[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6101285,"mediaKeyId","2809539-c58cc7eebed1f00746cbd76bbe8b05d5","parentId",2809539,"title","Committee hears SB 116 to reinstate contribution limits; sponsors propose $2,000 per-election cap and inflation adjustments","audioSeconds",1508,"startMs",3111000,"endMs",4619000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809539-c58cc7eebed1f00746cbd76bbe8b05d5&start=3111&end=4619","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809539-c58cc7eebed1f00746cbd76bbe8b05d5/thumbnail_3111000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6101285/Alaska/Committee-hears-SB-116-to-reinstate-contribution-limits-sponsors-propose-2000-per-election-cap-and-inflation-adjustments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101285-fe32cf99952babcc14f50b36f2c95775/orig.mp4?Expires=1770852673&Signature=kC90qvxHu7rqLgMUjdNIkw4VBxt~f1XogNbsHjBXyh8EXAv3zJrDr4oK3vtDmM5Ixe283l83pz3a4tuRLJCHkDuoeEfy324GIEuNY0y410SS8IK2TG-Uys33vdy1k3bDWEA8JTprGy4byKZPyQot6D0u9bw2ku1K3Ypxq1lqgiW4Gx3MQIBlcCoeQ5rVqqdg-wFdbRbEJgKMyqqVgTGJEsR5o6aB9iDUi2Rut0dZZc-ieAyyOktF-WyWOQSa1ZJB-Ttecp-8ln2M466bhmEtonfnToqhTiQou2z1BbGDqsft4zPaF2oL2wQldc52raYVBhGBbUv0H3PcGYWG-6FkoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","Juneau — Senate Bill 116, presented Thursday to the Senate State Affairs Committee, would amend campaign contribution limits for state and local office, setting a $2,000 individual-per-election-cycle cap and a $4,000 group-per-election-cycle cap and directing the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) to adjust limits for inflation once each decade beginning in 2031.

Joe Hayes, staff to Chair Kawasaki, presented the bill overview and said the measure aims to restore fair, reasonable and constitutionally defensible contribution limits after federal court decisions have altered Alaska’s prior statutory limits. Hayes told the committee the bill moves limits to a per-election-cycle basis and increases the individual-to-candidate limit from $500 (yearly under prior statute) to $2,000 per election cycle and the group-to-candidate limit from $1,000 to $4,000 per cycle; it also directs APOC to adjust limits for inflation.

Proponents told the committee SB 116 mirrors a certified 2024 ballot initiative and supporters urged the legislature to enact the measure before it appears on a 2026 ballot.

Pat Race, a volunteer on the ballot initiative, summarized the legal history and cited U.S. Supreme Court precedent that allows contribution limits (Buckley v. Valeo) while recognizing that limits set too low can impede challengers (as discussed in other federal cases). He said the proposed limits are intended to balance enabling challengers to run viable campaigns while preventing large, direct contributions to candidates from undermining public confidence.

\"We're trying to fix that…there's this porridge problem — not too hot, not too cold, just right,\" Pat Race said, describing the history of contribution limits in Alaska and court scrutiny.

Several public witnesses and activists spoke in favor, arguing the limits are popular with Alaskan voters and would reduce the time candidates spend fundraising. Sharman Haley, retired economist and activist with Alaska Move to Amend, told the committee the initiative was vetted to be legally defensible and urged legislative passage to avoid a ballot campaign. Carolyn Storm, who helped gather signatures for the initiative, said lower fundraising needs would allow candidates to spend more time with constituents and less on solicitation.

Committee members asked procedural and legal questions. Senator Yount asked whether APOC had issued a formal legal opinion; Hayes said legislative legal will provide analysis before subsequent hearings and that APOC staff will be invited. Committee members also discussed limitations on independent expenditures (not covered by this bill because of U.S. Supreme Court precedent such as Citizens United) and the practical effects of limiting contributions to candidates while independent groups may still spend without a cap.

The committee took public testimony and set SB 116 aside for a future hearing that will include APOC and legislative legal staff; no committee vote to advance the measure was recorded in this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/27/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS","oneSentenceSummary","SB 116 would raise Alaska campaign contribution limits to $2,000 per individual per election cycle and $4,000 per group per cycle, and direct the Alaska Public Offices Commission to adjust limits for inflation; the Senate State Affairs Committee heard proponents and set the bill aside for further legal review.","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},6101289,"Senate committee hears SB 77 to modify PFD eligibility rules; bill sets fingerprinting for division staff and makes applicant names confidential",1069,1977000,3046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809539-c58cc7eebed1f00746cbd76bbe8b05d5&start=1977&end=3046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809539-c58cc7eebed1f00746cbd76bbe8b05d5/thumbnail_1977000.jpg","/articles/6101289/Alaska/Senate-committee-hears-SB-77-to-modify-PFD-eligibility-rules-bill-sets-fingerprinting-for-division-staff-and-makes-applicant-names-confidential","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101289-5c7f109e70a351b0e6bc0417a853d137/orig.mp4?Expires=1770852673&Signature=hE60ifeeYjozx4FOMdL6freYBKNKrIns2LiRpek5ltk4uGEQw2Rvylspu~1GbH5KtoDpQ61upuFAmu2iWwextInEntVC~1rqMiR40YCoLlxwPPfdgVVmA6F9ntKWnaHBjA2yHHM9WNhKOgDC9Ewq9Bj2g9mg8RHxvnexlL9yTEPAAbqT7W3eFyK24JIo6HrF10TAnryYE5QF5WFaGVMR4dQP-G38RiRIayChIzXCd6HvREydvVCeUDuTVIVxghGhE6~0Lx5cmI5Is5wiOMTqDctzyVwPKQD5HF4BWwhtNpKN-j~69~13gioxKLQQ0CsUvrlnk2EFRjNviXfaRdWuMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Juneau — Senate Bill 77, presented Thursday to the Senate State Affairs Committee, would make a series of changes to Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) administration, including expanding allowable absences for eligibility, permitting fingerprinting of PFD division staff applicants and employees, making lists of PFD applicants confidential, and allowing electronic notification of levy notices with opt-in consent.

Sponsor Senator Peter Kiel told the committee SB 77 is a \"cleanup bill\" for the Permanent Fund Dividend Division and not a change to the PFD formula. The bill keeps the baseline allowable out-of-state absence at 180 days during a qualifying year but clarifies and expands categories for additional allowable absences, including merchant marine training and school breaks during the academic year (but not summer vacation). It also simplifies complex rules for medical treatment outside the state so late-year medical emergencies do not retroactively disqualify applicants who otherwise met requirements earlier in the year.

\"The primary qualification to get a Permanent Fund Dividend is to be a resident in the state of Alaska with the intent to remain,\" Senator Kiel said. He described fixes including allowing merchant marine trainees and students on school breaks to count those absences toward eligibility and simplifying medical-treatment rules that have produced confusing retroactive results.

Kathy Schlingheide, staff to Senator Kiel, summarized the bill sections for the committee, noting sections that require fingerprinting of PFD division staff and applicants, expand allowable absences for college breaks and merchant marine training, make PFD applicant names confidential, and set an effective date.

Director-level and public testimony supported the changes. Beverly Woolley, a retired public-health official from Big Lake and cancer survivor, told the committee that treating medical emergencies that require out-of-state treatment more flexibly would avoid forcing ill Alaskans to delay necessary care or lose their dividend. \"Medical emergencies are not planned…Alaskans who have already used their allowable 180 days out of state shouldn't be penalized and face losing their Permanent Fund Dividend,\" Woolley said.

Katie Capozzi, president and CEO of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, testified in support on behalf of the chamber, noting the bill would clarify vocational training absences so Alaskans who attend merchant marine apprenticeship programs remain eligible for their PFD. She said denying benefits to trainees discouraged recruitment and local hiring goals in the maritime industry.

Senator Kiel and staff said fingerprinting is intended to allow the division to properly screen employees who will handle sensitive applicant information, including bank routing numbers and medical details. \"These folks get our bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit…it's important for Alaskans to feel safe and secure,\" Senator Kiel said.

The committee took public testimony and set SB 77 aside for further consideration; no committee vote to advance the bill was recorded in the transcript during this hearing.

Key details: the bill maintains the 180-day baseline for allowable absences, explicitly allows additional absence days for merchant marine training and for school breaks during the academic year, simplifies medical-treatment absence rules to avoid retroactive disqualification, authorizes fingerprinting for division job applicants and employees (not PFD applicants), makes applicant name lists confidential, and permits levy notices to be delivered electronically to those who opt in. The bill's staff summary states an effective date is included in section 6.","SB 77, a Permanent Fund Dividend cleanup bill, would adjust allowable absences (merchant marine training, school breaks, medical care), authorize fingerprinting of division staff, make PFD applicant names confidential, and allow electronic levy notices; the committee heard public support and set the bill aside for further consideration.",{"_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},6101293,"Senate committee adopts SB 64 committee substitute adding residency clarifications, roll-cleanup notices and ballot-tracking language",1578,379000,1957000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809539-c58cc7eebed1f00746cbd76bbe8b05d5&start=379&end=1957","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809539-c58cc7eebed1f00746cbd76bbe8b05d5/thumbnail_379000.jpg","/articles/6101293/Alaska/Senate-committee-adopts-SB-64-committee-substitute-adding-residency-clarifications-roll-cleanup-notices-and-ballot-tracking-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101293-b144105018d5684d0ab188ca20509b40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770852673&Signature=ltHJyIR~XblBtcseu2JrXKjNobteu83RV4NPKbw-vi-Sl4kkH1qRkZyn80HHUXSVcvOU6EKkmQiG5LRR2z~acBEU9R~Yx7qOU8G5QAYib~ApMu41yr5WLdoPUhwFPNDO4k-y4zCAR74pYwhGOgFcVfEXsaOpK39hey103D9wLMBkA5pIxrbT4HL56DzhGpb1L74QbL0mXSq2Is6ZAfTHtodAtWofe-zokuNBLPOs0vFnt3u0~v6YifFC9mlU2fCokzxkZtIfSSXqaz6IbiYo6T6I6lNiIekXD34Uxj5fqgjsJuLPLeF8Zr3qzmJTGEYgLjWIx5SrwwP3bf3xDn6l-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Juneau — The Senate State Affairs Committee on Thursday adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 64, an omnibus elections bill that clarifies residency rules, directs additional voter-roll cleanup notices for Alaskans recorded as living outside the state, and replaces existing ballot-tracking language with provisions the Division of Elections can implement.

The committee adopted the substitute version (work draft 34-LS0153\\o) without objection after staff described the new provisions and Division of Elections officials answered questions. The bill was then reported out of committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.

The committee substitute adds residency clarifications in section 1 and section 25 so that “voters will have their ballot counted for the races they are still eligible to vote in if they vote in a district which includes their former voting residence,” according to Maxine LaBerge, staff to Senator Willikowski. LaBerge summarized additional additions to the bill, including new voter-roll cleanup procedures that require notices to voters whose permanent mailing address in division records has been outside Alaska for at least two years, giving them the option to confirm residency, cancel registration, or move to federal-only status.

\"The following provisions were added to the bill…notices be sent to voters whose permanent mailing address in division records has been outside of Alaska for at least 2 years,\" Maxine LaBerge, staff to Senator Willikowski, said while reciting the draft’s summary of changes.

Committee members pressed Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher about the ballot-tracking language in the new section 38. \"The only one that could be tricky is checking the date of the ballot's delivery to the voter because all we would have is basically the USPS tracking,\" Beecher said, noting that the division could comply with the other requirements either through existing systems or a vendor.

Public commenters generally supported the bill’s ballot-tracking provision and raised cybersecurity concerns. Rob Welton, testifying from Douglas, said the cyber provisions in the draft (section 42 in an earlier version) should be broader and suggested election administration and security be managed by a nonpartisan official rather than an elected lieutenant governor. \"Having an elected official having a direct role in this cybersecurity will increase mistrust in the system,\" Welton said, and recommended that authority be given to the division director and expanded to include tabulation systems as well as voter registration records.

Committee legal drafting staff and committee counsel discussed the bill’s residency language at length. Sonia Kawasaki, Senate majority legal counsel, said the added provisions were intended to require an \"articulable and reasonable plan to return to the state\" for voters who temporarily leave Alaska, to make residency determinations less subjective and align with how the division currently treats ballots cast by persons who have moved from their originally registered location.

Senator Willikowski described the intent behind the changes as addressing bloated voter rolls caused by people who register in Alaska and later move elsewhere but remain on Alaska rolls without a concrete plan to return.

Action at a glance: Senator Bjorkman moved to adopt the committee substitute; after discussion and no objections, the committee removed objections and adopted the substitute (work draft 34-LS0153\\o). Senator Bjorkman subsequently moved that SB 64 be reported out of committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes; the motion passed with no objections and staff completed the paperwork.

The bill will next move to the Senate Finance Committee. Committee members noted similar measures are progressing in the House and that many elements in SB 64 have appeared in prior sessions.

The committee opened the record to public testimony and accepted written submissions to senatestateaffairs@akleg.gov. No formal roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript; committee actions were taken by voice and \"hearing no objections.\"","The Senate State Affairs Committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 64, the Elections Omnibus bill, after staff outlined changes clarifying residency rules, new voter-roll cleanup notices for Alaskans living outside the state, and revised ballot-tracking language the Division of Elections can implement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears SB 116 to reinstate contribution limits; sponsors propose $2,000 per-election cap and inflation adjustments

Senate committee hears SB 77 to modify PFD eligibility rules; bill sets fingerprinting for division staff and makes applicant names confidential

Senate committee adopts SB 64 committee substitute adding residency clarifications, roll-cleanup notices and ballot-tracking language