The Alaska Senate convened a floor session that advanced multiple bills, adopted strengthened language on fisheries protections, approved ceremonial citations, and decisively declined to recede from amendments to HB 289.
Communications included Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom’s certification of an initiative requiring U.S. citizenship for voting eligibility, alongside annual reports on the Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund (CBR) and the Alaska Commission on Aging. Standing committee reports advanced several measures: SB 143 (municipal school board terms) to Rules; SB 249 (virtual currency kiosks) to Judiciary; SB 255 (Mat-Su borough land transfer) to Resources; SB 272 (health information exchange) to Labor and Commerce; and HB 13 (municipal property tax exemptions) to State Affairs.
On the calendar, SB 158 (commercial set net entry permits) and SB 181 (disclosure of labor information) advanced to third reading. The Senate adopted a Resources Committee substitute for HJR 29 on Russian seafood imports, adding targeted enforcement language. Sen. Giessel explained the change strengthened the resolution by emphasizing catch certificates to reduce reliance on self-declaration and ensure prohibitions achieve their objectives. The substitute passed without objection and moved forward.
Ceremonial business included approval of citations honoring the University of Alaska Fairbanks Native Art Center’s 60th anniversary, the U.S. Declaration of Independence’s upcoming 250th anniversary, and individuals such as Fire Chief Chad Heineken, Dr. Kimberlee Beckman, and others. A special order citation recognized Tom Panamaroff. Sen. George Rauscher (R-Sutton) delivered a special order honoring Iditarod champion Jesse Holmes of Brushkana, who secured back-to-back victories—the sixth musher in the race’s 54-year history to do so. “Jesse Holmes… won the Iditarod on Tuesday, March 17th, with a time of nine days, seven hours, thirty-two minutes, and fifty-one seconds,” Rauscher stated, detailing the extreme conditions and celebrating Holmes as the first repeat winner since Dallas Seavey in 2016. Additional podium finishers from his district were acknowledged, reinforcing Alaska’s cultural pride. Announcements included the Legislative Prayer Breakfast on March 19 and the Legislative Prison Ministry on April 6.
A pivotal moment arrived with a House message on HB 289 (budget reserve fund). The House failed to concur in Senate amendments and requested the Senate recede. Sen. Giessel moved to recede and recommended a “no” vote. Sen. Hoffman detailed the Senate’s version: reducing the Constitutional Budget Reserve draw from $530 million to $373 million and eliminating certain agency formula programs. The Senate voted unanimously 0–18 against receding, appointing Sen. Hoffman, Stedman, and Cronk to conference.
