[{"_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",6236171,"mediaKeyId","3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c","parentId",3378383,"title","Dental-hygiene education change in proposed Board of Dental Examiners bill draws opposition from hygienists","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",4952000,"endMs",5098000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c&start=4952&end=5098","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c/thumbnail_4952000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236171/Alaska/Dental-hygiene-education-change-in-proposed-Board-of-Dental-Examiners-bill-draws-opposition-from-hygienists","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236171-0e922d74980ad05740d0791554f3100b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148116&Signature=KiZnx72vubr57ffURz3DBiae8xSBetGLIVMf06~TVBON0Xv0Wk~rrsfB5rj87lH9B1SMOpEKDXjrLAbtw9251P4wpEWW9Db4D5TuPLybfj~zFni8ZCpX78dXF4B0oeVt9gIbrJxeaNHPBqQtJ9VulEeIddAf32N8S~BqLq7mBEMWK~sz5sBOAAps-QOeQaIp-jSLsjH1Glj94PUabmi4IFxefUM520IevFpTL8a~rzIw4NsGPHsN9Ao81I7S5xT4T4HmcJ7Tx8cFsg7P1EMws591QVK~iQSqc9y-l1hyh7KXx-WJ4cPsYxhnnWB6x0oAR7a3ir2d2Z4W1JlEUNWhww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-16T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Frank Tomaszewski presented House Bill 197 to the committee as a package of updates requested by the Board of Dental Examiners to modernize oversight, expand access and improve enforcement. The bill would, among other changes, create a dedicated executive administrator for the board and update certain licensure provisions.

But several registered dental hygienists and educators urged the committee to retain a statutory minimum of two academic years of instruction for dental hygiene programs. Lisa Wells, president of the Alaska Dental Hygienist Association, told members she and the association “are in opposition to the change proposed regarding the length of dental hygiene education” and said a two‑year standard aligns with Commission on Dental Accreditation expectations.

Dr. Carrie Schamberger, a dental‑hygiene educator and vice president of the hygienist association, said the two‑year benchmark supports clinical competencies needed in rural and unsupervised practice settings and that weakening the standard could reduce the pipeline of locally trained hygienists. She recommended amending the statute to require “curriculum that includes at least two academic years of full‑time instruction or its equivalent at the post‑secondary college level.”

Gail Walden, a practicing hygienist since 2003, told the committee she had difficulty accessing up‑to‑date board meeting information and said the proposed removal of the two‑year language is unnecessary; she recommended keeping or strengthening the existing standard to protect public safety.

Sponsor Representative Tomaszewski said the board requested the changes to increase administrative efficiency and enforcement capacity; staff explained the board seeks an executive administrator to improve application processing. Committee members asked for more information and the record shows the bill will return for additional work in the future. The hearing closed without a committee vote on HB 197.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/16/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 197, which would modernize the Board of Dental Examiners and remove a statutory two‑year minimum for dental‑hygiene education, prompted strong opposition from Alaska hygienists who urged retaining or strengthening the standard.","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},6236186,"Bill would clarify ADA authority to finance workforce multifamily housing, sponsors say",773,2345000,3118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c&start=2345&end=3118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c/thumbnail_2345000.jpg","/articles/6236186/Alaska/Bill-would-clarify-ADA-authority-to-finance-workforce-multifamily-housing-sponsors-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236186-6b3832fe70d2402c624e1e763312dba8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148116&Signature=QJge03LFQ3ZwOQxhiGOKjy2J8XUFTUitmevxjOMe5ZTeGLFd5iU5Fq6DmKgo5jgmJR~~yzkSOChSNy5sKNpyPcGyo6xnU~B50OXSEgWiBCqtltRIg6YKJngmRjAhi2itw4iP4Ru9N~rTEoWE2a75ypV5Inm7Gyf7FG6jynZl41OtBDDvyZp2LveAVXpiv5TXLkspaGP9LtlC2OOKRjK273XJeSJrXRs81GzlYqGC2sxbOS7NodfKmeBXV~mFeOhjWdXKNGEUWDAO1eZ1r60-4oFYwJKLarIbArbU~OSIyGirN9OyLbCL51LX25eDWVdayzJIyPRxgHMvHXdPKflzYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Andy Story introduced House Bill 184 to the House Labor and Commerce Committee, saying the bill would clarify that the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority may use its loan participation program to finance construction of workforce multifamily housing containing five units or more.

“New workforce housing facilities containing five units or more are some of the greatest community needs,” Representative Andy Story said, arguing the shortage of rental housing harms businesses and causes outmigration. The sponsor described the measure as a way to enable ADA to deploy finance tools other states use to stimulate construction.

Michelle Brown, executive director of Housing Alaska Public Private Partnership, testified in support and told the committee HB 184 would let ADA evaluate “a wide array of innovative financing tools” such as government-backed loans, longer-term lending and mezzanine financing to close the gap between construction costs and rents the market can bear. Brown said such tools could “help lower both the upfront and the long term cost of housing development.”

Stacy Barnes of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation told members AHFC already offers long-term multifamily financing but does not generally do construction financing; she said AHFC has a portfolio of multifamily loans and would need to consult mortgage and finance staff about construction lending.

Mark Davis of ADA confirmed the authority has financed employer-linked housing projects, including work camps in Prudhoe Bay, and said the bill would provide statutory clarity to pursue revenue-bond financing and other revenue-bearing structures that ADA sells in the marketplace.

Committee members asked whether ADA’s involvement would detract from its core industrial-development mission; Davis said revenue-bond financing for larger projects would not materially affect ADA’s balance sheet because such bonds are sold externally. No formal committee vote on HB 184 was recorded in the hearing.

Supporters said the bill aims to leverage ADA capital to expand multifamily workforce housing across Alaska, particularly in communities where rising rents and low vacancy rates constrain employer hiring.","Representative Andy Story told the House Labor and Commerce Committee that House Bill 184 would make clear the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority may finance construction of workforce multifamily housing projects of five units or more.",{"_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},6236191,"House committee advances bill limiting interchange fees after raising bank-asset exemption to $20 billion",2053,220000,2273000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c&start=220&end=2273","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c/thumbnail_220000.jpg","/articles/6236191/Alaska/House-committee-advances-bill-limiting-interchange-fees-after-raising-bank-asset-exemption-to-20-billion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236191-26585a8ba7c09f8b00541dcf3502be6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148116&Signature=DwOV3Q1-CX2tB-VBd0a0OxXDHZIQPZwe9bTpXOqABnoJAo4q8INAOWm~9Kez3Rj3aSZ5LTkdoveCPKCA6b05TzzRLAEVQoAev5W8C0SMtlmj7PlBAYQHZ2bTDnYK~wmU9jNGHUpFnZsLqoH~CT5gWrx-9xtTmQsQWS7Kdwpu46kX8uCLYGh444hTgghRDlOnnPZs5AN5F4FCjvNJILXNBVNX9CddzRf0N0pvrtGdT4-EPXuVz206I3X4MHIZc-uUzLSx-DA4IIt2JLrFg--~dbGLJMRzJxGAkY4WIiRpY-8AcNjKAgeCkbbCymdrkbMmVdhULcvZV~GN9S5kLpbfSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Labor and Commerce Committee voted 4-3 to report Senate Bill 79 out of committee on a conceptual amendment that raises a bank-asset exemption threshold to $20,000,000,000.

The committee acted after testimony and an amendment intended to protect smaller Alaska financial institutions from unintended consequences of new limits on interchange fees that the bill targets. Senator Bjorkman said the change is “designed … to make sure that our state banks will not have a force that pushes them toward federally chartering,” and that the amendment seeks to preserve state-collected fees and assessments.

The bill’s backers say it is aimed at reducing interchange fees that can cut into restaurant and service-worker revenues. Senator Bjorkman told the committee the legislation would “save money for our local businesses and local wait staff who are currently having their revenue eaten into by these interchange fees.” The amendment the committee adopted moved the asset threshold up from $10 billion to $20 billion after members said the original number risked capturing midsize Alaska institutions.

But the Division of Corporations, Banking and Securities raised multiple concerns about implementation and enforcement. Director Schmidt told the committee he is “concerned” about the operational requirements the bill would impose on the global payment ecosystem, including the need for payment processors and thousands of card-issuing banks worldwide to accept new data elements. He said publicly available estimates indicate “320 credit card transactions in Alaska per minute,” and warned that statutory penalties could produce large exposures if processors or issuers misapply the rule. Schmidt also said state-chartered banks such as Northrim, Denali State Bank, Mount McKinley State Bank and First Bank “all would fall below a $10,000,000,000 threshold.”

Members pressed for clarity about which institutions would fall under the exemption. Committee discussion cited a figure of about $12 billion in assets for one large Alaska credit union; legislators and witnesses acknowledged some uncertainty about exact asset sizes and said a $20 billion cutoff would avoid unintentionally capturing local banks.

Representative Paul moved to report the bill out of committee as amended and with accompanying fiscal notes; the roll call recorded four yes votes (Burke, Kerrick, Hall, Fields) and three no votes (Sadler, Nelson, Colom). The committee authorized Legislative Legal to make technical and conforming changes.

The committee also discussed testimony from national trade groups and from online witnesses representing the National Restaurant Association. Dan Swanson and Brandon Ducker of the National Restaurant Association joined the committee online, according to the record.

The committee did not finalize an implementation timeline; members asked staff and regulators to follow up on the fiscal note and on operational questions raised by Director Schmidt. The bill will move forward from committee with the $20 billion threshold in place and with requests for additional fiscal and implementation detail.","The House Labor and Commerce Committee reported Senate Bill 79 out of committee after adopting an amendment that raises the bank-asset exemption from $10 billion to $20 billion; state banking regulator warned of implementation, compliance and consumer-protection risks if the law is enacted without further review.",{"_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},6236177,"Sponsor and industry witnesses tell committee regulated mobile sports wagering would capture illegal bets and fund services",351,3668000,4019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c&start=3668&end=4019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c/thumbnail_3668000.jpg","/articles/6236177/Alaska/Sponsor-and-industry-witnesses-tell-committee-regulated-mobile-sports-wagering-would-capture-illegal-bets-and-fund-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236177-51eb4e7e8e8ac40ac8c9f70ffa1b954d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148116&Signature=EdvkBeDKYp0TJCnFnHCda7izvI-9B41396CiZ2wxc65PlnUy12MsaB1XaxiuxNyE64~~OOjBjToe0b8y2DCqZpn4S1cg7FHh~JHtbhzua7ow~XgVaPln3YjRTrKX1G9Y4aKWDEAzV5QpbT7isF~3KGwWXoABP~ai39N2Ogc~TlruwNs2zfLI5~hN7n~jpfxFXSH6qHh1WDV8qODJ~qeROFML7MLUGe717kjPDS0STc4DN8W7qEY1G~YvGPuDVf6U2mwxst0~Vn99zbT3P4De0EHEix3qOI2Wmng1WOhDxOH8dwp-BX2EQpJSF5e3EkGzL06WuIwGolEMrATaUlVEAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative David Nelson told the House Labor and Commerce Committee that House Bill 145 would legalize and regulate mobile sports wagering in Alaska to move wagering out of the illegal market, provide consumer protections and generate tax revenue.

“These illegal operators are predatory in nature, offering no consumer protections, age verification, tools to address addiction issues … giving consumers zero recourse,” Representative David Nelson said, arguing the legal market would require verification, problem‑gaming safeguards and standards for licensees.

Matt Scalf, government affairs manager for DraftKings, testified in support and said sports wagering is already occurring in Alaska’s illegal market; DraftKings emphasized consumer protections such as identity verification, geolocation checks, deposit limits and self‑exclusion tools. “Sports wagering is already taking place in Alaska,” Scalf told the committee, and a regulated market could provide oversight and tax revenue.

John Pappas of GeoComply, a geolocation and anti‑fraud provider, presented usage data showing thousands of geolocation checks from devices in Alaska attempting to access out‑of‑state sportsbooks and reported a roughly 60% year‑over‑year increase in unique mobile betting accounts in the state during the period cited. Pappas said geolocation solutions can be tailored to Alaska’s maritime and coastal geography to ensure wagers originate from permissible locations.

Kevin Winters, representing a harm‑prevention provider, supported regulation but urged that the bill be expanded to dedicate funding for research, prevention, treatment and aftercare for gambling-related harm. Winters noted Alaska is among a small number of states that do not currently allocate public funds for problem‑gambling services.

Representative Nelson’s draft would require operators applying for Alaska licenses to maintain licensure in at least three other jurisdictions, a threshold the sponsor said would help ensure standards. Industry witnesses estimated legalizing wagering would generate new tax revenue and provide consumer protections that illegal operators do not.

The committee took testimony but did not vote on HB 145 during the hearing; sponsors and witnesses said they are available for follow‑up as lawmakers refine licensing, taxation and responsible‑gaming provisions.","Representative David Nelson introduced House Bill 145 to authorize mobile sports wagering in Alaska; industry witnesses argued legalization would move activity from an illegal market into a regulated framework with consumer protections and generate tax revenue, while problem-gambling advocates urged funding for treatment and prevention.",{"_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},6236181,"Committee approves ban on extra fees for paper statements, rejects insurer-cost-recovery amendment",525,3211000,3736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c&start=3211&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378383-19dbc2250350bd57c656b5f10d9d7a0c/thumbnail_3211000.jpg","/articles/6236181/Alaska/Committee-approves-ban-on-extra-fees-for-paper-statements-rejects-insurer-cost-recovery-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236181-eacdddb1e5af15222e316720e20e642b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148116&Signature=gXCOUMnN9QyO-pSaEvVcd1adS6Kwr0ryIs8IVouXgqRoKwSV~pryoSNgoqxRfpPEBYHegMHTQ1QwIyn~XOW4enYOQg0E0-62DXylSsJp54sdfSXofoW~NuIZ92ZnbeJUuZLIgsGCI-~GKhwQ0igm8ZmLbeg~ctvvyf9P--VO9XptiAU9jo5JZns6V0QdxAYOYosDPRZtXu0Oe2x05rj75XwezspI4WjPYslyoDpFMm1Xdrrp0Sc99mtkGA-g5MnYhvb--drSdfhuB-5WGpWPP6QBvQj2vbVfPY93rlJFFc2tGh4zrbO8-76Jv~BVap4Qfxomra-Htn6RcF4k9MbW4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Labor and Commerce Committee reported House Bill 20 out of committee after members declined an amendment that would have let insurers recover most of the cost of providing paper statements.

Representative Dan Sadler, sponsor of HB 20, told the committee the bill “would just prevent businesses from charging an extra fee to customers who prefer to get their invoices or their statements … on paper.” He framed the proposal as addressing the needs of older Alaskans and residents with limited or unreliable internet access.

Representative Colom offered an amendment that would have allowed insurers to recover up to 90% of the cost of supplying paper statements. Representative Sadler opposed the amendment, arguing that paper costs are already baked into business operations and that the amendment would dilute the bill’s consumer-protection goal.

Staff testimony clarified examples of current practice: Melody Welterdink, staff to Representative Sadler, noted examples where banks charge a paper-statement fee (citing a $2 charge at one institution) and explained the sponsor’s intent to bar differential fees that penalize customers who use paper. Committee members debated whether the amendment would create an uneven recovery mechanism or allow companies to overstate costs.

The roll call on the amendment failed 1-5 (Colom yes; Sadler, Carrick, Nelson, Burke and Co-chair Fields opposed). After the amendment failed, Representative Burke moved to report HB 20 out of committee; there was no objection and the bill passed from committee by unanimous consent.

Members who supported the bill cited problems with missed electronic notices and the treatment of customers with unreliable internet; opponents of the amendment said businesses should not be presumed to need additional cost recovery for a longstanding paper option.

HB 20 will now proceed with committee recommendations; the transcript records no separate fiscal note attached to the motion to report.","The House Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 20, which would prohibit businesses from charging customers extra for paper invoices or statements; the committee rejected an amendment that would have allowed insurers to recoup up to 90% of paper-statement costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dental-hygiene education change in proposed Board of Dental Examiners bill draws opposition from hygienists

Bill would clarify ADA authority to finance workforce multifamily housing, sponsors say

House committee advances bill limiting interchange fees after raising bank-asset exemption to $20 billion

Sponsor and industry witnesses tell committee regulated mobile sports wagering would capture illegal bets and fund services

Committee approves ban on extra fees for paper statements, rejects insurer-cost-recovery amendment