Committee advances bill to raise Alaska procurement preference for in-state agriculture and fisheries to 10%

The House Special Committee on Fisheries on Feb. 11 moved House Bill 60 out of committee to the next stage with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.

House Bill 60 would increase the mandatory in-state procurement preference for Alaska-grown agricultural and fisheries products from the current 7% to 10% for school districts, municipalities and state agencies that receive state funding.

Anna Latham, deputy commissioner at the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, summarized the bill for the committee: "House Bill 60 is an increase to the existing procurement statutes for Alaska grown agricultural and fisheries products, and it raises the mandatory requirement for school districts that receive state funding, for municipalities that receive state funding, and for state agencies from the 7% that's existing to 10%." She also told the committee her office received no amendments on the bill.

Committee members asked no follow-up questions during the second hearing. Representative Bryce Edgmon moved the motion to report the bill out of committee; the committee moved the bill forward by unanimous voice consent with the accompanying fiscal notes.

The measure was first introduced on Feb. 6 and, according to committee staff, received no amendments by the second hearing. The committee record lists the Department of Administration and the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development as parties to the discussion; additional agency staff were available online but did not offer testimony.

The bill will proceed with the committee's recommended fiscal notes and is expected to be scheduled for further consideration by the full House. No vote tally was recorded in the committee; the chair noted the bill was moved with "no objection."