SFLR-20260513-1100

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

Senator Steadman. The roll shows 19 members present.

There are 20 members present. Thank you. With 20 members shown as present, we have a quorum to conduct business. The invocation this morning will be given by Major Peter Janosik of The Salvation Army. Members, please rise.

In deepest respect for the religious beliefs of each person here, I invite you into a time of prayer and reflection. Let us pray. Gracious God, thank you for your blessings, your protection, and your wisdom, because you, Lord, give wisdom. From your mouth come knowledge and understanding. You hold success in store for the upright.

You are a shield to those whose walk is blameless, and you guard the course of the just and protect the way of your faithful ones. Only through your grace we can be made righteous, blameless, just, and faithful, so that our decisions may bring blessing, protection, and prosperity to this land. We give into your hands this day and this session. May the decision made here bring you glory and honor, and may our behavior reflect the values of your kingdom. In the name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen. Thank you, Major. Senator Clayman, 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 Clayman. Will the Secretary please certify the journal? I certify as to the correctness of the journal for the 113th legislative day. Thank you, Madam Majority Leader. Mr. President, I move and ask unanimous consent that the journal be approved as certified by the Senate Secretary.

Hearing no objection, the journal has been approved. Senator Hoffman. Good morning, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent that the prayer be spread on the journal. Seeing no objection, the prayer has been spread upon the journal.

Are there 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. Are there messages from the House?

A message dated May 12th stating the House passed and returned CS for Senate Joint Resolution No. 30, State Affairs. Support military, and increase infrastructure. The resolution has been referred for enrollment. Messages dated May 12 stating the Speaker granted limited powers of free conference to the House conferees considering CS for House Bill 263 Finance Amended and Senate CS for CS for House Bill 263 Finance Amended Senate Operating Budget Funds Supplemental on the following specific points: the appropriation and languages the appropriations and language that are not identical in the House and Senate versions of House Bill 263.

Also, the Speaker granted limited powers of free conference to the House conferees considering CS for House Bill 265 Finance amended and Senate CS for CS for House Bill 265 Finance Appropriations Mental Health Budget on the appropriations and language that are not identical in the House and Senate versions of House Bill 263. Those are all the messages from the House this morning, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Are there communications? Disclosure letters received from the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics in accordance with AS2460 will be published today in Senate Journal Supplement No.

11 And Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 19. Those are all the communications today, Mr. President. Thank you. Are there reports of standing committees?

The State Affairs Committee considered Senate Bill No. 204, Substitute Teaching School Board Eligibility, and recommended the adoption of the previous education Education Committee substitute. Previous zero fiscal note. Signing amend, Senator Kawasaki, chair. Signing do pass, Senators Gray, Jackson, Tilton, Wilkowski.

The bill has no further referral. It is in the Rules Committee. The Finance Committee considered CS for House Bill 27, HESS, medical major emergencies. Previous fiscal note. Signing do pass, Senators Olson, Hoffman, co-chairs.

Signing a recommendation, Senator Steadman, co-chair, Senators Kaufman, Cronk, Senators Olsen, Steadman, and Senator Merrick Kiel. The bill has no further referral. It is in the Rules Committee. The Finance Committee considered House Bill 36, Foster Children's Psychiatric Treatment, and recommended it be replaced with a Finance Senate Committee substitute, new title with SCR 10. New zero fiscal notes.

Signing do pass, Senator Hoffman. Co-chairs Senators Merrick Kiel. Signing no recommendation, Senators Olsen, Steadman. Co-chairs Senators Kaufman, Cronk. The bill has no further referral.

It is in the Rules Committee. The Labor and Commerce Committee considered CS for House Bill 126, Tribal Affairs Amended Reinstatement Native Corporation Religious Corporation, and recommended it be replaced with the Labor and Commerce Senate Committee Substitute, new title with SCR 13, new zero fiscal note. Signing no recommendation, Senator Bjorkman, Chair. Signing do pass, Senators Gray, Jackson, Yunt. Signing amend, Senator Dunbar, The bill has no further referral.

It is in the Rules Committee. The Finance Committee considered CS for House Bill 133, Finance Amended Payment of Contracts, and recommended it be replaced with a Finance Senate Committee Substitute, New Fiscal and Zero Fiscal Notes. Signing do pass, Senators Olson, Hoffman, co-chairs. Signing no recommendation, Senator Steadman, co-chair, Senators Kaufman, Cronk, Merrick, Keele. The bill has no further referral.

It is in the Rules Committee. The Finance Committee considered CS for House Bill 184, Community and Regional Affairs, ADA, Finance, Workforce, Housing Development, and recommended it be replaced with a Finance Senate Committee substitute, new title with SCR 24. New zero fiscal note, signing do pass, Senators Olson, Steadman, Hoffman, co-chairs Senator Keele. Signing no recommendation, Senators Kaufman, Cronk, Merrick. The bill has no further referral.

It is in the Rules Committee. The Community and Regional Affairs Committee considered House Bill 216, Transfer of Railroad Land to Whittier, and recommended it be replaced with the Community and Regional Affairs Senate Committee Substitute. Previous zero fiscal note. Signing do pass: Senator Dunbar, Vice Chair Senators Gray, Jackson, Yunt. The bill has no further referral.

It is in the Rules Committee. The Transportation Committee considered CS for House Joint— pardon, CS for House Bill 217, Community Regional Affairs Amended Autonomous Vehicles, and recommended be replaced with a Transportation Senate Committee substitute. Previous zero fiscal note. Signing no recommendation, Senator Bjorkman, Chair, Senators Kiel, Steadman, Tobin. The bill has a further referral to the State Affairs Committee.

The Finance Committee considered House Bill number 262, number of Superior Court judges. Previous fiscal note. Signing do pass, Senator Hoffman, Chair, Senators Merrick, Kiel. Signing no recommendation. Senators Olson, Steadman, co-chairs.

Senators Kaufman, Cronk. The bill has no further referral. It is in the Rules Committee. The Labor and Commerce Committee considered Senate Bill 207, Property Possession and Property Crimes, and recommended it be replaced with a Labor and Commerce Committee substitute. New fiscal note, new zero fiscal notes, previous zero fiscal note, signing do pass, Senator Bjorkman, chair, Senator Yunt.

Signing no recommendation, Senator Gray Jackson. Those are all the standing committee reports this morning, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Secretary. I'm adding a finance referral to Senate Bill 207 as it has picked up a fiscal note. Madam Secretary, are there reports of special committees?

I have no special committee reports today. Thank you. Are there Senate resolutions for introduction? Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 27 by the Senate Finance Committee, suspending Rules 24C, 35, 41B, and 42E, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill Number 173, relating to occupational therapist licensure, relating to occupational therapy assistant licensure, and relating to an occupational therapist licensure compact. Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 27 will lay on the Secretary's desk.

Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 28 by the Senate Transportation Committee, suspending Rules 24C, 35, 41B, and 42E, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill Number 302, relating to travel insurance. Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 28 will also lay on the Secretary's desk. Those are all the Senate resolutions for introduction today, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Are there Senate bills for introduction?

I have no Senate bills for introduction today. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Then would you please read the first item on today's calendar? C.S. For Senate Bill Number 178, Finance, an act relating to early intervention services for certain children relating to optional services under the Medical Assistance Program and providing for an effective date before the Senate in third reading on final passage.

Thank you. Senator Tobin. Well, thank you and good morning, Mr. President. It is my privilege to carry this top priority of the Alaska Children's Caucus, which I co-chair with a member from Senate District E and also serve with many of the members from this body and in the other body as well. If you allow me, I would like to read a brief quote, Mr. President.

Without objection. Thank you. Many of Alaska's most vulnerable and at-risk children are ineligible and precluded from accessing services due to the stringent eligibility criteria that has long been established by the state. Expanding eligibility access will ensure our state's most vulnerable children have access to essential developmental services. The underlying goal of Senate Bill 178 is to expand access to Alaska's Infant Learning Program, and that is to provide health care and therapy student— or excuse me, therapy services for young children who are experiencing developmental delays.

We know that early intervention will reduce the need for intensive interventions later in life. For folks who think of this as a, a cost-saving measure, let me just give you a few numbers. By providing these early intervention services, often to infants, we are saving approximately $2.05 to $17.07 for every dollar spent on interventions. We know that 46% of children who exit the Infant Learning Program at age 3 do not require special education services when they reach kindergarten. That equates to an average $229,071 of potential savings over the course of that young child's K-12 education.

Encompassing all of those savings together, the estimated potential savings is $38.9 million annually. We know that if we implement this bill today, although it will take 2 to 3 years to fully implement the policy that is in this bill, in the next 7 to 10 years we will break even on our state investment. But the most important piece of this is that it really is about helping children and helping support families. Right now, the state has an eligibility criteria that sets the developmental delay from 0 to 3 at 50%. That means a family has to see their child struggling until it hits a certain threshold before they are eligible for services.

The bill before you reduces that benchmark from 50% to 25%. Now, that is the standard in Part B of IDEA, which governs special education. So when a student enters into special education, that developmental delay only needs to be 25% for them to receive services. SB 178 simply aligns the two policies to both be at a 25% developmental delay. One of the things that we have recognized is Alaska has the most restrictive definition of that eligibility benchmark.

By reducing it to 25%, we actually align ourselves with many other states that are following this cost savings and evidence-based practice. Now, as I wrap up my comments here, and I'm happy to answer any questions from members, I just want to note something that is very personal to me. A few years ago, my husband and I found out we weren't going to be having children. And when I asked him, what does this mean for us and what does it mean for our family? He said, well, now you have a responsibility to fight for every child.

So that is exactly what I'm doing here. And what I co-chair the Alaskan Children's Caucus is I'm here to ensure that every child receives support from the state and receives good evidence-based practices. This bill does exactly that. It helps struggling families and it serves vulnerable children. I urge members to vote yes.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Tobin. Is there additional discussion?

If you are ready for the question, the question being, shall CS for Senate Bill 178 Finance pass the Senate? Senators may proceed to vote.

The secretary will lock the roll. Do any senators wish to change their vote? The Secretary will announce the vote. 20 Yeas, 0 nays. And so by a vote of 20 yeas, 0 nays, CS for Senate Bill 178 Finance has passed the Senate.

Madam Majority Leader. Mr. President, I move and ask unanimous consent that the vote on the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause. Thank you. Hearing no objection, the effective date clause has been adopted. Madam Secretary, please read the next item on today's calendar.

CS for Senate Bill 208, Resources, an act relating to the sale and lease of state land for agricultural uses and providing for an effective date before the Senate in third reading on final passage. Thank you. Senator Bjorkman to carry the bill.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I introduced Senate Bill 208 to make it easier for farmers in our state to lease state land for the purpose of farming. And also ensure that land the state is going to sell for agricultural purposes actually is used for farming. Senate Bill 208 does 3 things. It creates this lease program that allows folks to select a parcel of state land and then rent it at a below-market rate or a farm use rate.

That allows the financial barriers to come down for farmers who otherwise would have to pay a lease rate for that property that is the highest and best use. And that is far beyond the financial means and financial practicability of farmers. Also, at the option of the department, they can waive costly appraisals and surveys for land that is to be leased, another financial barrier that stands in the way of many farmers being able to lease state land. Also, the bill allows the department the option of a merit-based component for the sale of land. So if the department puts up land for sale, farmers have to have a good strong rubric and a farm plan in place that shows they are prepared, they have the skills, tools, and abilities to actually execute a farming operation on that ground.

Finally, the bill would make it easier for the department to encourage compliance with the requirements of agricultural covenants. It gives them some steps in the process to encourage and urge compliance to those covenants other than the nuclear option of taking the land back. We've had systems in place, uh, some time ago now, almost 40 years, where that had happened, and it was wildly unpopular. As you might expect, Mr. President. Um, but this offers additional flexibility and encouragement for folks who have agriculturally covenanted land to be able to continue to pursue agriculture without having that land taken from them.

Also, the bill has the support of the Alaska Farm Bureau and the Alaska Farmland Trust. It is going to meet the needs of many of your constituents as well as mine and folks across Alaska who have good farm ground in their district. I urge members to vote yes. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Yorkman.

Is there further discussion? If you are ready for the question, the question being, shall CS for Senate Bill 208 resources pass the Senate? Senators may proceed to vote.

The secretary will lock the roll. Do any senators wish to change their vote? The Secretary will announce the vote. 20 Yeas, 0 nays. And so by a vote of 20 yeas, 0 nays, CS for Senate Bill 208 Resources has passed the Senate.

Madam Majority Leader. Mr. President, I move and ask unanimous consent that the vote on the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause. Thank you. Hearing no objection, the effective date clause has been adopted. Madam Secretary, please read the next item on today's calendar.

I'm sorry, Senator Rosser. Mr. President, I asked the body for unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on 208. On 208. Very good. Thank you, Senator Rosser, along with Senator Tilton, Senator Kaufman, Senator Yunt, and Senator Crowe.

Thank you, Madam Secretary. The next item on today's calendar— nope, did I miss something? No, please go ahead. CS for Senate Joint Resolution Number 25, Labor and Commerce, supporting efforts to modernize and improve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and supporting simplified border crossings and free trade with Canada and Mexico, before the Senate in third reading on final passage. Thank you, Senator Kawasaki, to carry the bill— the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I bring before the body Senate Joint Resolution Number 25 on behalf of the State Affairs Committee. The joint resolution supports the USMCA, or the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It's called CUSMA in Canada and T-MEC in Mexico. But this multilateral trade agreement was first begun as a modernization to NAFTA under the Trump administration in 2020, and then was referred and passed Congress.

Alaska's unique geography is the reason why I bring this forward. Alaska relies heavily on cross-border cooperation with our partners in Canada, and Alaska remains one of its largest trade partners by state, by volume, with over a billion dollars in annual trade between the state of Alaska, and Canada. This resolution was enhanced in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee to also talk about simplified border crossings and trusted commuter/regular travel— regular travel programs to enhance transportation.

The resolution basically states that we reaffirm the USMCA. While they work on it in Congress this summer, and we're done with the legislature hopefully by then. So thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Kawasaki. Under discussion, Senator Kaufman.

Thank you, Mr. President. In the past, I've balked when I've seen resolutions that have gone into this area of what is a very intense free trade struggle America has been in for some time. And for a while we were losing our industrial base. It was being exported. We were losing our ability to manufacture the very components and materials that we need in order to be strong in this country.

And I'm thankful that this piece, this resolution is absent what I saw as the one-sided approach. I think that there should be a whereas. We were losing our industrial base, trade partners were being used as portals to import materials from China and other negative effects on our economy. It lacks that whereas, but it is— I think it does point at the beneficial relationship and the essential relationship we have with our nearest border countries. So with that, I will support it.

Thank you, Senator Kaufman. Further discussion? If you are ready for the question, the question being, shall CS for Senate Joint Resolution 25, Labor and Commerce, pass the Senate? Senators may proceed to vote.

The Secretary will lock the roll. Do any Senators wish to change their vote? The Secretary will announce the vote. 20 Yeas, 0 nays. And so by a vote of 20 yeas, 0 nays, CS for Senate Joint Resolution 25, Labor and Commerce, has passed the Senate.

Madam Secretary, please read the next item on today's calendar. House Joint Resolution number 39, amended, urging the federal government to waive the new H-1B visa fees for teachers in before the Senate in third reading on final passage. Thank you, Senator Tobin, to carry the resolution. Well, thank you, Mr. President. I am proud to carry this resolution for a member from the other body who chairs the Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Education and Early Development.

Before you is House Joint Resolution 39, which attempts to address a disruption that has been happening in Alaska's public education system. A recent executive order imposed imposed a fee of $100,000 on H-1B visa applications. Uh, this was intended to protect workers for our tech professions. However, the unfortunate, uh, consequence of this was to really restrict the flow of critical education professionals coming into Alaska. Now, for those who don't know, H-1B visas are specialty visas that are specific to a type of occupation.

They're temporary, and they focus on highly skilled workers who who have bachelor's degrees and a minimum of 2 years prior experience. The previous cost for these visas was about $5,000 to $10,000. However, as I mentioned before, that administrative— excuse me, that executive order increased that to $100,000, which is about a 2,000% increase. Unfortunately, this means that many of these education professions in Alaska will go unfilled. We just don't have the resources to cover that $100,000.

Now, in a recent report to Alaska's Department of Education and Early Development, we were told from the Kodiak Island Borough School District that they have so many teachers that are benefiting their schools that come from this H-1B visa program, they have no idea how they're going to fill the gap if this $100,000 fee is still imposed on our school districts. House Joint Resolution 39 simply asks our federal government to waive this fee. Now, my office has been working with Senator Murkowski to see if there is an administrative exemption that Alaska can obtain. We are very unique, we have very unique needs, and this resolution will go a long way in working to help our congressional delegation continue to advocate for that administrative exemption. I urge member support, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Tobin. Is there further discussion? If you are ready for the question, the question being, shall House Joint Resolution 39 as amended pass the Senate? Senators may proceed to vote.

The secretary will lock the roll. Do any senators wish to change their vote? The secretary will announce the vote. 20 Yeas, 0 nays. And so by a vote of 20 yeas to 0 nays, House Joint Resolution 39 amended has passed the Senate.

Madam Secretary, please read the next item on today's calendar. Citations honoring Lemongrass Thai Cuisine, 30th anniversary. Honoring Denali Industrial Supply, 40th anniversary. Honoring Pat Pitney. Honoring Dan White.

In memoriam, Colleen Wilson. In memoriam, Lynn Stewart Basham. In memoriam, Michelle Stalder. In memoriam, Patrick John PJ Gessen. 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, these citations are approved. Madam Secretary, there are no further items for consideration on today's daily calendar. So we are now under unfinished business, and at this time I'm adding a Judiciary Committee referral to House Bill 211 relating to prepaid legal plans. Is there further unfinished business at this time?

Senator Kawasaki. Mr. President, I move and ask unanimous consent to be shown as excused and not subject to a call on May— Saturday, May 23rd for personal business. Without objection, so ordered. Senator Kawasaki. Senator Yunt.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move and ask unanimous consent to be shown as a cross-sponsor of HB 13, optional municipal Property tax exemptions. Thank you, Senator. Yet you'll be shown as sponsors along with Senator Kawasaki, uh, Senator Bjorkman, Senator Dunbar.

Thank you, Senator Dunbar. Thank you, Mr. President. I have two motions. First, I move and ask unanimous consent to be shown as a cross-sponsor on HB 244, CNA training. Very well.

You'll be shown as a cross-sponsor, Senator, as along with Senator Bjorkman and Senator Kawasaki and Senator Tilton.

Please go ahead, Senator Dunbar. Thank you, Mr. President. Second, I move and ask unanimous consent to be shown as a cross-sponsor on House Bill 133, payment of contracts, prompt payment. Thank you. Without objection.

So ordered. Along with Senator Tobin. And Senator Kawasaki, is there any— are there any pieces of unfinished business to deal with? Oh, I'm sorry, please go ahead, Senator Gray Jackson. I move and ask unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on Friday, May 22nd, for personal business.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Gray Jackson. Approved. Additional unfinished business? Seeing none, let's move on to committee announcements.

Are there committee announcements? Are there any other announcements?

Senator Rosier. Thank you, Mr. President. The Legislative Prayer Caucus will be held tomorrow, May 14th, 7:00 a.m., in the Butchavis Room, 205. All legislators, staff, administration are invited. With all faiths and denominations are also welcome.

Thank you. Thank you, Senator Rosser. So under other announcements, Senator Hoffman. Thank you, Mr. President. I announce that the conference committee on the operating and mental health budgets for 2027 will be held today at 4 PM.

4 PM. Thank you, Senator Hoffman. Any additional other announcements at this time? Are there special orders?

Seeing none, Madam Majority Leader. Mr. President, I move and ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until 10:30 AM tomorrow. That's Thursday, May 14th, 2026. Thank you. Hearing no objection, the Senate is adjourned.