[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6053946,"mediaKeyId","3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83","parentId",3342327,"title","Committee hears bill to standardize evacuation messaging with Ready, Set, Go system","audioSeconds",246,"startMs",2093000,"endMs",2339000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83&start=2093&end=2339","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83/thumbnail_2093000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6053946/Alaska/Committee-hears-bill-to-standardize-evacuation-messaging-with-Ready-Set-Go-system","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053946-2dfde3341bdfedadd84a5b6bcd02cf50/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981021&Signature=O6~bEMThbIbb7fKiRhWdN4JjLOnX3dfSS~5bh3rk52vOLk6tqjV55dkyRoA4KYNo8jkBvcK3feckBgu6wNdjPrcSyzamqFa2SUpmC2SJpWmi-eZ1Mal9wC0lePX3L8on-ituGvrBsbffCV96GoO4y8j-VOmTfKH3Av7mFuP6dcZKP2RI~Vria~hZjdr-wQi8tqDUnhPXukLNXtWhRnwrcEx~G8SwVwduOAdHaU2Y44TS~Io-DZHmLiabsmaNXNLYuFbN5V4T3btze17hooKqNkF4R2Ao0oSFEJme3l3YzSrdvDFqSrccVymhgVBXoRVlLw-1QzviURz5kE1ic~OQhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Jesse Bjorkman introduced Senate Bill 192 on May 15, 2025, saying the bill was requested by emergency managers to clarify a uniform, statewide evacuation messaging standard so Alaskans understand when evacuation may be necessary.

Brenda Allberg, emergency manager for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, presented the Ready, Set, Go system used there and on behalf of the Alaska Emergency Managers Association. Allberg described a three-level system: Ready (level 1, green) for preparedness; Set (level 2, yellow) advising that imminent danger is likely and some residents should consider leaving early; and Go (level 3, red) asking people to evacuate. \"The level 2 'get set' ... gives them the opportunity to leave during this time, particularly for those individuals who have mobility issues or may have livestock or large recreational vehicles,\" Allberg said.

Allberg explained the value of standardized operational maps and color conventions to avoid confusion during multi-jurisdiction incidents and described how unified mapping also supports phased reentry decisions. She said the Kenai Peninsula Borough has shared Ready, Set, Go materials with five other jurisdictions and provided a public hub (info.kpb.us) for resources.

Michelle Weston, fire chief with Girdwood Fire and Rescue and liaison officer with the Alaska Incident Management Team, testified in support, citing experience coordinating evacuations across multiple states and provinces and saying a single clear system is beneficial for residents and visitors.

The hearing included invited expert presentation and public testimony online; no committee motion or vote on SB 192 is recorded in this hearing transcript. Sponsors said the bill would standardize messaging and mapping to improve public comprehension and interagency coordination during wildfires and other hazards.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/15/2025 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 192 would adopt a uniform Ready, Set, Go three-level evacuation messaging system (Ready/Set/Go with green/yellow/red mapping) for jurisdictions across Alaska; presenters said standardized mapping and reentry protocols improve public understanding and interagency coordination.","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},6053951,"Panel advances bill modernizing anti-rebating rules and adding federal privacy law reference to insurance code",323,1887000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83&start=1887&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83/thumbnail_1887000.jpg","/articles/6053951/Alaska/Panel-advances-bill-modernizing-anti-rebating-rules-and-adding-federal-privacy-law-reference-to-insurance-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053951-dcad0ab0fe780e484982c04b899cc06c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981021&Signature=X-Xey9rY0JKDHsnKPDnNPSVCuLpTiDiAOA2-imIhEZR8nmlM6d-aBHOulWwm~hgasW1m1P~K7bbSbuNWDdB0a~OHXpppHRShcUtPI-hw8DlEeacxVMY7fOJeI6sRto5Imuwbs3LVIVdCOQiJgMCtHOT3Wx5bFBrao-fJsusAzmg01b-vbx7gv2q57e-6U-a4~uOYv9JlOUE25wZFWaWd2qvZoeFpEsGEQnhEg8tYJDAAP9qAYB2IUirTjXQat6qJ9vrvlbG8UK2kO7ghuDUHoYvhryR3Ox5LCU-KWAzIQzr95fOv-Fnb9YbHgo5qtgYz7lVaUil135K8~lNWvhsOBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sevea Bieber, staff to Senator Bjorkman, presented Senate Bill 185 on May 15, 2025, calling it an update to Alaska’s insurance statutes to add consumer protections and allow flexibility for insurers around value-added services, wellness incentives, educational tools and low-value promotional gifts.

\"SB 185 updates Alaska's insurance statutes to add consumer protections and flexibility around allowable business practices,\" Bieber said, and the bill would explicitly add the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to the list of federal laws referenced in the state trade practices and frauds chapter.

Committee discussion was limited. The vice chair moved to release Senate Bill 185 from committee with individual recommendations and an accompanying fiscal note and to authorize Legislative Legal Services to make conforming changes; with no objection, the motion carried and SB 185 was moved from committee.

Supporters framed the measure as aligning Alaska with national insurance standards and enabling innovation and consistent treatment of insurers that operate in multiple states. No invited or public opponents were recorded in this hearing.","Senate Bill 185 would revise Alaska’s anti-rebating provisions to permit certain value-added services and small promotional items and add the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to the state trade practices chapter; the committee moved the bill from committee with recommendations.",{"_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},6053956,"Bill to let municipalities set school board term lengths advances amid turnout, cost arguments",324,1463000,1787000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83&start=1463&end=1787","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83/thumbnail_1463000.jpg","/articles/6053956/Alaska/Bill-to-let-municipalities-set-school-board-term-lengths-advances-amid-turnout-cost-arguments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053956-8697ecb8653080f0eba74c413727ffb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981021&Signature=I3WWtaEEO8arUSLpqmzh6qqpfU-MAK6vSicO-nRXGPxHrHfPqsAExHxMf4UsWspb7kSjc12hUSY2QCCqh0U37~PlX3aNgCVVVzgGmIyFylJ3Sqk00bdFeog6lOnUkVK8UThTmyEUWqScqsD2naPHbrxPxSWXJPfEyQkSZeB7pKYbdjfqTEcu4xkX7v0gNQ~Qoq8r0TKhfSe00jybINIjKrYW8yzVI-AtnHEfAiqjNlODY2pHY04fXJSSw-82okFK0jbpeqhv3A9VGnLo2~88T5oSRpksZtPn0A05c44VJMwv0lXWBYj3hmaPY095bOWIfs6wczI2CLy37MA5CMD5pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Rob Young presented Senate Bill 143 on May 15, 2025, saying the measure would allow municipal governing bodies to set municipal school board terms by ordinance rather than requiring three-year terms by state law.

\"This would allow the local government to make that decision if they wanted,\" Young said, explaining the change would permit municipalities to align school board terms with mayoral and assembly election cycles and potentially eliminate off-year elections.

George Hayes, deputy borough manager for the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough, testified in support and outlined three reasons for the change: increased local control, improved voter turnout by aligning elections, and administrative efficiencies that reduce costs. Hayes emphasized the bill does not mandate local action but allows municipalities discretion and requires usual local ordinance processes and public input.

Senator Yount noted turnout differences cited by sponsors: \"we've seen turnout on odd years of somewhere from 9 to 14 percent. And then last year on an even year, we were at 48 percent turnout,\" and said aligning elections could raise participation and save money.

No vote was recorded in this hearing; the committee set the bill aside for further consideration. Sponsor and county officials said any local change would still require public approval consistent with local procedures.","Senate Bill 143 would allow municipal governing bodies to change school board term lengths by ordinance, aligning school board terms with other local office cycles; supporters said the change would boost turnout, reduce off-year elections and lower costs.",{"_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},6053961,"Committee hears bill to require Alaska DOT to plan for public, tribal and community transit statewide",141,637000,778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83&start=637&end=778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83/thumbnail_637000.jpg","/articles/6053961/Alaska/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-Alaska-DOT-to-plan-for-public-tribal-and-community-transit-statewide","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053961-f8eb43d1d44e26723f03a8c24bbbe560/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981021&Signature=LOkyUZu2Byuy2nRKKxp1yA1DbV5TVQ6GUThWk6nBKA5akC7RCbrgR2TkLstpq45QTg3uNqrSKfT2h5EGYkJjjlruEb0yH1alJ9SC8wbUd7xCEDdmVa8-rQZIdejcIN7fo5Odeqf-AgKv3u69CRBVCHS9XGiU-2qhpdPzpgqOu-sOKJ7E1oY-w5ZVcR6trT8UdJJpK4wcRONfU5gc8IxtYfNEJ4-QJ3ADyIWzBHasp-A9jQ9A7BpQrfMwH6xpiveNDg9W9di5FI7UGkPzfCzKE5hkIJuSNhBGdBFOR3kXrgfQJ89qcRivjQ2rW12ckIpOvw~BHtnZfT6Mn~61bgNvPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Halen Behnken, staff to Representative Genevieve Mina, presented House Bill 26 on May 15, 2025, describing it as legislation to require the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to coordinate with public, tribal and community transit programs in the development of Alaska’s long-range transportation plans and the STIP (Statewide Transportation Improvement Program).

\"HB 26 aims to support and secure accessible transportation options for all Alaskans by improving DOT’s public engagement process and broadening the study of transportation options across the state,\" Behnken said.

Representative Genevieve Mina (House District 19) told the committee the bill was requested by the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education and the Alaska Mobility Coalition and stressed the importance of including people with disabilities in planning.

Invited testimony came from Patrick Reinhart, executive director of the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, who said transportation repeatedly ranks as a top issue for people with disabilities and seniors and described a patchwork of services across the state. Reinhart noted a recent human services grant round received only eight applications and said small programs struggle to apply for mixed-state-and-federal funds. \"If we’re just not planning for [rural communities], we’re not planning for the needs of the small communities in the rural and remote communities,\" Reinhart said.

Jerry Hope, government relations director for Sitka Tribe of Alaska, said the tribe operates a fixed-route public transit system in Sitka and that making transit visible in statute would improve coordination with DOT and tribal entities.

Behnken said HB 26 would expand DOT responsibility to study alternative transportation methods beyond urban areas, noting a 2022 Alaska DOT report included in supplemental materials that identified transit benefits including increased business sales and less congestion. The bill would codify existing federal coordination requirements in state law to better secure federal funding.

No formal committee motion or vote on HB 26 is recorded in this hearing; the committee took invited testimony and public testimony was opened and closed with no commenters in the room or online. The bill will remain under committee consideration.","House Bill 26 would codify coordination between Alaska DOT&PF and public, tribal and community transit programs, expand study of alternative transit to rural and remote areas, and clarify planning steps intended to secure federal funding; invited testimony from disability advocates and tribal transit operators supported the bill.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6053966,"Committee advances bill to align public advocate selection with public defender process",170,300000,470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83&start=300&end=470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342327-8a4aa9eecd551283cdac06ddaa3c8c83/thumbnail_300000.jpg","/articles/6053966/Alaska/Committee-advances-bill-to-align-public-advocate-selection-with-public-defender-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053966-4ddcc58ec59aaa55b759ff2cbad3314a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981021&Signature=Fns2s7hoLc~F2NiZk0hPlGDocfWcLKK9PJWdkM5rVgcDzTAEuT-HgP7-zM5yUdqjinnVtqcS8QYxCLDi2x6jPOyfrOh78R39Rok9E6t1tMGSgQ7NWdWfepbpOuktztUWVOkkcN804fRCOIqBiz8IBpEnTls3QrI73heT13lrAmCNcQKOWQKpYhqRjNfO7w7kxNAr7uwl9ZZa~iVXj9OaRz-GKbgARJeQoY-qz2Uqb3Ocgd8KtNGRbySkBU5Xzs5Zi50uL84H6b0Tr4j5dx-1RENzPtLzazFMZIPGoag8aA6QTpJg5PXmJtDxJK60rd-qm9kaK9deYXSXv42M1-pJJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Zach Fields (House District 17) reintroduced House Bill 58 on May 15, 2025, asking the committee to make the selection process for the Office of Public Advocate director the same as the process for selecting the public defender.

The bill would require the Judicial Council to forward nominees to the governor, who would then appoint one director; it would also make the public advocate director removable only for cause. \"If House Bill 58 passes, the director of the Office of the Public Advocate is subject to removal for cause, not arbitrarily,\" Fields said.

Fields told the committee the Office of the Public Advocate was created by statute in 1983 and the public defender agency was created in 1969 and argued the alignment is a governance correction rather than a statement about current officeholders. \"This is a forward-looking good governance bill,\" Fields said.

Committee discussion was brief. The vice chair moved to release HB 58 from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes and authorized Legislative Legal Services to make conforming changes; with no objection, the motion carried and HB 58 was moved from committee.

The bill’s sponsors and witnesses framed the change as a technical alignment intended to protect the office’s independence and reduce the state’s need for outside legal contracting; no public testimony occurred at this hearing and no amendments were adopted at the committee action recorded on the transcript.

The committee record shows the bill will proceed with the committee’s recommended language and fiscal notes; next steps are typical committee processing and any subsequent hearings or floor action required under legislative rules.","The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee moved House Bill 58 from committee, which would make selection of the Office of Public Advocate director follow the same process used for the public defender and subject that director to removal only for cause.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to standardize evacuation messaging with Ready, Set, Go system

Panel advances bill modernizing anti-rebating rules and adding federal privacy law reference to insurance code

Bill to let municipalities set school board term lengths advances amid turnout, cost arguments

Committee hears bill to require Alaska DOT to plan for public, tribal and community transit statewide

Committee advances bill to align public advocate selection with public defender process