House Resources Committee hears three confirmation statements for Big Game Commercial Services Board; appointments set aside for public testimony

The House Resources Committee on Feb. 20, 2026, heard confirmation statements from three governor-appointed candidates for the Big Game Commercial Services Board and set each appointment aside for later public testimony.

The committee, co-chaired by Representative Freer, opened the hearing at 1:06 p.m. in Capitol Room 124. Members present included Representatives Colombe, Hall and Mears; Representative Sadler joined the hearing shortly after it began.

Brianna Halk, introduced by the chair as "Brianna Hodge" and identified by herself as Brianna Halk, said she moved to Alaska after seasonal work with the National Ecological Observatory Network and currently works "as a lands and natural resource specialist" managing Doyon lands, which she described as "roughly 12,500,000 acres." Halk said her responsibilities include trespass mitigation and land-use permitting, and that those duties brought her into regular contact with hunters, guides and transporters. "I fell in love with Alaska," she said, and described her interest in representing private landowners on the board.

Committee members pressed Halk on residency, hunting experience and potential employer conflicts. Representative Sadler asked how she would handle situations where her employer, Doyon, might have interests contrary to the public interest. Halk said she would "be unbiased, to represent the general public interest, not just my employer's interest," and clarified that her primary and only residence is in Alaska. After brief questioning the committee "set this appointment aside" to allow for public testimony at a later date.

The committee next took testimony from Larry Cunder of Anchorage, whom the chair said is serving his first term and was reappointed by Governor Dunleavy to a term expiring March 2030. Cunder described long involvement with sportsmen's organizations, experience using outfitters and transporters, and work on regulatory review. He said the board has "sat and combed through every single rule and regulation" as part of Administrative Order 360 (AO 360) work and that the board has made progress on required timelines but expects further statutory changes will be needed to complete regulatory updates.

On policy, Cunder said, "I do believe guide concession areas is a positive thing," and added that he would "love to see" transporter concession areas as well, arguing that managed concession areas can encourage stewardship by operators and reduce problematic behavior on public land. On a concurrent bill changing residency qualifications for hunting and fishing licenses (a bill described in the hearing as paralleling Permanent Fund Dividend residency rules), Cunder said he had not reviewed the measure and did not offer a firm position.

After questioning the committee again set Cunder's appointment aside for later public testimony.

The third nominee was introduced in committee records as Robert Mumford of Anchorage; the person who spoke identified himself as "Robert Lundberg" and said he goes by "Bob." He described a multi-decade public-safety and conservation career — time with the Air Force, service as a state trooper, and roughly 20 years with Fish and Game — and prior service on related boards. The nominee said he favors higher testing and qualification standards for guides and assistant guides to improve safety and professionalism, and that there remains interest among new entrants to the guiding industry. He also said he generally supports concession-area approaches in some regions but would want to review how any program is written.

Throughout the hearing, committee members highlighted three recurring topics: (1) the board's regulatory-review work tied to AO 360; (2) policy questions about guide concession areas and whether transporter concession areas should be created; and (3) a separate legislative proposal adjusting residency rules for hunting and fishing licenses. No votes were taken; the committee repeatedly "set aside" each appointment pending public testimony. The committee adjourned at 1:45 p.m. and scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 23 at 1 p.m., which will include a presentation from the Alaska Mining Association and public testimony on House Bill 271.