On June 18, 2026, Governor Dunleavy vetoed 9 bills. Below is a brief description of each bill, a link to the full bill text, the House vote, Senate vote, and the Governor’s reason for vetoing. The Legislature may attempt a veto override by the end of today, June 19, or within five days of a second special session, which Dunleavy intends to call if the Legislature fails to pass a gasline bill. A veto override generally requires a 2/3rd vote of the Legislature, but revenue and appropriations bills require a 3/4th vote.
HB 23: Proposed Civil Rights Commission
Description: Renames the State Commission for Human Rights to the Alaska State Commission for Civil Rights; expands authority to investigate nonprofit employers and limits governor’s removal of commissioners.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB%2023
House vote: Unanimous
Senate vote: Unanimous
Governor’s veto reason: The expansion of the authority of the commission “creates uncertainty for small community organizations and risks unnecessary administrative proceedings and litigation.” (Also opposed limits on removal power to ensure accountability.)
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/HB23.pdf
HB 52: Psychiatric Care of Minors
Description: New protections and oversight/reporting requirements for minors in psychiatric care facilities.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB%2052
House vote: 26-14
Senate vote: Unanimous
Governor’s veto reason: The bill would add “duplicative inspection, reporting and notification requirements” and that the state “should avoid unnecessary regulatory layers that increase administrative burdens without clearly improving patient care.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/HB52.pdf
HB 195: Expanding Pharmacists’ Authority
Description: Expands pharmacists’ authority to prescribe certain medications and changes title from “physician assistant” to “physician associate.”
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB%20195
House vote: 32-8
Senate vote: 15-5
Governor’s veto reason: Opposes the bill because it “moves too much authority too quickly by expanding pharmacist patient-care services,” among other reasons. “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.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/HB195.pdf
HB 280: Corporate Income Tax Under Multistate Tax Compact
Description: Updates corporate income tax apportionment rules under the Multistate Tax Compact.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB%20280
House vote: 28-12
Senate vote: 17-3
Governor’s veto reason: Alaska needs “a comprehensive fiscal plan, not one-off tax measures.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/HB280.pdf
HB 314: New Regulations and Licensing in Interior Design, Architecture, Engineering
Description: Regulates interior designers and extends licensing rules for architects, engineers, and surveyors.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB%20314
House vote: 29-11
Senate vote: 16-4
Governor’s veto reason: Alaska “should not expand government or occupational regulation for the purpose of creating a new professional title.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/HB314.pdf
SB 21: State Retirement Program for Private Business Sector
Description: Establishes a state-facilitated retirement savings program for workers without employer plans.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%2021
House vote: 31-9
Senate vote: 17-3
Governor’s veto reason: Encouraging Alaskans to save for retirement “is a worthy goal” but “Alaska businesses should not be required to administer or facilitate retirement savings accounts created by the state when private retirement and investment options are already available.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/SB21.pdf
SB 24: Tax on Vapes
Description: Imposes tax on e-cigarettes/vapes, raises tobacco purchase age to 21, and includes related provisions.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%2024
House vote: 24-16
Senate vote: 15-5
Governor’s veto reason: Opposed because it creates “a new targeted tax outside of a broader fiscal plan.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/SB24.pdf
SB 41: Public Mental Health Education
Description: Requires mental health instruction in public schools.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%2041
House vote: 27-13
Senate vote: 19-1
Governor’s veto reason: Opposes the bill because it would “mandate the development of mental health education at a time when districts are already working to meet existing requirements.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/SB41.pdf
SB 258: Software Licensing for State
Description: Preserves state flexibility in choosing cloud/software licensing providers.
Link to full text: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%20258
House vote: 26-14
Senate vote: Unanimous
Governor’s veto reason: Restricting state negotiation “could reduce flexibility, limit access to needed products, and increase costs for agencies and local governments.”
Link to full veto letter: https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Vetoes/SB258.pdf
