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Anchorage Assembly urges Alaska Senate to act on bill raising age of consent to 18
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Summary
The Assembly unanimously passed a resolution (AR2026‑98) calling on the Alaska Legislature to advance House Bill 101 to raise the age of consent to 18 and asking the Senate to discharge committee hold‑ups if necessary. Sponsors said the measure protects youth and has agency support.
The Anchorage Assembly on April 14 adopted a resolution urging the Alaska State Legislature to advance House Bill 101, legislation that would raise the age of sexual consent to 18.
Assemblymember Silvers, lead sponsor, said the bill passed the House unanimously and that delay in the Senate is leaving Alaska youth vulnerable. “No more excuses. No more waiting,” she said, urging the Senate to use existing procedural options to bring the bill to a vote if a committee chair blocks it.
Speakers in favor cited testimony and letters of support from local law enforcement and victim‑advocacy groups included in the amendment; the Assembly added a section requesting that Senate leadership or the chair use uniform rules to discharge HB101 from the Senate Judiciary Committee and bring it to the floor.
Assemblymember Gerker emphasized that Alaska records among the highest rates of sexual violence and argued the bill would close an exploitative legal gap that predators exploit. The amended resolution passed on an 11–0 vote; sponsors said they would circulate the Assembly’s action to state lawmakers.
What’s next: The Assembly’s resolution is a nonbinding expression of municipal support. The sponsors will provide the final text to state legislators for consideration and outreach.
