[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6603840,"mediaKeyId","2994843-afe5e263e698587fad74011ce7f9ff77","parentId",2994843,"title","Bill would provide one-time state-funded infusion to shore up Commercial Fisheries and Agriculture Bank; committee set aside for later","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2841000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994843-afe5e263e698587fad74011ce7f9ff77&start=2841&end=2841","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994843-afe5e263e698587fad74011ce7f9ff77/thumbnail_2841000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603840/Alaska/Bill-would-provide-one-time-state-funded-infusion-to-shore-up-Commercial-Fisheries-and-Agriculture-Bank-committee-set-aside-for-later","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603840-f7f43a59910a8761f4dd8337f3eb48ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450600&Signature=DyKEqH2itSjtNbCLno3lZhkLxQ1J7yPfLCn9QpEq7uPwAIxF0qpPj~g-U85VoIZ-2QGrOIlkGE2YN-Xd4Y~Y~4-G93ZfaONE22Zi61KVNPdSwCa70t-uVDCPOpEKBXhY8Fx7tVlkxDKYCRXUfb3BIfEcpPE9zU8QrDGbdo5hYy6qB9~NpwLWy~H9iRvhHLA4nb2XQrAJsgGtG2ZqKv~msVSRjM29xFb3xvEsCgS0XPDbiYOakl7vRDNf-jkOVysEzd6TuDTiPOs5z2WNxLeT8RMNAdE7NDTuNQl2HKe~l9eACuO0X0QRWjIW10E3C-mYxh-f5b5zhYx4v6e~v4xMBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Labor and Commerce on April 14 considered Senate Bill 156, a measure to provide a temporary, one-time financial infusion to the Commercial Fisheries and Agriculture Bank (CFAB) intended to keep the cooperative lender operating while the commercial fisheries revolving loan fund returns to its historic statutory rate formula.

Senator Jesse Kiel, sponsor of SB156 (carried at the request of the joint Fishforce task force), told the committee the bill would use remaining balances in a sunsetted revolving account (identified in testimony as the Capstone Avionics revolving loan fund) to purchase nonvoting shares in CFAB. The infusion would be tightly restricted: funds could be used only to make loans that in most respects match the commercial fisheries revolving loan fund (fixed terms, fixed interest rate) and only while the revolving loan fund’s temporary lower rate remains in effect (roughly a two-year window described by the sponsor). Any unused funds would be returned, and loans funded under the program would be repaid on a fixed schedule so the state would receive the funds back, the sponsor said.

\"CFAB is a member-owned cooperative that provides financing for commercial fishing, agriculture, tourism, and natural resource businesses in Alaska,\" Doug Bloomer, chairman of CFAB's board, said in invited testimony. He described a \"trifecta\" of pressures on CFAB: declining fish returns and quotas in some areas, a challenging marketplace and processor changes, and the state’s temporary low-rate program that encouraged many borrowers to refinance with the state program. Bloomer said CFAB has more than 700 members and is seeing reduced new-loan volume and membership attrition; he testified that the bank could see membership declines of \"20 to 25% annually\" if the current lending gap continues.

Sponsor Senator Kiel emphasized that SB156 does not propose an ongoing subsidy or tapping the commercial fisheries revolving loan fund itself; rather, the bill uses an existing sunsetted fund balance (testimony indicated about $3.7 million remained) to provide bridge financing so CFAB can continue lending on limited-entry permits and other fisheries collateral that other lenders cannot accept. Kiel said the infusion is intended to \"keep the doors open\" rather than fully replace the scale of lending available through the state program.

Committee members pressed for the size of the available fund balance and whether the infusion would be sufficient if the state’s low-rate program were extended; Senator Kiel and CFAB representatives said the $3.7 million balance would likely not cover every refinancing scenario and estimated that fully matching the state program in scale could require roughly $9 million. The sponsor and CFAB described the bill as a narrowly tailored, time-limited measure to preserve CFAB's role in Alaska's fishing finance sector.

No final vote occurred on SB156; the committee set the bill aside for further consideration and will revisit the proposal as part of the Legislature's ongoing work on fisheries measures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/14/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 156 would authorize a one-time infusion (purchase of nonvoting shares) from a sunsetted revolving fund to provide temporary low-rate financing at the Commercial Fisheries and Agriculture Bank (CFAB); committee heard sponsor and CFAB testimony and set the bill aside for future consideration.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603845,"Committee reports telehealth pay-parity substitute for further consideration; supporters cite rural access",604,2401000,3005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994843-afe5e263e698587fad74011ce7f9ff77&start=2401&end=3005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994843-afe5e263e698587fad74011ce7f9ff77/thumbnail_2401000.jpg","/articles/6603845/Alaska/Committee-reports-telehealth-pay-parity-substitute-for-further-consideration-supporters-cite-rural-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603845-29178150ac91ca8391d9230b0972e25d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450600&Signature=AvWPtSNsRgCFWacxTrPg9sJGYPMxvbM-3~Xp~jsaxkNIn1DtFFGK5mmQhvtHAJtWz4zCt4if6WenFSpmA3CFSgq-NHfKJbb1Cq4I6n-u~IqpOtJIONihRX6zZNtAyGXQPdEincKZXgmWFpzPwY51IcXDv7wT7I-x~P3xN~StWU6N~FhZ4E5v8q8y2mlNWuRfjXPdfNP3Xncqbhakd5I~QWMUnlDyhW0Qbvrz1ud~xCypZyuux0wFx4dTKIya1PtnSx8HNiNpRiPFdEKL2i~jmiFivqKH~mBjv~qqBPTHWDJsBH6~R6GZiIfZvzfVjO-tDMHNAIazwbY7jT2qzu9dWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Labor and Commerce on April 14 heard a concise recap of Senate Bill 83, a bill to require pay parity between telehealth and in-person health services for insurance reimbursement. Sponsor Senator Matt Klayman told the committee SB83 would require insurers to reimburse telehealth at the same rate as in-person care and said the bill aligns Alaska with more than 33 other states and with practices already in Alaska's Medicaid program.

\"This bill will ensure fair reimbursement for telehealth, which became a standard practice highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic,\" Senator Matt Klayman said in his recap, adding the policy aims to reduce barriers to care \"particularly for individuals in rural areas, those with disabilities and those with limited transportation.\"

Emily Neenan, Alaska government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, testified in support and described telehealth as especially critical in Alaska where patients may otherwise need to fly to Anchorage for routine consultations. \"For the patient, it can mean the difference between flying back to Anchorage for a consultation versus making decisions at home,\" Neenan said, and she urged the committee to support the legislation to modernize Alaska's telehealth statute.

There was no extended committee debate on the floor. The committee moved to report the Health and Social Services Committee substitute for SB83 (identified on the record as version 34-LS0413\\O) \"from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.\" No roll-call vote was recorded in the hearing transcript; the chair announced the substitute was reported from committee with individual recommendations and fiscal notes attached.

The committee closed public testimony after receiving the invited remarks and signaled further legislative steps by reporting the substitute bill. Division of Insurance and retirement/benefits officials were available to answer questions, and the committee record notes the substitute includes attached fiscal notes that will travel with the bill.","Senate Labor and Commerce received a brief recap and testimony on SB83, which would require insurers to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate as in-person care; the committee reported an HSS committee substitute and sent it forward with recommendations and fiscal notes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603849,"Senate committee hears bill to limit financial tracking of firearm purchases; no vote taken",1916,534000,2450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994843-afe5e263e698587fad74011ce7f9ff77&start=534&end=2450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994843-afe5e263e698587fad74011ce7f9ff77/thumbnail_534000.jpg","/articles/6603849/Alaska/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-limit-financial-tracking-of-firearm-purchases-no-vote-taken","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603849-4b742a355d492112a6569c9dd9e3cb14/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450600&Signature=X3sWYOEtCqlaMuJheB9Q4-Mhr3xDvMajT9o8ykQKg~naoye26wLRYPDrQyYgIldHDRCDXu9hgTbZtEjwtldrDkxxXZgMEFEFVEcgoQoAyOeLBxNKF~2K19DxKBatjTenEf6So-lVM9Wj2sGw~EQkWPByd4lgSF-EfXu2HMg7juFIZWSMVayDdH5Xt8qEvNZ~1lffQhsA5KYIpLaMlxoYRza33vVzPRIgLsrW8MEkPIV3z1BOLgiLvw40L0B9sLz-dk7MqUJzPouwD7ij1OtlKgIO6ESPvaQYWOUdsyk1MTAUyiNE3VMw~Mwfhu-~4S7mLv8AcrsVGTQEHxdKlGK6hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Labor and Commerce on April 14 heard testimony on Senate Bill 136, which would bar financial institutions and payment networks from discriminating against lawful firearm transactions and from keeping lists or registries of privately owned firearms except where required by law.

The bill sponsor, Senator Mike Cronk, introduced SB136 and his staff member, Paul Mankie, provided the committee with a sectional analysis. The measure would add a new section to Alaska Statutes (proposed AS 06.90.20) prohibiting financial institutions or payment networks from declining, limiting, charging higher fees for, or otherwise taking actions intended to impede lawful transactions involving firearms, accessories, components or ammunition. The bill also would add AS 44.99.515 to prohibit a person, the state, or a political subdivision from knowingly keeping a list, record or registry of privately owned firearms or owners, except for records kept during criminal investigations or as otherwise required by law.

\"These financial institutions and payment networks have used the presence of these codes to throttle and in some case outright decline lawful transactions involving firearms,\" Senator Mike Cronk said in his presentation. He told the committee the bill is intended to \"bolster Alaskan's rights of privacy and to keep and bear arms by enacting statutory provisions to prevent financial institutions and payment card networks from discriminating against law abiding citizens and retailers engaging in lawful commerce.\" Paul Mankie summarized the statutory changes and noted the bill would authorize the attorney general to investigate alleged violations and seek injunctions and fines; the draft sets a maximum fine of $10,000 for knowing violations and requires courts to award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing petitioner.

Eileen Klein, state director for the National Rifle Association, testified in support and described the International Organization for Standardization's 2022 creation of a four-digit merchant category code (MCC) for firearm retailers. \"This is necessary to prevent financial surveillance of firearm owners that can be... used to build a private gun owner registry,\" Klein told the committee, and said the bill would give Alaska legal recourse to prevent such surveillance.

Committee members asked multiple questions about constitutionality, potential preemption, and whether the bill would functionally eliminate registries or change law enforcement access to records. Senator Ray Jackson expressed concern that the state should not eliminate useful registries for law enforcement; staff explained that current federal law and practices (including the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and recordkeeping by Federal Firearms Licensees) govern seller records and criminal-investigation access. Paul Mankie told the committee that seven other states had adopted similar statutes and that California and New York had taken the opposite approach by creating or mandating firearm transaction codes.

Committee members also asked whether private companies could refuse service under freedom of contract principles and whether courts would treat financial institutions differently than other businesses. Paul Mankie and members of the committee acknowledged that constitutionality questions remain open and likely subject to litigation. The bill draft includes limited exceptions for records kept during criminal investigations or as otherwise required by law.

The committee did not vote on SB136. Chair Bjorkman said the fiscal note from the Division of Banking and Securities does not anticipate an expenditure impact, and the committee set the bill aside for further consideration at a later meeting.

The transcript records the presentation, invited testimony and committee questions but no formal motion to report or referral occurred for SB136 on April 14.","Senate Labor and Commerce heard testimony on SB136, which would bar financial institutions and payment networks from using firearm-specific merchant codes or keeping private registries of gun purchases; the committee took no final action and set the bill aside for further consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would provide one-time state-funded infusion to shore up Commercial Fisheries and Agriculture Bank; committee set aside for later

Committee reports telehealth pay-parity substitute for further consideration; supporters cite rural access

Senate committee hears bill to limit financial tracking of firearm purchases; no vote taken