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Committee hears bill to let state use online public‑notice system in place of some newspaper ads
Summary
Senate Bill 166 would allow Alaska agencies to meet statutory public‑notice requirements via the Alaska Online Public Notice System rather than mandating newspaper advertisements, aiming to save money and reflect changing readership habits; DEC and DNR staff presented the bill and public testimony was left open.
The Senate State Affairs Committee on May 8 heard testimony on Senate Bill 166, legislation requested by the governor that would modernize how state agencies publish statutorily required public notices by explicitly allowing the Alaska Online Public Notice System to satisfy notice requirements in lieu of newspapers.
The change is intended to reduce costs and reflect that most newspaper readership has moved online. Jason Olds, director of air quality at the Department of Environmental Conservation, told the committee the bill is modeled on a measure passed by the Senate the prior year and would not change permitting standards; it would only provide agencies the option to post notices to the statewide online system instead of requiring multiple print insertions. Olds said recent reductions in print circulation and a migration of readership online motivated the update and that newspaper ad costs can range from about $500 to $1,500 depending on length and outlet.
Under the bill, several existing notice processes — including DNR leasing and mineral lease notices, DEC waste disposal permit notices, and notices tied to water‑use and land decisions — would include the Alaska Online Public Notice System as an authorized platform. Olds also described provisions to reduce duplicate print publication mandates and to modernize formatting and incorporation of outside documents into regulations.
Committee members asked how agencies would decide when to run print advertisements instead of relying on the online system. Olds and staff said print should be used for issues that are geographically targeted, contentious, or where reliable internet access is limited; he cited the Fairbanks PM2.5 SIP (state implementation plan) as an example where print may still be appropriate. Brandon McCutchen of the Department of Natural Resources was available online for questions but did not speak at length.
The committee left public testimony open and invited written comments by email to senatestateaffairs@akleg.gov; staff said submitted testimony will be scanned into the permanent record.
