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HB298

Changes to Alaska Legislative Ethics and Subpoena Rules

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 12:25 AM

In one sentence

This law updates rules for state lawmakers about gifts, office use, and political activities while changing which groups can issue subpoenas.

What it does

  • Removes the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics from a list of bodies that cannot issue certain types of subpoenas.
  • Updates the definition of 'agency' to clarify it does not include legislators, judges, or members of city councils.
  • Lists specific situations where lawmakers can use state resources for personal reasons without breaking ethics rules.
  • Allows legislators to send newsletters and seasonal greeting cards using legislative staff if they do not support a political candidate.
  • Permits the Legislative Council to designate public facilities for lawmaker health or fitness activities with set guidelines.

Who it affects

  • State senators and representatives
  • Legislative employees
  • The Select Committee on Legislative Ethics

Limits and unknowns

  • The provided text cuts off before finishing Section 4, so details about whistleblower protections are incomplete.
  • Some specific guidelines for health and fitness facility use must be created later by the Legislative Council.

Plain language

Terms to know

Select Committee on Legislative Ethics
A group that investigates whether lawmakers are following ethics rules.
Subpoena
An official order requiring someone to appear or provide documents for an investigation.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

LEGISLATIVE ETHICS CMTE & PROCEEDINGS An Act relating to the Legislative Ethics Act; relating to legislative subpoenas; relating to the jurisdiction of the office of the ombudsman; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 6/24/263162
  2. (H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/22 CH 29 SLA 263162
  3. (H) 12:55 P.M. 6/5/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR3059
  4. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2751
  5. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y402751
  6. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP2750
  7. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED2750
  8. (S) VERSION: SCS HB 298(JUD)2739
  9. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED2739
  10. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2721
  11. (S) PASSED Y20 N-2721
  12. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): CLAMAN, GIESSEL, STEDMAN, TOBIN, KAWASAKI, STEVENS2720
  13. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS HB 298(JUD)2720
  14. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC2720
  15. (S) JUD SCS ADOPTED UC2720
  16. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME2720
  17. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/20262720
  18. (S) FN1: ZERO(LEG)2567
  19. (S) NR: TILTON2567
  20. (S) DP: CLAMAN, KIEHL, TOBIN2567