[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6277054,"mediaKeyId","2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6","parentId",2657804,"title","DNR warns of early, active 2025 wildfire season; outlines preparedness and prevention steps","audioSeconds",1636,"startMs",5850000,"endMs",7486000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6&start=5850&end=7486","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6/thumbnail_5850000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277054/Alaska/DNR-warns-of-early-active-2025-wildfire-season-outlines-preparedness-and-prevention-steps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277054-76d49d38b903bd2dab9685a23a120a32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184329&Signature=eYp7pKHC9IbGYoMME0ZQGlbUsfeSMDJny5ZXUGjOsYyz7iYM9ijMG7A0FqapteQnVR3Rc02kwToDZ9TbZ8MbAPjP6qHSwdA2qDsrp65XkU7YJlApzmD5o3bcq-fUVEAO5FySc-PR0wctjQLuXZvgQL5~W~EbPCn5Pn2T5yMbxDGXCBZMsZz9Z9gDhF4AQMP4Zeu7fUzDTjiTrcpxBMNflHsXxNEqnJu0J0YcfPzYSo0qtvXQdTeC~FuAwTtNdlZQqg0Ch9nGMn0bOw4VlmV6i88cCmD8RhAWGwDx~FQF48f-HUQqi~fB9GZy2X67eaLjoeCxPQpGT4U4c3jD0if-Tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-03-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Alaska Department of Natural Resources told the House Resources Committee on March 14, 2025 that state and provincial wildfire risk is increasing as seasons lengthen and conditions warm, and outlined preparedness, mitigation and response measures for the 2025 season.

Deputy Commissioner Brent Goodrum introduced Deputy Director Norm McDonald of the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, who described the division's mission to protect state, municipal and private values across Alaska's protection area. McDonald said the division prioritizes preparedness, prevention, fuels mitigation and suppression to place the \"right resources, right place, right time\" for initial attack and large-incident response. He gave examples of recent large fires (Miller's Reach, Sockeye, McKinley) to illustrate the threat to homes and infrastructure.

McDonald told the committee that Alaska's fire season is lengthening and that Southcentral, the southern Southwest and Southeast Alaska face above-average fire danger for April and May. He said that warmer winters and little snow in some areas (Homer, Pilot Point) leave grass and surface fuels exposed and flammable early in the year. McDonald said the division had moved parts of the fire season start date earlier from April 1 to March 17 to allow earlier closure of open-burning and to mobilize seasonal crews for training and prepositioning.

The division also highlighted interagency mutual aid relationships, including the Northwest Compact and Stafford Act arrangements, which allow Alaska to trade firefighting resources with Canadian provinces and other U.S. states. McDonald warned that these mutual-aid resources are limited nationally when many regions are burning simultaneously and that importing outside resources significantly increases incident costs. He provided cost comparisons showing in-state management for a 7-day Type 3 incident averages roughly $430,000'$500,000 while using outside Lower 48 resources can raise costs to about $1.7 million for the same footprint.

McDonald described state programs for community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs), fuels projects (fuel breaks), training and workforce development, and a public education prevention program that staffed roughly 80 events statewide last summer. He said recruitment and retention improved after mission-critical incentive pay and that his office trained many more applicants this year than in past seasons.

Committee members asked about outreach and whether the division needs additional resources for public messaging; McDonald said the division is doubling down on public messaging, coordinating town halls and community meetings and preparing targeted outreach for Southcentral. Representative Mears and Representative Colom asked follow-up questions about virtual training and outreach; McDonald said classroom content moved online during COVID but field days remain for hands-on skills.

McDonald closed by saying Alaska should prepare for a potentially very active spring, and urged lawmakers to support prevention, fuels and workforce measures that reduce the chance of catastrophic losses to homes and infrastructure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/14/2025 01:00 PM House RESOURCES","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Natural Resources presented wildfire-prevention priorities to the House Resources Committee, saying warmer, drier conditions and longer seasons are driving higher risk and urging increased preparedness, fuels mitigation and community planning.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277059,"Committee hears bill to tighten residency rules for resident hunting, fishing and trapping licenses",471,4426000,4897000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6&start=4426&end=4897","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6/thumbnail_4426000.jpg","/articles/6277059/Alaska/Committee-hears-bill-to-tighten-residency-rules-for-resident-hunting-fishing-and-trapping-licenses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277059-f2abe35e73cd067776725419efa69c13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184329&Signature=QSEYe-IW9wdw4ogRYrjNyK2vajFjmeI0eVhwWvNjpJlNXSLflSR6InN45Wb2JmVSJhvtyBgnJQZrrEiZFh9LO2BU6l4TU7ZAieKV5g5Ie7F~A5orC4juOaS3LOz1w7cdY-cakxKZHHvzcFum5SDsWGsKyEuut9IZM61q8afhHP9C3RpVQAVFt0KjatvN9MUn14SAt4K1lwXaeumIgenaKmJp0kZiSqHywxzRq70fjLxkez1-ArineAa16d5GVD3tIF4bUctMTJx8i0kHbJ4fN9Z-Q8Ns11WQoBcSMEffxCvqJrBQmeg8Os7Dd5ed-T3~vUbVQ3y12yMLyuYeDh7W2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 93, presented March 14, 2025 in the Alaska House Resources Committee, would revise residency requirements for resident hunting, trapping and sport-fishing licenses so that applicants must be physically present in Alaska for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the licensing date, with allowable absences mirroring many categories used for the Permanent Fund dividend.

Representative Rebecca Hemshutt introduced the bill and her staff, Thatcher Brower, provided a sectional analysis. The bill's central change would require that an applicant be physically present in the state for 12 months before applying for a resident license; allowable absences (medical, education, military and similar categories) would be expressly listed. The bill sets a delayed effective date of Jan. 1, 2027, to give residents time to adjust. Representative Hemshutt said the bill is intended to prioritize access to fish and game for year-round residents and to simplify field enforcement for wildlife troopers.

Supporters who testified in invited testimony included Jill White, government affairs liaison for the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and Kurt Whitehead, owner of Treasure Hunter Lodge and an advisory committee representative from Prince of Wales. Jill White told the committee the measure would \"protect local resources for folks who live here year round\" and help preserve subsistence traditions that offset higher food costs in rural communities. Kurt Whitehead described local enforcement and social concerns on Prince of Wales Island, saying seasonal residents sometimes use mailbox services or shared addresses and that enforcement currently results in a \"paper chase\" for troopers.

Committee members asked for clarifications about how the bill would interact with the Permanent Fund dividend and with permanent identification (PID) licenses for residents 60 and older. Representative Hemshutt and staff said the proposed residency standard would not be identical to the dividend test (which uses calendar-year presence), but it was designed to be consistent in allowable absences so that many residents could demonstrate eligibility via dividend documentation (for example, a MyAlaska statement or 1099 form). Regarding permanent identification cards for residents 60 and older, staff said the license remains permanent in form but the holder would need to meet the residency standard to qualify; the transcript indicates staff suggested Department of Fish and Game review to clarify whether a PID could be revoked if the holder no longer met the new statutory residency standard.

Representative Colom asked whether the problem being addressed was enforcement challenges for wildlife troopers or a revenue motive; proponents said the priority was protecting local subsistence and reducing enforcement complexity. Representative Rauscher raised concerns about whether permanent licenses could be jeopardized; staff and the sponsor responded that permanent ID holders would still hold a permanent license but must meet residency qualifications and that the committee could consider amendments. The committee took no final vote on HB 93 in this session and set the bill aside for further consideration and invited additional public testimony at a later hearing.

The bill includes a delegated regulation step: section 4 would direct the commissioner of fish and game to adopt regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act to determine eligibility details. The sponsor emphasized that the change is intended to protect year-round residents' access to fish and game and to make compliance and enforcement clearer for officers in the field.

No roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript for HB 93 during this hearing; invited testimony and stakeholder letters were logged and the sponsor said she is collecting additional letters of support.","House Bill 93 would align resident hunting, trapping and sport-fishing eligibility with a physical-presence standard similar to the Permanent Fund dividend; supporters said it would protect subsistence and reduce enforcement burdens, while questions remained about permanent ID cards and implementation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277064,"Committee approves bill to name Vic Fisher Shute Bay State Marine Park",350,4046000,4396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6&start=4046&end=4396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6/thumbnail_4046000.jpg","/articles/6277064/Alaska/Committee-approves-bill-to-name-Vic-Fisher-Shute-Bay-State-Marine-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277064-f2ef1543c4551b13250719a1e3dbd30c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184329&Signature=d3WOwigxhcdGO4c-Z9bPbG-fE84t6tN~3Ik7oK-1QA6TlfafiiCr34JpnFwk6C52OFJL7Y5E3LQlQvx6gfGBwR9mMmp6S6WropNVu4v~mIUZW10xUIpsENdr1o7D9s1G97cyF0Fb1iJrmtlXNktcumOsJFAW4EocCtLiYJyYOq6kPBtG2oaKo91RvwGvVUv-sag6act3CByyrXGmTUjBg2RuGrhXEEESO8M1fylBLet4c8wmPZWXmYlwPX~0YY2B7k6BNA2SkejPDNw77Umyunsw26V-1FImPOMfrQK4MVcjbU17fiJHWdYmBXf1G34~cY-ujdSFJhainizbIRfn1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 79, an Act to name a portion of state marine waters and facilities the Vic Fisher Shute Bay State Marine Park, passed from the House Resources Committee during the committee's March 14, 2025 meeting. Representative Zach Fields presented the bill and the committee adopted a committee substitute and reported the bill from committee.

Representative Zach Fields introduced the bill in its second hearing in House Resources and responded briefly to committee questions. No extended debate or public testimony was recorded during the hearing on HB 79. The committee substitute for HB 79 passed from committee by voice vote; the transcript records no roll-call tally or recorded objections.

The committee set the bill aside only briefly to sign the committee report immediately after adoption and moved on to other agenda items.

Because the bill before the committee is a naming measure, it does not create a new regulatory framework or appropriate funds; the committee report will advance the bill to the next stage in the House process.","The House Resources Committee approved a committee substitute for House Bill 79 to name a state marine park for Vic Fisher; the measure passed from committee with no recorded opposition during the March 14 hearing.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277069,"House Resources Committee adopts resolution affirming Alaska'9s relationship with Canada",1969,3936000,5905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6&start=3936&end=5905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657804-08e2c28c4fed95d5ceafdd98d53258d6/thumbnail_3936000.jpg","/articles/6277069/Alaska/House-Resources-Committee-adopts-resolution-affirming-Alaska9s-relationship-with-Canada","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277069-22e0cdff5ddc118dc5ff2df2d8ba223a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184329&Signature=CJDRtOHcE3bBJklkRboOBOiVZ-pv7A7yio0kDUbKClHnXMW3a4IBWsQog5QE0JBf~vV0yZyPd0s0cD8RSuIoJnA3i6F6RNEwUSiFXDfHgpE1-Y1g7uC4q~DwmG0DB6IC6DBcoD-t2v~VfIzJaKv0wK5GH7LTlCs9Tk0BTkHOMEa2BKv-2mtKEzbcyTQmRnCV4gcuWFqBRXCx7HdWaAo2Oo4UzH3671WX6e21ndfqSUqXBP0Dg1EAQmk-3l3BdSBnHMb-EG4M5nV6OpGWAgV~2DwyiNWfQqJO8r0YOq9qd7eJ32vk7f7HU1T~GvymfFWXeVqHJu1ycMdvuwI81-daIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Joint Resolution 11, a nonbinding measure recognizing the historic, cultural and economic ties between Alaska and Canada, was adopted by the Alaska House Resources Committee on March 14, 2025. The committee adopted a committee substitute (work order 34-LS0532\\h) and approved the resolution to advance it from committee.

The resolution affirms Alaska's long-standing ties with Canada, highlights shared Indigenous history and cross-border trade, and urges opposition to restrictive trade measures that would harm the integrated economies of Alaska and Canada. Representative Chuck Kopp, sponsor of the resolution, framed the measure as an \"unqualified affirmation of the strong bonds of friendship, shared history, mutual defense, and support\" with Canada and said, \"Imagine Alaska without Canada.\" Julia O'Connor, staff to Representative Kopp, told the committee the substitute added language emphasizing Canada's sovereignty and updated cross-border Indigenous recognition and references for clarity.

The committee heard extended public testimony from Alaskans and Canadian officials. Orion Hansen, a member of the Skagway Assembly and a second-generation home builder, described Skagway's dependence on Canadian supply routes and tourism, saying a 25% tariff on Canadian goods \"will harm the people of Alaska, and will have an acute negative impact on the town of Skagway and our port to Canada.\" Premier Ranj Pillai of Yukon (recorded in testimony as joining from Whitehorse) described shared infrastructure, emergency response and cultural ties, and urged lawmakers to send \"a strong message to Washington by passing the joint resolution and standing up for the Alaskan jobs, Alaskan workers, and Alaskan businesses that depend on trade with Canada.\" Other witnesses included mayors of Dawson City and Whitehorse, the president of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee and Alaska's honorary consul for Canada, all endorsing the resolution.

Committee members asked about specific trade measures referenced in testimony, including tariffs and impacts on lumber, oil and seafood processing. Representative Kopp and multiple witnesses warned that tariffs under consideration at the federal level could raise costs for fuel, construction and food in Alaska and disrupt integrated North American supply chains. In response to questions about border security and illicit drugs, Kopp cited U.S. Border Patrol data and said \"less than 1% of all fentanyl comes across the Canadian border,\" and that illegal crossings on the northern border are \"minuscule compared to the southern border.\" Representative Colom expressed personal disagreement with some actions of Canadian leadership but supported distinguishing the government from the people and communities who share economic ties with Alaska.

After public testimony and discussion the committee adopted the committee substitute and subsequently moved the substitute from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note.

The resolution is nonbinding and expresses the legislature's support for maintaining strong Alaska'Canada relations; it does not create new statutory obligations or change state law. Committee action sends the measure forward for further consideration by the full House.

Votes at a glance: The committee adopted the committee substitute and passed HJR 11 from committee. The transcript records the motions to adopt the substitute and to report the substitute from committee; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.","The Alaska House Resources Committee adopted a committee substitute for House Joint Resolution 11 recognizing historic, economic and security ties between Alaska and Canada after testimony from Alaska and Canadian officials and residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DNR warns of early, active 2025 wildfire season; outlines preparedness and prevention steps

Committee hears bill to tighten residency rules for resident hunting, fishing and trapping licenses

Committee approves bill to name Vic Fisher Shute Bay State Marine Park

House Resources Committee adopts resolution affirming Alaska'9s relationship with Canada