The Alaska House State Affairs Committee held first hearings on three bills: HB 188 to create a Welcoming Alaska office in DOLWD; HB 226 to raise the AHFC rural loan cap to $400,000; and HB 303 to align Alaska's imported-vehicle registration age with the federal 25-year standard. Testimony included state and nonprofit witnesses and Department of Labor staff; each bill was set aside for further review next week.