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Alaska2026Vetoed

HB278

Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission Bill

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This bill establishes the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission to promote trade, investment, and cooperation between Alaska and Ireland.

What it does

  • Creates the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
  • Sets up a nine-member commission: five appointed by the governor, two from the House, and two from the Senate.
  • Allows members to serve without pay unless outside donations are received for travel or daily expenses.
  • Requires meetings to be held online except when in-person meetings outside Alaska are needed with seven days of public notice.
  • Orders the commission to submit an annual report listing all grants, donations, and gifts received, along with findings and recommendations.

Who it affects

  • The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
  • Nine appointed members who serve on the new trade commission
  • Businesses or groups that might provide grants, donations, or gifts to support the commission

Limits and unknowns

  • The governor vetoed this bill, so it did not become law unless lawmakers voted to override that decision.
  • Members do not receive a salary and cannot use state funds for travel or daily expenses unless outside donations are received first.

Plain language

Terms to know

Commission
A group of people chosen by leaders to handle a specific job, like helping trade between Alaska and Ireland.
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present for the group to make official decisions; here it is more than half of all members.
Staggered terms
A system where some members leave office at different times so not everyone leaves at once, keeping experience on the group.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text
Read the official summary

ECONOMIC DEV:AK-IRELAND TRADE COMM. An Act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/263154
  2. (H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR3096
  3. (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)3056
  4. (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK3012
  5. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2973
  6. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y38 A22972
  7. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP2972
  8. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED2972
  9. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 278(STA)2807
  10. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED2807
  11. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2798
  12. (S) PASSED Y20 N-2798
  13. (S) STEDMAN2797
  14. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, KAWASAKI, YUNDT, OLSON, TOBIN, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN,2797
  15. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 278(STA)2797
  16. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, MERRICK, CRONK, TILTON, STEVENS2762
  17. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/19 CAL2759
  18. (S) STA SCS ADOPTED UC2759
  19. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME2759
  20. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/20262759

Changes

Amendments

1 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN 1913