[{"_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",6253429,"mediaKeyId","3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f","parentId",3181377,"title","Committee hears sponsor and public testimony on House Bill 152, an education head tax proposal; bill set aside for further work","audioSeconds",600,"startMs",5160000,"endMs",5760000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f&start=5160&end=5760","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f/thumbnail_5160000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253429/Alaska/Committee-hears-sponsor-and-public-testimony-on-House-Bill-152-an-education-head-tax-proposal-bill-set-aside-for-further-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253429-61693d12992cf30e3c84b787e7fca933/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439926&Signature=mYuZPMBjVoAxaQm2DW-ukBeLYYNLy-uryRp5FenFuLO5LJKjn2usQZqux68AhLDSoeo2P9YjfOGIQ75xwVUrclKmQgV-EGDtxIBxDk5fnvfjDVS6KG4NujOspE8Vk5FvFCUU3RBUatPtNY6JMd10Az3oTHhAINrsGNXMOki7pxHMA8n~AOOsZMiRtPDtSClqhhA8hN5sdaAiqUtWNjQjlhxijIhYFluis7fih6ABkHN-A5ON6deJtdBlxI7wYVk2F0YxS5Cg9rjzjE-Db88czC4ErDlFPMu75VXs-~TldvvOtqW0ghHW54chN-dyj1WN3Yksb-zWsceqYI54w9gJvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","The House State Affairs Committee on May 1 heard presentation and public testimony on House Bill 152, a proposed funding package for public education that combines a one-time $150-per-person head tax and a 4% flat rate applied to income above $150,000.

Sponsor Representative Elise Galvin said the measure is intended to create a dedicated funding stream for education and to be a starting point for discussion; she said she is open to amendments to address distributional concerns. Galvin said the bill’s design was intended to be simple: “I tried to simplify it with the 100 and fifty. To me that felt like an easy thing to explain to people.”

Staff to the sponsor, David Jang, presented revenue model estimates provided to the committee: under the proposal as presented, the $150 head tax would generate roughly $62–68 million and total revenue (including the 4% flat tax on income above $150,000) would be roughly $326–359 million, broadly consistent with the fiscal note. Jang showed an example amendment: exempting individuals with income $50,000 or less from the $150 head tax would reduce head-tax yield to about $33.6–37.0 million and lower total revenue to a range near $298–328 million; Jang emphasized that the bulk of projected revenue derives from the 4% flat tax on earnings above $150,000.

Several members questioned implementation details. Representative Hemshue asked about predecessor council membership (context for other agenda items). Representative Himshoo asked when Alaska’s earlier head tax had been discontinued; committee staff said they would provide the historical, inflation-adjusted equivalent. Members asked how employers would ensure employees working multiple jobs would not be double-deducted; Representative Galvin and staff said the Department of Revenue could process refunds and employers could accept wage stubs as proof, and that the state’s PFD form could be used to avoid duplicate collection.

Public testimony included a mix of support and opposition. Tammy Evelyn Trefon (New Haven) said HB 152 would create a dedicated funding stream for public education that rural communities need after years of cuts; she cited local school-day reductions and loss of services. Longtime resident Carl Berger said he would pay a small head tax but urged larger contributors (including private industry and authorities with cash reserves) to contribute. Several testifiers opposed the bill, citing government spending priorities and local school-district costs; one opponent argued the Anchorage School District had large reserves and opposed the measure.

Committee members discussed options such as phasing in the proposal, exempting lower-income people from the head tax, or adjusting the $150 threshold. The committee set HB 152 aside for further consideration and invited technical follow-up on implementation and possible amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/01/2025 03:15 PM House STATE AFFAIRS","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Elise Galvin presented House Bill 152, proposing an education revenue package combining a $150 per-person head tax and a 4% flat tax on income above $150,000; staff provided revenue estimates and the committee took public testimony before setting the bill aside.","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},6253434,"Committee hears bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to sentencing aggravators; victim urges passage",540,3480000,4020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f&start=3480&end=4020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f/thumbnail_3480000.jpg","/articles/6253434/Alaska/Committee-hears-bill-to-add-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-to-sentencing-aggravators-victim-urges-passage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253434-05604292897a2c6c14faca4d58595482/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439926&Signature=PQVJQnhmKYh8xzbTJFl49UcZ5I-LQS9bLJIH6ZIxtmbjRgHvwhwq~bfh3nPjNAkuX0Dq-7S-PbptATePHp9l2BS6aYdV3AqQ2scou2B~IHVGzMN40TJpAs2eB5XOMt0itwrDJX5ucM4t7x8HcGJ4kkxip5qk2ktvP7c2ki6CBe-92caJdcPLHwN7tG3YnC7lAseuF9t6jEDraV52hxPSeYXw-VFi02ztL9jJyMkGazJf0TWerT3XVSQvBiVuufIUiXY~m52brg9oUD~Xi4eQE0wZjKeKMxVw7dV~EFlR69dNt1Aas91J6baUDUDOQGXzx9TPC7wq7c8nwofbM4lmEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House State Affairs Committee on May 1 received an introductory presentation and invited testimony on House Bill 24, a sentencing bill that would add “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the list of aggravating factors a jury may consider at sentencing under AS 12.55-155(c).

Sponsor Representative Andy Josephson (House District 13) said the bill adds four words to the statute’s aggravators: “sexual orientation and gender identity.” He described the change as limited to the sentencing phase: prosecutors would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crime was motivated by bias and juries would address aggravated sentencing only after conviction.

Invited testifier Tammy Willis described a series of incidents beginning in 2019 she said targeted her as an LGBTQ community member. Willis told the committee she received a threatening note, a rock thrown through her truck with “on that rock was the word dyke,” and later suffered a knife attack that required multiple stitches. Willis said she left the Kenai Peninsula because of persistent threats and that she supports HB 24 because it signals that violence against LGBTQ people is not tolerated.

Karen Westler, identified herself as a former U.S. attorney for Alaska and a longtime prosecutor. Westler told the committee such targeted crimes reflect a perpetrator who chooses victims because of bias and said the state has an interest in protecting vulnerable groups. Ken Alpert, staff to Representative Josephson, summarized the bill’s effect: it would not change trial charging or proof requirements but would allow consideration of the bias motive as an aggravating factor at sentencing.

Committee members asked about data trends, whether the increase in reported hate crimes reflects better reporting or real increases, and whether Alaska currently has standalone hate-crime statutes. Staff said Alaska does not have a separate hate-crime statute that creates an independent criminal offense on this basis; the proposed change would add the categories to the existing aggravator list at sentencing. Several members expressed support and concern for victims; Representative Inchute said he “wished this wasn't needed.”

The committee set the bill aside for further consideration and took no vote on the measure at this meeting.","Representative Andy Josephson presented House Bill 24 to add sexual orientation and gender identity to aggravating factors in sentencing; invited testimony included the victim of a 2019 assault and the former U.S. attorney for Alaska urging the committee to advance the bill.",{"_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},6253438,"Committee rejects amendment to constitutionalize a dividend; HJR 10 reported out with committee recommendations",1410,1980000,3390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f&start=1980&end=3390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f/thumbnail_1980000.jpg","/articles/6253438/Alaska/Committee-rejects-amendment-to-constitutionalize-a-dividend-HJR-10-reported-out-with-committee-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253438-251092fd964804be5791b132a21ada17/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439926&Signature=C8y8pKU2nTLqwMd8NF3MDJlvdK-E4XTV-OpQO2AudcIjKJvhB~MjYd23mf4F5r-uKCQzimSH7AS-dUt9rx~LjUpgYzuA6EyBhk1cNfPDNV182HMHELtrjq-HJT6UAFGXiatzvfh6Vun7~TnceRREUi3yxn1Hhiwa3DEZzzKri5Fse3r5PZGOaesOpwAD8cMqNvwmH2~ja~EZQhchIi1HTH1TibDMe6kQntpMBDF4mjFTdQQgZSLnjjJQq098~GHMokkOpfpZml7ca0NychCbZSBekFMrP3PfdktzSMVdiQLN3dAsNA3~bMFb0a~DwOKmofgqDffClfcgw5vnHmM-MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House State Affairs Committee on May 1 considered amendment 1 (a.2) to House Joint Resolution 10, a proposed constitutional amendment addressing the Alaska Permanent Fund and payout rules. The committee defeated the amendment and later reported HJR 10 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.

Representative Vance moved amendment 1 a.2, which would have added a constitutional requirement that an annual dividend be paid to eligible residents (without specifying a calculation method). Vance said the amendment would provide assurance to residents that a dividend would be required by the constitution, rather than left solely to statute.

Representative Schrage, sponsor of HJR 10, opposed the amendment. He said the amendment “puts the dividend on autopilot” and warned it could force a large deficit by constitutionally requiring a dividend tied to current statutory formulas; he gave the fiscal year 2026 example and said it could “force ... a $1,500,000,000 deficit” on the state unless statutes or appropriations changed. Schrage argued making the dividend constitutional would create a high threshold to adjust fiscal policy and could constrain appropriations for other statutory services.

Committee members debated whether the amendment would effectively elevate a dividend above other constitutionally recognized services by linking a mandatory payment to statute. Representative McCabe, Representative Holland and others asked whether the amendment merely required a dividend in principle or would lock in a formula; Schrage and other members said it would create the risk of an automatic appropriation unless changed by statute and subject to veto.

The committee called the roll on amendment 1 a.2; the amendment failed on a 3–4 vote (3 ayes, 4 nays). Later in the meeting Vice Chair Story moved to report HJR 10 from committee “with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.” The motion passed 4–3. The committee took a brief at-ease to sign paperwork and returned the resolution for the next steps in the legislative process.

No legal text was adopted at this hearing; members debated fiscal implications and constitutional framing. The committee recorded votes and forwarded the resolution with committee recommendations and fiscal notes for floor or joint consideration.","The House State Affairs Committee debated an amendment to House Joint Resolution 10 that would insert a required annual dividend; the amendment failed 3–4 and the underlying resolution (HJR 10) was reported from committee 4–3 with individual recommendations and fiscal notes attached.",{"_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},6253441,"House State Affairs committee recommends Timothy Collins for Alaska Police Standards Council; committee forwards appointee to joint session",1820,0,1820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f&start=0&end=1820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3181377-f30ceb960d97db743877cd3483b8b97f/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6253441/Alaska/House-State-Affairs-committee-recommends-Timothy-Collins-for-Alaska-Police-Standards-Council-committee-forwards-appointee-to-joint-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253441-a88a9537f3534158e215fd686d84e17a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775439926&Signature=A9DaHsX5b~RvQ7WdfPtmDgv~cdEu4BRpXfcTpAuca4GSDKP3w2BduvQvgewg7dKwn4huxW3Gty9gcFpY~X8ZjMhS-GUW2PEtYh2FwQFUaiTv4mkFaabdDM9Uj~DM49GOCQ0khXpd3kmcPBaQ8fDisHOdvtMt1dfW0C7rfZOz0z-4lZOFpmAaj~e-6UPyVO62X9wZijkeXiJBb94r76-QlmXyQG5w-7yTiy~C0Si4mPseK8gTOI3AV58UfwzCEq08huk9dGn11s0xmJeXMLD4xpWk7U8Z7Icc55J95RM4ogPFmDWshcxTyE6JWkp7MHT5ACchxQ8OV3s8sfsVVsti-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House State Affairs Committee on May 1 heard from Timothy Collins, a sergeant with the Alaska State Troopers, during a confirmation hearing for the Alaska Police Standards Council and recommended his nomination be forwarded to a joint session for consideration.

Collins told the committee he has nearly 13 years in law enforcement and said that, if confirmed, he would work “to uphold the highest standards of law enforcement in Alaska, ensuring that our officers are equipped with the training, resources, and support they need to serve our communities effectively.”

Committee members focused questions on training and rural policing. Representative Vance asked what Collins would bring on training needs; Collins said he would push to “boost and expand our ... assault investigation training and crisis intervention training, for both troopers and police officers” assigned to rural Alaska, where officers often investigate serious crimes without the resources found in urban detective units.

Members also asked about the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO/BPSO) program. Collins described Kodiak-based efforts to do ride-alongs and training for VPSOs and said troopers are making regular “remain overnights” in villages so residents recognize trooper faces and to advise VPSOs on preserving evidence and scene security before troopers arrive.

Members pressed Collins on building community trust and accountability. Collins said he prioritized community engagement — attending local events and village visits — and suggested short trainings or self-paced modules on community policing for officers and troopers.

After the hearing, the committee opened and closed public testimony with no public speakers. In accordance with AS 39.05.080, the committee signed a report recommending Collins be forwarded to a joint session for consideration; the signature did not indicate how individual members will vote during future confirmation sessions.

The committee did not take a confirmation vote at this meeting; it recorded only the hearing and the recommendation to forward the nomination for further consideration.

Committee discussion and Collins’s remarks were largely about training, rural response capacity, community policing, and missing-and-murdered Indigenous persons investigations; no legislative changes were adopted at this hearing.","The House State Affairs Committee heard from Alaska State Trooper Sergeant Timothy Collins, discussed training needs for rural policing and VPSOs, and the committee recommended forwarding his appointment to a joint session for consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears sponsor and public testimony on House Bill 152, an education head tax proposal; bill set aside for further work

Committee hears bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to sentencing aggravators; victim urges passage

Committee rejects amendment to constitutionalize a dividend; HJR 10 reported out with committee recommendations

House State Affairs committee recommends Timothy Collins for Alaska Police Standards Council; committee forwards appointee to joint session