House committee hears bill to modernize Joint Armed Services Committee, add AFN and AML seats
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Summary
The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs held a first hearing on House Bill 382, which would update the statute governing the Joint Armed Services Committee (JASC), give the Alaska Federation of Natives and the Alaska Municipal League separate seats, assign roster management to the Legislative Affairs Agency and include a 2036 sunset for review.
Rep. Andrew Gray, sponsor of House Bill 382, told the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs on April 7 that the bill "modernizes the statutes regarding the structure, function, and focus of the Joint Armed Services Committee, otherwise known as JASC." The committee opened the first hearing and heard invited testimony and questions but took no formal vote.
The bill, Gray said, would split a long-shared seat so that the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) and the Alaska Municipal League (AML) each hold their own seat on JASC, assign basic roster-management duties to the Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA), update outdated references to the BRAC process, and include a statutory sunset in 2036 so the committee’s role is revisited. "We're trying to make the law reflect what we actually do," Gray said during the hearing.
The measure drew historical context and support from Chris Nelson, a retired lieutenant colonel who helped organize Alaska’s early BRAC response. Nelson described how JASC grew out of 1990s base-realignment work and reuse efforts and said the expanded, more-inclusive committee structure would help Alaska coordinate around defense-related issues. "I think this is a great draft," Nelson said; later he added, "I fully support your efforts."
Committee members pressed sponsors on several points. Rep. Ballard asked whether Nelson had spoken with active-duty base commanders about the changes; Nelson said he had "brief" contacts but "other than that, I have not had any extended conversations with the current commander." Rep. Sadler repeatedly probed why AFN and AML should receive separate permanent seats when several legislative members already represent community and business interests, asking directly, "Why does AFN and AML deserve their own seats?" Staff responded that AFN has historically occupied the shared seat while AML participation has been uneven, and that the bill would formalize separate representation rather than introduce a previously absent voice.
On operational details, staff member Kyle Johansen read the bill’s sectional changes: removing a repetitive report delivery requirement, splitting the AFN/AML shared seat into two seats, adjusting quorum language to reflect the new membership, asking LAA to manage civilian member rosters, clarifying BRAC-related language, removing statutory overlap with an executive-branch military commission, and adopting a staggered-appointment process modeled on recent executive-branch statute language. Johansen told the committee LAA indicated it could maintain the roster "with no fiscal impact."
Members discussed whether the bill’s broader language, which would let JASC "convene hearings and stakeholder consultations on emerging defense issues," was too expansive and whether the committee’s current practice already met needs without changing statute. Several members said a 10-year sunset could be a useful accountability mechanism; Gray said the sunset was intended to prompt periodic review.
Chair Rep. Eisheide opened public testimony; none was offered in-room or online. After hearing the sponsor’s closing remarks — in which Gray said U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the original JASC sponsor, expressed support for revisiting the statute — the chair set an amendment deadline and later adjusted it. The chair initially set the amendment deadline to April 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., then, after member concerns about turnaround time, moved the deadline to April 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The committee did not take a vote on the bill; the committee scheduled further consideration and will meet next on April 9 at 10:15 a.m.
The hearing record contains detailed staff and historical context to guide potential amendments, and members signaled areas for revision: narrowing "stakeholder consultations" language, clarifying who counts as a civilian or stakeholder member, and ensuring consultation with active-duty leadership is documented if members choose to pursue that concern. The committee packet includes past JASC meeting minutes and the sponsor said members should review those records ahead of future hearings on the bill.
