The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to report House Bill 110, legislation to bring Alaska into the social work interstate licensure compact, out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.

Supporters told the committee the compact would expand Alaskans' access to licensed social workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas where in‑person care is limited. Dr. Yvonne Chase, president of the National Association of Social Workers and a University of Alaska professor, said, "This is really about saving lives." Representative Gray sponsored the bill.

The bill's proponents described telehealth and multistate licensure as tools to reduce gaps in continuity of care. Kiernan Riley, who identified as a recent master of social work graduate from the University of Alaska Anchorage, testified that telehealth can be "our only option" for many Alaskans and urged the committee, "Please pass HB 110." Jennifer Peck, a licensed clinical social worker in Anchorage, described her licensing experience: "The licensing process was long, tedious, and expensive," and said maintaining multiple state licenses reduces continuity for clients who travel or move.

Representatives and testifiers said the compact does not lower professional standards; rather, they said it reduces duplicative requirements that delay practitioners from serving Alaskans. Toni Protsman, executive director of the Alaska chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, said a member survey (she described it as a small sample) showed improved continuity of care as a primary reason for support. Dr. Tasha Childs, a social work educator and military spouse, noted the administrative and financial burden on military families who maintain multiple licenses across states.

Committee members asked whether Alaska is in a behavioral‑health "crisis." Representative Sadler and others pressed testifiers and the sponsor for specifics; Dr. Chase said she could not name a single year when the situation became a crisis but noted longstanding workforce shortages and higher suicide and homelessness rates than national averages. Representative Gray pointed to shortages in the Department of Corrections and the Office of Children’s Services as examples of unmet need where additional social workers could help.

No public amendments were filed for HB 110 at the committee deadline. The committee moved the bill forward by voice vote; the committee then briefly recessed to sign the report.

The bill will next proceed with the committee's recommendations and fiscal notes attached for floor consideration.