An act relating to appropriations to the Civil Legal Services Fund. The Finance Committee considered the bill, previous fiscal and zero fiscal notes. Signing do pass: Senators Olson, Hoffman, Co-Chairs, Senator Kiel. Signing no recommendation: Senator Steadman, Co-Chair, Senators Kaufman, Cronk, Merrick. I have no amendments.

Thank you, Madam Secretary. This bill, House Bill 48, will advance to third reading on our next legislative calendar. Madam Secretary, there are no further items to consider on today's daily calendar. Thank you. Is there unfinished business at this time?

Unfinished business. Senator Myers. Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent to be listed as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 200 regarding assessments of agricultural land. Without objection.

So ordered. Senator Myers. Senator Clayman. I'm sorry, Senator Rauscher, you want to be added to that? We'll add Senator Rauscher to that bill.

Senator Clayman.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent that Rule 23 of the Uniform Rules be waived for House Bill 298, Legislative Ethics Committee and Proceedings, so that the Senate Judiciary Committee may hear the bill with invited testimony on Wednesday— actually, invited and public testimony on Wednesday, May 6th at 1:30 PM. And then I also move and ask unanimous consent be added cross-sponsor on House Bill 48 regarding the Civil Legal Services Fund. Thank you, Senator Clayman, on both issues. So ordered.

Any additional comments? Senator Tobin on unfinished business. Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent to waive Uniform Rule 23 to allow the Senate Education Committee to hear House Joint Resolution 45, support special education funding, during today's meeting. That meeting will be at 3:30 PM.

Thank you. Without objection, so ordered. Thank you, Senator Tobin. Additional unfinished business. Moving on to committee announcements.

Are there committee announcements? Are there other announcements? Senator Clayman on committee or other? Committee announcements. Committee announcements, yes.

Senate Judiciary Committee today, May 4th, is canceled. Thank you, Senator Clayman. Moving on then to other announcements. Seeing none,.

Are there special orders?

Senator Wilkowski. Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent to speak on The Score Is In. Without objection, so ordered. Senator Wilkowski.

Mr. President, if you see a few of us walking a little slower than usual today, it's because the Senate and House had our annual softball championship yesterday. Before I tell you who won, I want to remind you that the House has twice as many members as the Senate. Many of whom are much younger and much faster than some of us in the Senate. I am happy to report that, perhaps pending some x-rays and MRIs, there were no broken bones or torn ligaments, although there are likely some very bruised egos. The senator from Kenai scooped up everything in his direction like a gold glover at third base, as did the senator from Eagle River at second base.

While the senator from Anchorage, District J, man the outfield like Mickey Mantle. The game is supposed to feature 5 men and 5 women for a total of 10 players on each team. Yet if you have watched the House floor sessions at all this year, you will not be surprised when I tell you, uh, that the House, uh, in what can only be described as, uh, chaotic, uh, played not 10 but 13 members in the field in at least one inning. 11 In another, including 9 men and 2 women. And while the batters are supposed to alternate between men and women, the House at one point batted at least 7 consecutive men.

Nonetheless, Mr. President, I'm happy to report that the Senate team didn't just play. We conducted a masterclass in tactical dominance that I can only describe as a wholesale thrashing of the House. Winning the game 21-4, restoring the championship trophy back to the Senate where it rightfully belongs. I will mention that the House then did ask us to play another informal game immediately afterwards. Despite the fact that we lost nearly half the Senate team, we once again defeated them 9-2 before they threw in the flag at the fourth inning.

It was all in good fun and a great tradition, and it helps us build bridges and friendships. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Wilkowski. Congratulations.

Do you not have the trophy in your possession?

Mr. President, I'm happy to inform you the trophy was delivered to my office this morning at 8 a.m. by our representative staff. Thank you. We always want to make sure they actually deliver that trophy. Thank you so much. Any other special orders?

Thank you. Madam Majority Leader. Mr. President, I move and ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess to attend the joint session. Thank you. Hearing no objection, the Senate will stand in recess.

Members should saunter over to the House chambers in about 10 minutes. And other than that.