[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6106006,"mediaKeyId","2784797-1808a4dc67bed95a8d7f4b7db64e201e","parentId",2784797,"title","Committee advances HB93 to tighten residency rules for hunting and fishing permits after amendment to expand PFD exemptions fails","audioSeconds",2779,"startMs",4211000,"endMs",6990000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784797-1808a4dc67bed95a8d7f4b7db64e201e&start=4211&end=6990","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784797-1808a4dc67bed95a8d7f4b7db64e201e/thumbnail_4211000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106006/Alaska/Committee-advances-HB93-to-tighten-residency-rules-for-hunting-and-fishing-permits-after-amendment-to-expand-PFD-exemptions-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106006-d2e69f9418a49a3cc26393903ba0147e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118113&Signature=U7d6uvMSL-vA0Dy7lVWghzolXTLwORireuYJeUTG3ZX4Ca5UBEz1dQLf5FUOCD6louuRPeLepzYdm9-wAZWwbMRZ6NFB~DTFrsCkLTY4GBy2P~06pviwsLjEyfdtIioDxwdqO9rvFB4Lr~7fqvCieaF5DiU8Ot7HWDenHM0qwhU0kFcWEopRqLoC0GO6G41UZ9zBA-Sgm0Oolzh5cOso~HhRDnjBjvfbLwULVWHQGLt5QmcZ810oiXFgg9j7unLSrx-8sPP9ZoqZuKjGYAfBlM80XbBc46JGdUc3xYSDJTMPCGPiU-8zYBARHIJ~zt5ZuO2XOL8tEsA1jiNyu59LBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The House Resources Committee on March 26, 2025 held the second hearing on House Bill 93, proposed legislation to change residency definitions and verification for hunting, fishing and trapping permits. The committee heard invited and public testimony, considered one amendment and then moved the bill out of committee with individual recommendations and an attached zero fiscal note.

Public testimony included David Eggleston of Thorne Bay, who urged passage to close a perceived loophole he said allows out-of-state visitors to claim residency and access resident bag limits and subsistence privileges. \"I strongly support HB 93. It will help tighten up the loopholes that are allowing hundreds, probably thousands of people from improperly claiming residency in Alaska,\" Eggleston said.

Nicholas Orr, who serves on the Juneau Douglas Advisory Committee, opposed using the state residency change to address problems he said some Prince of Wales Island residents are pursuing through federal subsistence processes. \"The point I'm trying to make is Prince of Wales residents are using the federal system to keep out non federally qualified hunters,\" Orr said, and he urged caution about state action that mirrors federal restrictions.

Jen Leahy of Anchorage said she supports HB 93 because she and her household rely on fish and wildlife resources and she wants resident allocation to be reserved for Alaskans who meet Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) eligibility. \"I think this legislation addresses those challenges while creating no additional barriers to participation for non residents,\" Leahy said.

Representative Rauscher offered Amendment 1 to add an additional exemption to the PFD-based absence rules, intended to allow people who accompany or provide care for a family member needing assistance to keep residency status even if they exceed the existing allowable absence periods. Rauscher said the amendment responds to constituents who could not qualify under existing PFD exception language. Representative Rauscher moved the amendment; Representative Rauscher declared a conflict of interest while speaking to it.

Committee members debated the amendment's language and vagueness. Representative Sadler and others asked whether terms such as \"ill\" or \"accompanying\" would need clearer statutory definitions. Co-chair Representative Burke noted that PFD statute is in Title 43 and that a statutory fix to PFD rules might be a separate route. The amendment failed on a roll call, with 4 yays and 5 nays.

Witnesses and the committee discussed enforcement. Colonel Brian Barlow, director of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, explained that licenses are issued by the Department of Fish and Game on the basis of applicant information and that troopers perform field contacts and follow-up investigations when there is cause to suspect misstatement of residency. \"It is assumed the information that's received is accurate and the license is issued based on that information,\" Barlow said, but residency investigations can be \"highly, time intensive.\"

After further committee discussion, Co-chair Representative Divert moved to report HB 93 from committee with individual recommendations and an attached zero fiscal note. Representative Colom initially objected to the motion to ask clarifying questions, then withdrew the objection; with no further objections, the committee reported HB 93 out of committee.

Ending: House Bill 93 will advance to the next stage with committee recommendations; the failed amendment leaves the PFD-related absence rules unchanged pending possible separate statutory action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/26/2025 01:00 PM House RESOURCES","oneSentenceSummary","The House Resources Committee on March 26, 2025 held the second hearing on House Bill 93, proposed legislation to change residency definitions and verification for hunting, fishing and trapping permits.","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},6106010,"House committee hears bill to create Alaska Department of Agriculture; mariculture placement, budget and authority debated",3767,443000,4210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784797-1808a4dc67bed95a8d7f4b7db64e201e&start=443&end=4210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784797-1808a4dc67bed95a8d7f4b7db64e201e/thumbnail_443000.jpg","/articles/6106010/Alaska/House-committee-hears-bill-to-create-Alaska-Department-of-Agriculture-mariculture-placement-budget-and-authority-debated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106010-20bee1a4d56842323e93ace0685ca62d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118113&Signature=KU1GB1LBNwr6RwyIinuSeggXlyxadAkXAvYnRTmUU34WFqkcUUD1bES54sEmLv2kidk9MC3qpcZtvFEulrqvxELuYB8nzASeSot~PXMfaF3ishq0D1wtp-f2mU8g9DNts3nvhijBwr5Hw58gOgQ6auZsyuFsLIEQVhS5Zm1Fu09W1uQ9rV~EvI03Ri1yffmBT-A38IZaWLuUUTUhTASJ62KhduRzskxqbM2YgBKdK6pLzjN9ok9Nwvak5-LSWk8BIxlJDjl0uIOC08Vv4K9CdRKffEVkeJWlot~6igBGffrZqT9K9FTEv41H7d67oPAuy4uMzz5sK6HWVgAHFNjeaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Resources Committee on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 heard House Bill 140, introduced by Representative Zach Fields, to establish a Department of Agriculture and move agriculture-related functions out of the Department of Natural Resources. Representative Fields presented the bill and introduced Amy Ticek, policy director for the Alaska Farm Bureau, and Jason Lessard, executive director of the Alaska Mariculture Alliance, who offered testimony and answered questions.

The bill would create a commissioner-led agency focused on cultivation industries, transfer existing division staff and programs and open a legislative process to decide which programs would move and how they would be funded. \"I am supportive of creating a Department of Agriculture and funding it sufficient to provide robust support for agriculture, including both on land and mariculture,\" Representative Fields said.

Amy Ticek told the committee the Farm Bureau supports a department that centers \"cultivation industries\" and urged care in how fisheries and mariculture are folded into any new structure. She said the Department of Agriculture white paper from the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force provides a framework and called for expanded market development, grants, loans, technical assistance and stronger university research. \"If we don't have all the answers right now, I don't think it should hold up forming this new department,\" Ticek said.

Jason Lessard of the Alaska Mariculture Alliance described mariculture in Alaska as production and enhancement of marine shellfish and aquatic plants and said finfish farming remains prohibited under state law. He outlined industry benefits including local economic diversification, potential contributions to food security and environmental benefits from shellfish and seaweed. Lessard said mariculture currently interacts with multiple state agencies and federal authorities and that the industry is still organizing rules and regulatory fit.

Rena Miller, special assistant to the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, told the committee the bill redirects communication so that the DNR would liaise department-to-department with a commissioner of agriculture rather than primarily with the Board of Agriculture. Miller said the intent of those provisions is to streamline consultation, not to eliminate the board. On funding, Miller described three fiscal notes tied to moving the current Division of Agriculture and the Plant Materials Center into a new department and a third, indeterminate fiscal note to receive and staff the new agency.

Committee members pressed several topics: whether mariculture should move under a Department of Agriculture or remain with the Department of Fish and Game; how the department would be funded and phased in; and whether duties currently held by the Board of Agriculture would shift to a commissioner. Representative Fields said the bill is intended as a vehicle for legislative input and amendment, and that members could use it to craft structure and funding levels. Several members suggested a phased approach to staffing and spending.

No formal vote was taken on House Bill 140 at the hearing; committee chairs set the bill aside to continue work and outreach. Representative Fields and witnesses recommended review of the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force white paper and other background materials as the committee considers structure and fiscal questions.

Ending: The committee took the bill under advisement and set it aside for further drafting, fiscal analysis and stakeholder input. The committee then recessed to continue the agenda with the next item, House Bill 93.","The House Resources Committee on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 heard House Bill 140, introduced by Representative Zach Fields, to establish a Department of Agriculture and move agriculture-related functions out of the Department of Natural Resources.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee advances HB93 to tighten residency rules for hunting and fishing permits after amendment to expand PFD exemptions fails

House committee hears bill to create Alaska Department of Agriculture; mariculture placement, budget and authority debated