House committee advances bill to add a tenured faculty regent to University Board of Regents; 9-2 roll call

The House Finance Committee voted 9–2 on April 9 to send House Bill 10 to the next stage with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. HB10 would add a tenured faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents to serve a two‑year term following a selection process.

"House Bill 10 would very simply add 1 tenured faculty member to the Board of Regents to serve a 2 year term after a thorough selection process," sponsor Representative Ashley Kerrick said in a brief recap to the committee.

Committee members questioned whether the Board of Regents had been consulted and whether the new seat would create conflicts of interest when the board considers matters such as faculty salaries. Cadence Conner, an intern to Representative Kerrick, read conflict‑of‑interest statute language to the committee, citing "section 39.52 0.220" and related disclosure requirements, and said those procedures would apply to a faculty regent. Conner also noted the board’s existing student regent practice of recusal when votes would affect the student’s own program.

Several members expressed reservations. Representative Ballard said he had spoken with every current regent and reported they opposed the legislation. Representative Tomaszewski and others raised conflict‑of‑interest concerns and questioned whether the change was necessary; Representative Stout said she preferred the full House consider the bill rather than keep it in finance.

Other members noted that six states have statutory faculty regents who are full voting members of their systems’ governing boards; Representative Kirk told the committee that examples include Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. Opponents emphasized many states use non‑voting or ex‑officio faculty members rather than full voting members.

When the committee called the roll, the clerk recorded nine yeas and two nays; the clerk announced: "In a vote of 9 yea, 2 nay. House Bill 10 ... is passed out of committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes." The motion moved HB10 out of the committee’s jurisdiction to continue through the legislative process; the committee document number given in the motion was 34‑LS0171N.

Ending: The bill was advanced with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes; proponents said they will continue to work with members and stakeholders to address conflict‑of‑interest concerns as the bill moves forward.