House Finance Committee forwards SSCR 1 to floor with attached documents after 6–5 vote

The House Finance Committee voted 6–5 on March 11 to move Senate Special Concurrent Resolution 1 (SSCR 1), the special concurrent resolution to disapprove Executive Order 136, from committee to the full legislature for further consideration. Committee staff and legal counsel briefed members on the procedure and public testimony was taken before members acted.

"The House Finance Committee has reviewed SSCR 1 and moves it from the House Finance Committee with attached documents and fiscal note," Representative Shrogy said when moving the motion. Committee staff member Bridal Anderson reviewed the resolution and accompanying fiscal note for the record and explained that uniform rule 49(a)(4) constrains the form and purpose of a special concurrent resolution: it is the vehicle the Legislature uses to disapprove an executive order and does not require three readings in committee.

Megan Wallace, Chief Counsel of Legal Services, told the committee that a special concurrent resolution may be amended for technical or clarifying language but cannot be used to enact the executive order itself. Wallace summarized that the cleanest way to make the resolution available for a possible joint session is to move it out of committee with the accompanying report.

Public testimony on SSCR 1 included two callers in support of the executive order. John Dart, owner of Dardan Farms and Manley Hot Springs Produce Company, told the committee he supports EO 136 and said the proposal "can be done seamlessly" and would give farmers "a voice at the governor's table." Amy Seitz, policy director for the Alaska Farm Bureau, also testified in support of the executive order and said a department would give agriculture a higher-level advocate and quicker response in emergencies.

After discussion and an objection to the motion, the committee clerk called the roll and the motion passed with a recorded tally of 6 yea and 5 nay. The chair noted that signing the committee report and moving the resolution to the floor does not indicate how any individual member will vote during a later joint-session vote on disapproval.

The committee's action sends SSCR 1, with attached public comments and a fiscal note showing a $0 OMB impact for the resolution itself, to the House for further consideration. The committee also scheduled several hearings for the next day, including introductory hearings on HB 10 (University Board of Regents faculty addition), HB 31 (derelict vessel fund) and HB 36 (psychiatric treatment for foster children).