Today, June 19, 2026, the Alaska State Legislature held a joint floor session to vote on overriding 5 of 9 vetoes issued by Governor Dunleavy yesterday. Each bill required a 2/3rd vote of the Legislature, meaning 40 “yes” votes. 2 vetoes were overridden: HB 195 and HB 314.
HB 195 expands pharmacists’ authority to prescribe certain medications and changes the title “physician assistant” to “physician associate.” The Governor vetoed the bill because it “moves too much authority too quickly by expanding pharmacist patient-care services,” and because “the legislative record reflects substantial disagreement among stakeholders regarding the scope and effect of the bill, which underscores the need for greater precision before changes of this magnitude take effect.” The veto was overridden by a combined vote of 43, 17 (28-12 in the House, 15-5 in the Senate).
HB 314 regulates interior designers and extends licensing rules for architects, engineers, and surveyors. Governor Dunleavy vetoed the bill, arguing that Alaska “should not expand government or occupational regulation for the purpose of creating a new professional title.” The bill originally passed with a House vote of 29-11 and a Senate vote of 16-4. The veto was overridden by a combined voted of 45-15 (House vote of 29-11 and a Senate vote of 16-4).
Vetoes the Legislature attempted but failed to override include vetoes of HB 52 (failed with vote of 36-24), SB 41 (38-22), and SB 21 (39-21). HB 52 relates to regulating psychiatric care for minors, SB 41 relates to providing mental health education in public schools, and SB 21 relates to providing a State-funded retirement program for private sector employees whose employers do not offer retirement plans.
The 4 vetoed bills not reconsidered by the Legislature include HB 23, which would have changed the Alaska Commission for Human Rights to the Alaska Commission for Civil Rights and expanded its authority; HB 280, which involved imposing an income tax on certain corporations under the Multistate Tax Compact; SB 24, which imposes a tax on vapes and raises the tobacco purchase age to 21; and SB 258 which regards software licensing for the State. The Legislature may still attempt an override on these vetoes within the first 5 days of the next special or regular session.
Get more info on both overridden and sustained vetoes here: 9 Bills Vetoed: What’s the Gist? What Were the Votes? Why the Veto?
