[{"_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",6081475,"mediaKeyId","2942360-1f4d3db5d0d042e41a67baaf5a7be9a9","parentId",2942360,"title","Bill to shift and temporarily increase municipal shares of fish-business tax prompts questions about use, reporting","audioSeconds",824,"startMs",1580000,"endMs",2404000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942360-1f4d3db5d0d042e41a67baaf5a7be9a9&start=1580&end=2404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942360-1f4d3db5d0d042e41a67baaf5a7be9a9/thumbnail_1580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081475/Alaska/Bill-to-shift-and-temporarily-increase-municipal-shares-of-fish-business-tax-prompts-questions-about-use-reporting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081475-4846dc34fdee4c2c8f5984b450df6c5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178113&Signature=Q0XOMK8wCQnh8S-c3SaEfqsUn8k1ask1KksUBml3Bu1Oe5Yq0W~0GuYEFMz3MV~0mYS4xW9YSPp4MxTiR9rlkYI9pEWJdk-irJjzSlNiSfieMzozzCvXnGGXIqFmPUhu554vqOqCDuhkG7g2cXtBEfGAP10uIKCubtySI4PpTqYIQvGKLPSvfSrNpFJ-MRaNZ0BHxJxZcoHnwfHJdjF~jQXLZvsFI5ZxW1cV8Sux9WOYAzaHepSgcG5znDjQYOI7jbrPTXVN5VlnaLJ~-Mpk9nsV2QRzZDOiBj0JTHT-TY8hJx8cqpfUlDydQ2pdiPZ6S~nffibLqR5hPiUJxwjXpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-04-09T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 135, presented April 9 as follow-up legislation from the legislative seafood task force, would change how fisheries business tax and landing tax revenues are split between the state and municipalities and would include a sunset on that allocation.

Tim Lampkin, staff to Sen. Stevens and the seafood task force, told the committee the bill’s aim is to “encourage municipalities to improve their infrastructure, harbors, docks and harbors” and cited community-owned refrigeration and other infrastructure as typical priorities. He also said the proposal would not change the taxes themselves but would adjust how they are allocated.

Committee members pressed whether the state could require municipalities to spend any additional share on fisheries-related infrastructure rather than on general local needs such as parks. Lampkin and other staff said the bill contains “intent language” and that intent language carries no enforcement mechanism; there was discussion that stronger legal limits could be drafted but that would require statutory changes. Chair Giesel and multiple senators indicated the sponsor and task-force staff were open to drafting amendments to address those concerns.

Municipalities’ representatives and staff raised two recurring concerns. First, the Alaska Municipal League (testimony from a prior hearing) argued some recipient communities lack harbors or other direct infrastructure needs and therefore need flexibility in spending. Second, AML and other participants warned that reporting requirements can be disproportionately burdensome for communities receiving very small shares; committee members discussed carving out de minimis reporting exemptions or thresholds for reporting.

Officials from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) and the Department of Revenue’s tax division explained how revenue shares are calculated. Chris Becker of the Revenue Tax Division said the allocation is based on the location of processing or unprocessed export: if a resource is transported to a nonport (inland) community and processed there, that community can receive the shared tax. DCCED staff said they would follow up with the committee about specific examples of nonport communities that receive shared fisheries tax revenue.

Chair Giesel set SB 135 aside to allow for amendments and reminded committee members of the Friday 8 a.m. amendment deadline.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/09/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 135 would change how fisheries business and landing tax revenues are shared between the state and municipalities and include a sunset; the bill drew questions about legal limits on local spending and about reporting burdens for small communities.","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},6081480,"Senate panel hears support for expanding fisheries product-development tax credit to all species",1354,273000,1627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942360-1f4d3db5d0d042e41a67baaf5a7be9a9&start=273&end=1627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942360-1f4d3db5d0d042e41a67baaf5a7be9a9/thumbnail_273000.jpg","/articles/6081480/Alaska/Senate-panel-hears-support-for-expanding-fisheries-product-development-tax-credit-to-all-species","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081480-8f86be2244e968dac52cf96422a5b058/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178113&Signature=jzX50gSZjskld-oVbaFYnGLWLJLlnBS4U05jRVmb5AwNnVlajOEzPAMLWrdWx~38kyVw41z5veJnROThvFiKkIYhKeXXUG6~SyB3L6lQaOwFB3qi7grgjOIsLVRHLi9pzml0sxxrOWGHAg81P~EbhmvGsYjvNv8pROeZOKKGEu7UaAbtxQG1Um6gryNn6INkzIqbtHltu1O8MOJTeoVA3eaoXdnCJthAav5SHlSp7pVolAHwbXu8NdkX2vfzgZQndidhEtUXDd-fH1hswxLLYASwxxLXjb4Atm~VfEe0Kdx9BscapTV8UccnxGUlYIuylAOf5ygIC1AsNr2akRt22w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Resources Committee Chair Senator Giesel opened the committee’s April 9 hearing on Senate Bill 130, which would expand Alaska’s fisheries product-development tax credit beyond the specific species named in statute to include all commercially harvested fish and shellfish and clarify what investments qualify.

The bill, presented briefly by Tim Lampkin, staff to Sen. Stevens and the joint legislative task force on Alaska’s seafood industry, would “extend some tax credit considerations for not just the few named species that are in statute currently but to all fish species,” Lampkin said. He also told the committee the bill updates qualifiers for innovation investments so processors can claim credits for eligible modernization steps.

Industry witnesses representing processors and processors’ trade groups told the committee the change could help Alaska retain higher-value processing in state. “This bill ensures that processors can continue investing in value-added production, new technologies and product diversification,” Toni Marsh of EC Phillips and Son said during public testimony, describing her company’s nearly 100-year history in Ketchikan and its reliance on quality and innovation. Trident Seafoods’ Shannon Carroll and other processors testified similarly, emphasizing rising costs and global competition and urging incentives for equipment that increases product quality.

State tax officials clarified eligibility and nexus rules. Brandon Spanos, deputy director of the Alaska Department of Revenue Tax Division, told the committee the processing equipment must be located in Alaska for an investment to qualify. Chris Becker, lead auditor with the tax division, added that floating or at-sea processors can be eligible for the credit “but it's based on the amount of processing done in state waters.” The committee also heard that the phrase “use predominantly” in the bill was intended to mean 51% or more of use.

Committee members asked technical questions about what types of equipment and investments would qualify; Lampkin and industry witnesses identified icing and automation equipment and other capital investments that support value-added processing as typical examples. Witnesses and staff also discussed that the credit historically offsets fisheries business tax liability and that some participants expect the credit would encourage more onshore or in-state value enhancement.

The committee set SB 130 aside to allow time for amendments. Chair Giesel reminded members of an amendment deadline Friday at 8 a.m.","The Senate Resources Committee heard testimony supporting Senate Bill 130, which would broaden an existing fisheries product-development tax credit to apply to all commercially harvested fish and shellfish and clarify qualifying investments; the committee set the bill aside and set an amendment deadline for Friday at 8 a.m.",{"_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},6081470,"Bill would let ASMI market shellfish and kelp; lawmakers seek clarity on terms and board structure",464,2321000,2785000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942360-1f4d3db5d0d042e41a67baaf5a7be9a9&start=2321&end=2785","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942360-1f4d3db5d0d042e41a67baaf5a7be9a9/thumbnail_2321000.jpg","/articles/6081470/Alaska/Bill-would-let-ASMI-market-shellfish-and-kelp-lawmakers-seek-clarity-on-terms-and-board-structure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081470-8efbd73e86edd30ee772a2c1ec45c2f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178113&Signature=o7vacpPNSZOdxNIsVlKOUpYuUgpM6KyK3OnIgSRHeGYBHHITMgsdBCTnsdpmmyFCkYEKD8MV8mt13KW-aGNbtG12DJQe4bQGJx9jEsR2rC2Sy6NaWD5w08CwhqV953C21bjG0lPHPLdvcjsAHB5B32Q1jDnLD1sKs6QXJREainZxkHLHUFoNOF5aJZRB18d-b9hiGw8XJd0WnDS0pOPY0nGpEdyVNdEkSMQXRY8Hvj4JzDS1fkPmn4kxsxKSkGA~QHsoCOsVEIPuIH0y-1vzVLZFeNNpL3P8AtLhOKtfRzThRy8up85wT2DMJrflrHeN6UIWZPb4CMGSRyoblNqr4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 131, introduced at the request of the governor, would amend the duties of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and the legal definition of seafood to allow ASMI to market aquatic farm products, including shellfish and farmed kelp.

Anna Latham, deputy commissioner at the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, said Alaska has geographic and historical strengths for mariculture and that the bill aligns with the administration’s food-security initiatives. \"Expanding ASMI's scope to include the marketing of shellfish could incentivize growth in this emergent sector,\" Latham told the committee.

Jeremy Woodrow, ASMI’s executive director, described the change as narrow and focused on existing mariculture products, not finfish farming. \"SB 131 as written does not have any direct ties to SB 108, which is the finfish farming bill,\" Woodrow said, stressing ASMI’s intent to support oysters and farmed kelp and to pursue grant funding for marketing. Woodrow also noted ASMI’s board unanimously supported the change at its February 21 meeting.

Senators sought greater precision in statutory language and clarity on board composition. Senator Dunbar and others asked whether the bill’s phrase “aquatic farm” (an existing statutory term defined in Alaska Statute 16.41.099) should be replaced with or clarified by the term “mariculture,” which is more commonly used in industry discussions. Staff cautioned that “aquatic farm” is the term already defined in statute and changing it could require downstream edits elsewhere in law.

Senator Kawasaki raised caution that if the legislature’s intent is to keep any potential finfish farming outside ASMI’s remit, the committee should watch statutory definitions carefully as other bills move through the legislature. Woodrow said ASMI would use advisory committees and include mariculture experts to align marketing efforts with industry needs. The committee left public testimony open and set no immediate amendment deadline for SB 131.","Senate Bill 131 would expand the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s mandate to allow marketing of aquatic farm products such as oysters and farmed kelp; senators asked whether the bill’s language could inadvertently include finfish farms and discussed ensuring mariculture expertise is represented to advise ASMI.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill to shift and temporarily increase municipal shares of fish-business tax prompts questions about use, reporting

Senate panel hears support for expanding fisheries product-development tax credit to all species

Bill would let ASMI market shellfish and kelp; lawmakers seek clarity on terms and board structure