House committee hears bill to create Alaska Department of Agriculture; mariculture placement, budget and authority debated

The House Resources Committee on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 heard House Bill 140, introduced by Representative Zach Fields, to establish a Department of Agriculture and move agriculture-related functions out of the Department of Natural Resources. Representative Fields presented the bill and introduced Amy Ticek, policy director for the Alaska Farm Bureau, and Jason Lessard, executive director of the Alaska Mariculture Alliance, who offered testimony and answered questions.

The bill would create a commissioner-led agency focused on cultivation industries, transfer existing division staff and programs and open a legislative process to decide which programs would move and how they would be funded. "I am supportive of creating a Department of Agriculture and funding it sufficient to provide robust support for agriculture, including both on land and mariculture," Representative Fields said.

Amy Ticek told the committee the Farm Bureau supports a department that centers "cultivation industries" and urged care in how fisheries and mariculture are folded into any new structure. She said the Department of Agriculture white paper from the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force provides a framework and called for expanded market development, grants, loans, technical assistance and stronger university research. "If we don't have all the answers right now, I don't think it should hold up forming this new department," Ticek said.

Jason Lessard of the Alaska Mariculture Alliance described mariculture in Alaska as production and enhancement of marine shellfish and aquatic plants and said finfish farming remains prohibited under state law. He outlined industry benefits including local economic diversification, potential contributions to food security and environmental benefits from shellfish and seaweed. Lessard said mariculture currently interacts with multiple state agencies and federal authorities and that the industry is still organizing rules and regulatory fit.

Rena Miller, special assistant to the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, told the committee the bill redirects communication so that the DNR would liaise department-to-department with a commissioner of agriculture rather than primarily with the Board of Agriculture. Miller said the intent of those provisions is to streamline consultation, not to eliminate the board. On funding, Miller described three fiscal notes tied to moving the current Division of Agriculture and the Plant Materials Center into a new department and a third, indeterminate fiscal note to receive and staff the new agency.

Committee members pressed several topics: whether mariculture should move under a Department of Agriculture or remain with the Department of Fish and Game; how the department would be funded and phased in; and whether duties currently held by the Board of Agriculture would shift to a commissioner. Representative Fields said the bill is intended as a vehicle for legislative input and amendment, and that members could use it to craft structure and funding levels. Several members suggested a phased approach to staffing and spending.

No formal vote was taken on House Bill 140 at the hearing; committee chairs set the bill aside to continue work and outreach. Representative Fields and witnesses recommended review of the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force white paper and other background materials as the committee considers structure and fiscal questions.

Ending: The committee took the bill under advisement and set it aside for further drafting, fiscal analysis and stakeholder input. The committee then recessed to continue the agenda with the next item, House Bill 93.