Bills to Watch: Alaska Legislative Session Spring 2024
This Legislative Session AFPC will be focusing on an array of bills, providing testimony, suggestions and support in some cases. We believe each of the following bills has the potential to profoundly impact our food system and we want to ensure that they are developed and executed to support a thriving food economy for generations to come. Please note that AFPC is following a lot of bills, this doesn’t indicate our support of them! Where we support a bill, that is clearly specified. See the calendar of upcoming hearings below!
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HB 196 / SB 149
The eligibility limit for food stamps would be set at 200% of the federal poverty guideline and would eliminate the asset test.Sponsors:
House: Mina, Groh, Dibert, Story, Hannan, Himschoot, Foster, Wright, Edgmon, McCormick, Gray, SumnerSenate: Giessel, Dunbar, Gray-Jackson, Olson, Tobin, Wielechowski, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Claman
AFPC ISSUE BRIEF HB 196/ SB 149
MORE READING:
As Alaska pays millions to fix food stamp backlog, lawmakers suggest systemic fixes
A State Option to Support Low-Income Working Alaskan Families
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HB 198
Food stamp recipients would have to reregister no more often than the minimum required by federal law.Sponsors: Gray, Armstrong, McCormick, Himschoot
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HB 249 / SB 207
The State Department of Military and Veterans Affairs would be required to create a help desk to help military members, veterans and their families connect with services and provide information about Alaska.Sponsors: Groh / Kawasaki
AFPC ISSUE BRIEF HB 249/SB 207
Resources:
Comparing Food Insecurity Among the U.S. Military and Civilian Adult Populations
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SB 161
The state tax exemption for farm land would be expanded to cover farming buildings on farm land, not just the land itself. (Optional municipal tax exemption)Sponsors: Bjorkman, Hughes
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HB 251
Some homemade food sold at farmers’ markets, fairs or from the home itself would be exempt from labeling, licensing, permitting and inspection requirements. Animal shares also would be exempt from inspection requirements.Sponsors:Rauscher
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HB 296/ SB 211
Titled the ‘Capital access, Revenue protection, and Open Procurement (CROP) Act’, this bill encompasses three primary areas within Alaska’s agricultural sector for targeted improvement:Capital Access through changes to the Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund policies, and an additional position to staff the loan program;
Revenue Protection through changes to the state’s Crop Insurance policies and an additional $4M funding; and
Open Procurement through a five-year repeal of limits on purchasing Alaska Grown or harvested agricultural and fisheries products.
Sponsor: Governor Dunleavy
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Allows the Dept. of Health to apply for a Section 1115 waiver through Medicaid that would allow for preventative projects that would improve health outcomes for Alaskans, including produce prescription programs and other nutrition-based health-related services.
Sponsor: Governor Dunleavy
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Another version of municipal farm use land and structure property tax exemption (similar but different from SB 161)
Sponsors: Carpenter, Tomaszewski
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Provides changes to the state tideland lease process for mariculture and hatchery purchases, and extends lease durations to 25 years.
Sponsors: Vance
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A lengthy bill that would make numerous changes to the disposal, sale, leases of State Lands. Of particular interest to AFPC are the provisions to open up ag land leases to include accessory uses of the land that isn't agriculture as a primary use. There are also provisions that would elevate the purpose of "stimilating economic development" in the state to provide more avenues to lease and sell state land.
Sponsors: Governor Dunleavy
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This Resolution would put a Constitutional amendment on the ballot, relating to subsistence use of replenishable natural resources by state residents.
Sponsor: Baker
MORE TO READ:
Transcription from House Resources Committee Hearing on HJR22-March 20, 2024
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This resolution was brought through the Legislative Food Strategies Task Force conversations about supply chain challenges. It outlines the context of Automated Weather Observing System stations and the Automated Surface Observing System program, both of which are critical for our supply chain and aviation transportation. It asks the FAA to improve the operations of these systems to reduce outages, ensure reliability, and expand communications about the status of weather reporting systems across Alaska.
SPONSORS: Senate Community & Regional Affairs
To track these bills yourself use the Legislative Tracker or through our Public Google Calendar (see below!).
You can also watch hearings and testimony ONLINE.
And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to get regular updates and action opportunities.
