advocacy, on the menu

On the Menu 4.4.2025

By Rachel Lord, Advocacy and Policy Director, AFPC

We’re Back! Last week was busy in the Legislature, and we were busy in Kodiak. It was fantastic to see so many of you and we can’t thank you enough for taking the time to come together. I’m doing my best to recap All The Things, but I’m sure I’m missing something! New bills were introduced, the Department of Agriculture discussion is taking off again in committees, and many seafood bills have been introduced over the past few weeks. I won’t be covering most of those, but as usual, if there’s something you’re particularly interested in, please let me know. Heads up that next week there are quite a few hearings, some with public testimony, on bills we’re following.

Since I’m a little behind after the conference, I don’t have full rundowns of all the hearings from the past two weeks. So no TLDR (Too Long, Didn’t Read) top line overviews this week. We are shifting to sending OTM only to those specifically signed up for OTM! Please sign up here if you haven’t already done so!

The bills below are ones that are food systems-related and that AFPC doesn’t have a position on most legislation. If we do have a position, we will be sure to note that whenever we talk about the bill. Also, our hearing summaries are just that – summaries. For the full scoop, check out the linked videos! As always, please let us know if we’ve missed or misrepresented something, or if there’s an issue you think we should be tracking – email Rachel (advocacy@alaskafoodpolicycouncil.org).

Remember you will be able to see all the bills we’re watching and read AFPC policy briefs as they are posted on our website. In our session preview, you can read brief summaries of most of the bills below. Hearings can be watched on Gavel/KTOO, and you can check out our calendar of hearings for bills we are watching here. Finally, if you’re interested in testifying but don’t know where to start, you can check out our simple “Tips for Testifying” document here.

Updates:

HB 140 /SB 128 Department of Agriculture (AFPC Supports)

HB 140 and SB 128 were introduced after the Governor’s Executive Order 136 failed (you can review the rundown in the OTM from March 21, and read an Alaska Beacon article here). I haven’t yet dug into the full text of both, but I believe they are currently pretty much identical to one another, and substantively identical to the Governor’s EO (with a handful of conforming changes that don’t change the substance of the proposal). Both bills were referred to their respective Resources and Finance Committees and had their first hearings last week.

HB 140 had its first hearing on March 26. Amy Seitz from the Alaska Farm Bureau gave a presentation on the context and need for a Dept. of Ag, from the perspective of the Farm Bureau and referencing the Food Strategies Task Force white paper on a Department of Ag. There were questions about marijuana and hemp, what kinds of crops and farms are being grown in Alaska, funding the department, fisheries, and mariculture. Jason Lessard, Alaska Mariculture Alliance, provided invited testimony giving an overview of the mariculture industry in Alaska, and pointing to the 2021 Mariculture Task Force Report which you can find here. He noted that mariculture is diverse across the state, and that the AMA doesn’t have a position on mariculture inclusion in a Dept. of Ag, but they would be open to continuing the conversation. There was continued discussion about the role of the Board of Agriculture and a new commissioner, differences considered from the failed EO, funding for a new department, and possibly increasing support for the Division of Ag. You can watch the hearing here.

On Friday, March 28, the Senate version was heard for the first time in Senate Resources. Sen. Wielechowski and his staff gave a brief overview of the bill, which is mostly identical to the Governor’s failed EO, except for a few conforming edits (nothing substantively different). Amy Seitz from the Alaska Farm Bureau also gave a presentation. There was a lot of back and forth with committee members on the resources and funding needed or visioned for a Department of Agriculture, the responsibility of the free market, interdepartmental communications, fisheries, cannabis, the waxing and waning of state support for agriculture over the years, the role of state government, and more. Similar to the House discussion, there was some talk from legislators about increasing capacity at the Division instead of going in on a Department. Amy noted that we definitely don’t need another task force or working group, as there has been ample work done both recently and in the past and across sectors to help inform the discussion. You can watch the hearing here.

SB 128 will be heard again in Senate Resources today, Friday, April 4, at 3:30PM with invited and public testimony. There is also a hearing scheduled for public testimony next Friday, April 11 – same time, same place!

HB 135 – Duties of ASMI board/Meaning of seafood

HB 135 was introduced Friday, March 14 by the Governor. It is referred to House Fisheries and then Resources. The bill has two sections, and adds ‘aquatic farm products as defined in AS 16.40.199’ to the definition of seafood as it relates to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. It also clarifies, to be consistent with this expanded definition of seafood, that their work covers the handling of seafood from the moment of capture or harvest (that’s the added language!) to final distribution. We will have a policy brief soon on HB 135. There was a first hearing on the bill with invited and public testimony on Thursday, March 27, at 10AM in House Fisheries.

I won’t cover this hearing in depth, but there were presentations by the DCCED Deputy Commissioner Anna Latham, and ASMI Executive Director Jeremy Woodrow. Committee members asked questions about what species ASMI currently markets, the inclusion of possible finfish farm products (it would require additional statute changes), There was public testimony from Robert Venables, Executive Director of Southeast Conference (in support of the bill), Katie Bodey, owner of Tommaso Shellfish (in opposition), James Greely, on behalf of the Alaska Oyster Cooperative (in opposition), Jason Lessard, Executive Director of the Alaska Mariculture Alliance (in support, with the caveat that the two sectors – shellfish and seaweed – should be able to decide separately if they want to participate), Weatherly Bates, owner of Alaska Shellfish Farms and President of the Alaska Shellfish Growers Association (in opposition), Seawan Gehlbach, owner of Simpson Bay Oyster Co (in opposition), and Margo Reveil, owner of Jakolof Bay Oyster Co. (in opposition).

Following quite a bit of continued discussion with the committee and ASMI, including industry assessments, grants, the definition of “agriculture”, and the work of ASMI, the bill was held. You can watch the hearing here.

HB 125 Membership on the Board of Fisheries

HB 125 was introduced March 5 by Representative Jimmie, and is co-sponsored by Reps. Foster, Kopp, and Burke. It amends the membership of the Board of Fisheries to specify sector representation from Board members. It is referred to House Fisheries and then Resources. It has been heard in House Fisheries on March 18 and again on March 25.

In its opening hearing, Rep. Jimmie and staff presented the bill and took questions from the committee. There was discussion around the rationale behind using nominations from Alaska Federation of Natives and NOAA to fill subsistence and science seats, examples from New Zealand and other countries, the importance of the discussion around subsistence representation, geographic representation, and the effort to codify what is attempted in practice for appointing seats on the Board. There was testimony from Richard Peterson, President of Central Council of Tlingit & Haida, supporting the inclusion of Tribal representatives on the Board of Fish and reviewing the vast knowledge and thousands of years of experience in fisheries across Alaska’s Tribes. He did note their suggestion to allow all Tribes through direct nominations to put forward names for subsistence seats on the Board. Jerry McCune, commercial fisherman, spoke to the need to improve the overall statutes. He said definitions are needed for “sport fishing”, “commercial fishing”, etc. There was invited testimony from Moses Owens, the Tribal Chief of Akiak Native Community, who spoke of the importance of subsistence to their communities, and in support of additional representation of subsistence on the Board. With that, the committee adjourned and held open public testimony until March 25. You can listen to the hearing here.

On March 25, the committee again heard the bill with many people calling in for public testimony. I won’t be recapping it all here, but there was a lot of support for the bill from across the state. There were some concerns raised about a federal agency (NOAA) having a seat on the Board in the bill, and some additional suggestions of how to define or nominate members. An amendment deadline was set for Thursday, April 3 and the bill was set aside. You can listen to the hearing here.

HB 125 is scheduled for another hearing in House Fisheries on Tuesday, April 8 at 10 AM.

HB 154 – Summer EBT

This is a companion bill to Sen. Dunbar’s SB 13 (which is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Education on Monday, April 7 at 3:30 PM). It was introduced by Rep. Mears on March 24, and is co-sponsored by Rep. Fields. It is referred to House Social Services and then Finance. It hasn’t yet been scheduled for a hearing.

No Changes From Last Week:

SB 13 – Summer EBT (AFPC Supports)

Introduced on January 22 by Senator Dunbar (Anchorage). It is referred to the Senate Education and then Finance committees.

Read our policy brief here.

SB 13 was last heard on Wednesday, March 5 at 3:30 PM in Senate Education with invited and public testimony. SB 13 is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Education on Monday, April 7 at 3:30PM.

HB 111/SB 108 – Finfish Farms and Products

These bills were introduced by the governor on Friday, February 21, and February 24. HB 111 was referred to House Fisheries and Resources committees. SB 108 was referred to Senate Resources and then Finance. Significant opposition has been voiced from across the legislature, as well as from Alaskans around the state. Meanwhile, others have expressed interest in further exploring fish farming opportunities to support Alaska’s food security and independence. Alaska has a rich seafood industry and a growing mariculture industry. We have a long history of protecting wild fish harvest, with a strong international brand. You can read our policy brief here. We have also received a copy of the 1990 Alaska Finfish Farming Task Force Report, which you can find here.

SB 108 was heard for the first time with invited and public testimony on Monday, March 10 in Senate Resources. The bill was set aside with public testimony open. There had been a hearing scheduled for Thursday morning, but it was cancelled.

HB 111 is scheduled for a hearing with invited & public testimony in House Fisheries on Thursday, April 10 at 10 AM.

HB 60 / SB 67 – Procurement Preference for Agricultural and Fisheries Products.

These bills were introduced by the Governor on January 22 (House) and January 24 (Senate). You can read our Policy Brief here. SB 67 was last heard on Feb. 7 in Senate Resources. The House Fisheries Committee heard HB 60 on February 6 and for the second time Tuesday, February 11 where it was passed out of committee with no amendments. The bill was heard in the House Labor & Commerce on February 21.

SB 67 is scheduled for a hearing with public testimony on Wednesday, April 9 at 3:30 PM in Senate Resources.

HB 34 – Alaska Innovation Council

HB 34 was introduced on January 22 by Rep. Holland (Anchorage). It is referred to the House State Affairs and Labor & Commerce committees. AFPC doesn’t have a position on this bill, but we are lightly tracking it to see how food systems businesses may or may not be acknowledged during the conversations.

HB 34 was first heard in the House Labor & Commerce Committee on Monday, February 10, and again on Feb. 14 and Feb. 24. The committee substitute (CS) for HB 34 was moved out of committee on Feb 24. The vote for moving the CS out of committee moved forward with a vote of 5 yes and 1 no, with Rep. Saddler being the lone no vote. The bill now awaits scheduling in House Finance. You can see the most current version of the bill, CSHB 34(L&C) here.

There is a hearing for HB 34 scheduled for Thursday, April 10 at 1:30 PM in House Finance.

HB 12 – School Food for All Alaskan Kids (AFPC Supports)

Read our policy brief here. Introduced on January 22 by Rep. Dibert (Fairbanks), HB 12 is referred to the House Education and then Finance committees. Thanks to Representative Edgmon, Burke, and Galvin for signing on to HB12 as co-sponsors. HB 12 was heard for the first time in House Education on Monday, February 24.

HB 25 – Disposable container ban for restaurants

HB 25 was introduced on January 22 by Rep. Josephson (Anchorage). It was referred to the House State Affairs and Labor & Commerce committees. HB 25 was heard in House State Affairs on Tuesday, Feb. 18, Feb. 20, and Feb. 25 where it was moved out of committee. HB 25 was then heard in House Labor & Commerce (L&C), first on March 5 and again on March 14. On March 28, Rep. Hall signed on as a co-sponsor.

HB 30 – Office of Entrepreneurship

HB 30 was introduced on January 22 by Rep. Holland (Anchorage). It is referred to the House State Affairs and Labor & Commerce committees. HB 30 was first heard on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 PM in House State Affairs. This was the full overview of the bill and was not covered here in OTM. HB 30 was heard again on Thursday, Feb. 27. HB 30 was heard again in House State Affairs on Thursday, March 6, and passed out as a Committee Substitute on March 11. HB 30 was heard in House Labor & Commerce on March 17, and again on March 19. The bill as amended was moved from the committee on Wednesday and will head to House Rules.

There is a hearing scheduled for HB 30 on Thursday, April 10 at 1:30 PM in House Finance.

Budget:

The House Finance Committee was grinding through amendments this week. On Thursday evening, they passed the Operating Budget bill (HB 53) out of committee on partisan lines, with a $1.9 billion deficit. Check out BASIS for HB 53 under ‘documents’ to weed through all of the various amendments debated if you’re interested. The ADN has an article this morning about it, and I’m guessing there will be more press today. HB 53 will head to the House Floor next week, and then will move to the Senate.

There’s also the Supplemental Budget, which makes changes to our current fiscal year’s budget. That bill, HB 56, also passed out of the House on Thursday April 3 – you can see the amended bill here. Of note, there is $50,000 for subsistence research in the Department of Fish & Game, an increase of $5.9M to the Department of Health to address SNAP investment projects over the rest of this fiscal year and next (contingent upon this being levied as a penalty by the USDA), and $3.2M of additional ability for the Division of Agriculture to receive federal food security microgrant funding.

The budget bills are large and complex, with many moving pieces. Similar to last year, AFPC will do our best to track food systems interests within the Capital and Operating budgets but our capacity is limited on this front. If you have particular interests you’d like us to follow, please let me know: advocacy@alaskafoodpolicycouncil.org.

To navigate through all the departments within the operating budget, the House has Finance Subcommittees that focus on specific departments and offer amendments to the operating budget. Legislative Finance has fantastic websites for tracking the budgets – check them out here – operating and capital.

HB 53 / SB56 – Operating Budget, both were introduced on January 22 by the Governor and referred to House and Senate Finance committees respectively. HB 53 was passed out of Finance this week and will head to the House Floor.
HB 54 / SB57 – Capital Budget, both were introduced on January 24 by the Governor and referred to House and Senate Finance respectively. Similar to the operating budget, but simpler overall with less money.

Upcoming Public Testimony:

SB 128 – Create Department of Agriculture

Friday, April 4 & Friday, April 11

Senate Resources, 3:30 PM

HB 111 – Finfish Farms and Products

Thursday, April 10

House Fisheries, 10 AM

SB 67 – Procurement Preference for Ag and Fisheries Products

Wednesday, April 9