Committee trims membership, approves amendments to Alaska Innovation Council bill; reports bill out 5-1

The House Labor and Commerce Committee amended and voted to report House Bill 34 on March 3, a bill to create an Alaska Innovation Council.

Representative Kai Holland, sponsor of HB 34, described the council’s role in advising state leaders, business organizations and universities on innovation policy. Committee members debated two amendments intended to reduce the council’s cost and membership before final committee action.

Amendment G.3, moved by Representative Colomb, changed meeting rules to allow electronic meetings (without prohibiting in‑person meetings) to reduce travel and associated costs. Representative Holland said the amendment was acceptable: "I am supportive of this amendment and, quite honestly, kind of assumed that some sort of telephonic option was kinda built in." The amendment passed with no objections.

Amendment G.5, also moved by Representative Colomb, reduced the council’s membership by three seats and reshaped appointments: it removed an executive director seat for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) designee and one for the Alaska Postsecondary Education Commission; it increased private‑sector membership by two slots (one with a rural focus and one with an urban focus); and reduced university representation from two seats to one for the member experienced in teaching and student entrepreneurship. Representative Holland said the sponsor offices had worked together on the amendment but warned the change could lessen the council’s applied research focus and recommended inviting removed stakeholders to meetings as needed.

Sponsoring members argued the revision would lower the bill’s fiscal note. A committee member asked for the magnitude of the savings; the sponsor’s office said the original proposal had an estimated cost of over $500,000 and the amendment could reduce that to about $135,000.

Opponents expressed concern about removing institutional voices. Representative Sadler, who later voted against the bill being reported out, voiced broader unease about formalizing a government body’s role in driving innovation policy: "Government directed innovation kinda gives me the willies," Sadler said, adding concern about the council accruing authority beyond advisory functions.

The committee adopted amendment G.5 by roll call, 5 yeas and 1 nay. The secretary’s tally recorded votes during the amendment: Representative Colomb — Yes; Representative Sadler — Yes (earlier in the amendment vote he voted yes; see final bill vote below); Representative Berg — Yes; Co‑Chair Hall — Yes; Co‑Chair Fields — Yes; Representative Carrick — No (the roll-call sequence recorded a single no during the amendment vote). The committee then voted to report HB 34 out of committee as amended with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. On the final report motion, the roll call was 5 yays, 1 nay (Representative Sadler opposed; Representative Nelson was recorded as absent). Representative Hall moved to report the bill; the motion carried by the same 5–1 margin.

Why it matters: HB 34 proposes to create a convening body intended to coordinate innovation policy across state government, universities and private actors. Members’ amendments narrowed the council’s membership and emphasized cost containment while sponsors said the council would need to coordinate with removed stakeholders to retain technical expertise.

Ending: With committee passage and a report out, HB 34 moves forward with amended membership and a reduced projected fiscal impact; members asked staff and sponsors to ensure mechanisms to engage the institutions removed from permanent membership.