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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB161

Alaska Paid Sick Leave Changes and Exemptions

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This law requires employers with at least 50 employees in Alaska to provide paid sick leave, while exempting seasonal workers from these requirements.

What it does

  • Requires employers with 50 or more employees to allow staff to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
  • Limits the amount of paid sick leave an employee can accrue or use in a year to 56 hours, unless the employer sets a higher limit.
  • Allows unused paid sick leave to carry over to the next year but limits how much an employee can use in any single year.
  • Exempts seasonal workers from all requirements related to minimum paid sick leave benefits and notices.
  • Prohibits employers from punishing employees who take or ask for paid sick leave, including requiring them to find a replacement worker.

Who it affects

  • Employers in Alaska with 50 or more employees
  • Employees working for those large employers
  • Seasonal workers hired for specific periods related to peak business

Limits and unknowns

  • The official text provided ends abruptly and does not fully define what counts as 'peak business' for seasonal workers.
  • The exact effective date is listed in the bill but marked as empty in the metadata section, though the text mentions July 1, 2025.

Plain language

Terms to know

Accrue
To earn paid sick leave over time based on hours worked.
Seasonal worker
An employee hired for a specific period related to peak business who is exempt from this law.
In loco parentis
A person acting in the place of a parent, such as someone raising a child without being their legal guardian or biological parent.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

PAID SICK LEAVE EXEMPTION An Act relating to minimum paid sick leave requirements; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) COSPONSOR(S): MOORE1751
  2. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SCHWANKE1573
  3. (H) ST. CLAIR1545
  4. (H) COSPONSOR(S): ALLARD, COSTELLO, UNDERWOOD, VANCE, TOMASZEWSKI, MCCABE, PRAX,1545
  5. (H) COSPONSOR(S): BYNUM1532
  6. (H) COSPONSOR(S): ELAM1162
  7. (H) Minutes (HL&C)Min
  8. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 15 min after adjournment --Text
  9. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  10. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SADDLER851
  11. (H) Minutes (HL&C)Min
  12. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 15 min. Following Session --Text
  13. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  14. (H) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --Text
  15. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124Text
  16. (H) COSPONSOR(S): KOPP751
  17. (H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE563
  18. (H) L&C, FIN563
  19. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS563