advocacy, on the menu
On the Menu 5.23.2025
By Rachel Lord, Advocacy and Policy Director, AFPC
This is it! The Legislature gaveled out of the first session on Tuesday, a day earlier than expected. This Alaska Beacon article has a good rundown of the 33 bills that passed since January. The state budget, operating and capital budgets for next year (which starts July 1) and the supplemental budget for this current year, passed with further reduced or status quo spending and still require a draw from other accounts to balance. We were happy to see funding included for child care programs and 15 new Division of Public Assistance eligibility technicians. Big thanks to the advocates around the state who worked incredibly hard to encourage the infant and child learning program funding!
Have we mentioned how dire of a financial state Alaska is in? While we remain hopeful for a more sustainable future, the reality is that our state continues to face a deep structural deficit. Until we address this foundational issue, it will be increasingly difficult to take on new administrative work or costs within state operations. That means policy changes with price tags (like Summer EBT or universal school meals) will require creativity, strong partnerships, and a clear-eyed understanding of the fiscal landscape. The path forward is challenging, but not impossible.
I am sincerely grateful to everyone who followed along with On The Menu this year! We’ll be back in January for the second session of the 34th Legislature. In the meantime, AFPC will be working on developing more tools for advocating and engaging in your government for policies that support strong food systems for Alaskans across the state! We’ll also be expanding our coverage of what’s happening at the federal level, at least a little bit (there’s a LOT).
Do you have questions? Suggestions for coverage or resources? Want to chat? Please reach out! advocacy@alaskafoodpolicycouncil.org
Until next time!
Updates:
HB 125 – Membership on the Board of Fisheries
Passed the House, NEXT UP IN JANUARY: Senate Community & Regional Affairs
HB 125 was introduced on March 5 by Representative Jimmie. It has picked up a bunch of co-sponsors: Reps. Foster, Kopp, Burke, Dibert, Story, Galvin, and Carrick. Rep. Allard was and then removed herself as a co-sponsor. It amends the membership of the Board of Fisheries to specify sector representation from Board members. You can read AFPC’s letter of support for HB 125 here.
After going through the committee process, the bill came to the House Floor on May 13, was reverted to the fisheries version of the bill, and went through a number of amendment attempts that failed on caucus lines. It was fascinating, not in a great way, and it was finally passed the House on May 17 with a vote of 22 to 17 (with one excused). I’m not going to cover the back and forth, but there were some dramatics and you can watch it here (earlier House debate is in previous OTMs). The Senate introduced the bill, and it was referred to Community & Regional Affairs and Resources Committees – a journey that will resume next January.
SJR 12– NOAA Buoy Outages
Passed both House and Senate, NEXT: To the Governor
Senate Joint Resolution 12 was introduced by Senator Dunbar in late-February. Reviewing the sponsor statement, this was catalyzed by chronic outages of Seal Rocks Buoy in Prince William Sound. The resolution has a letter of support from the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, highlighting the critical importance of weather buoy data in ensuring navigational safety of oil tankers through the Sound. AFPC recognizes that our coastal communities rely on weather data for safe transportation and access to marine food resources. Similar to our support for improving the aviation weather systems, we strongly support the stable operations of our marine weather systems.
HB 30 – Office of Entrepreneurship
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: Continue in House Finance / will be discontinued coverage in OTM
HB 30 was introduced on January 22 by Rep. Holland. It was originally referred to the House State Affairs and Labor & Commerce committees, and had a referral for House Finance added. HB 30 was first heard on Feb. 22, and moved out of State Affairs on March 11. HB 30 was heard in House Labor & Commerce on March 17, and moved out of committee on March 23. House Finance was added as a committee of referral to HB 30, and it was heard on April 24. Rep. Foster joined the bill as a co-sponsor.
HB 34 – Alaska Innovation Council
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: Continue in House Finance / will be discontinued coverage in OTM
HB 34 was introduced on January 22 by Rep. Holland. 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 and thinking about possible impacts on new food systems businesses. HB 34 was first heard in the House Labor & Commerce Committee on Monday, February 10, and again on February 14 and February 24. The committee substitute (CS) for HB 34 was moved out of committee on February 24. HB 34 was heard on April 24 in House Finance, and again on May 12 alongside HB 30.
HB 135 / SB 131 – Duties of ASMI board/Meaning of seafood
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: SB 131 First Hearing in Senate Finance (HB 135 didn’t move this session)
HB 135 and SB 131 were introduced Friday, March 14 by the Governor. HB 135 is referred to House Fisheries and then Resources. SB 131 is referred to Senate Resources and then Finance. 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.
HB 12 – School Food for All Alaskan Kids (AFPC Supports)
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: Continue in House Education
Introduced on January 22 by Rep. Dibert, HB 12 is referred to the House Education and then Finance committees. Thanks to Representative Edgmon, Burke, Galvin, and Himschoot for signing on to HB12 as co-sponsors. HB 12 was heard for the first time in House Education on Monday, February 24 and again on April 28. There is terrific public support for the bill, and also a lot of critical details and finances to figure out. Read our policy brief here.
HB 140 /SB 128 – Department of Agriculture (AFPC Supports)
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: Both House and Senate bills are still in their respective Resources Committees. There has been slightly more movement in the Senate.
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). They started 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 their first hearings took place the last week of March. You can read our overview and AFPC’s position here. The Senate version has amendments to include a Division of Mariculture, a Division of Food Security, and to clarify the role of the commissioner.
HB 60 / SB 67 – Procurement Preference for Agricultural and Fisheries Products.
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: HB 60 First hearing in House Labor & Commerce. SB 67 doesn’t have as much movement, and is still in Senate Resources.
These bills were introduced by the Governor in January. 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, and again on April 4.
SB 13/HB 154 – Summer EBT
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: SB 13 First hearing in Senate Finance. HB 154 First Hearing in House Health & Social Services
SB 13 was introduced on January 22 by Senator Dunbar. It is referred to the Senate Education and then Finance committees. HB 154 was introduced by Rep. Mears on March 24 and is co-sponsored by Reps. Fields and Dibert. It is referred to House Social Services and then Finance. It hasn’t yet been scheduled for a hearing. Read our policy brief here.
HB 111/SB 108 – Finfish Farms and Products
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: We anticipate these being dead, but will keep an eye. HB 111 is stopped in House Fisheries and SB 108 is stopped in Senate Resources
These bills were introduced by the governor in late-February. 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.
HB 25 – Disposable container ban for restaurants
NEXT UP IN JANUARY: This bill has moved through the committee process, and is waiting to be scheduled by the Rules Committee for the House Floor.
HB 25 was introduced on January 22 by Rep. Josephson, and is co-sponsored by Reps. Hall, Burke, and Hannan.
