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HB48

HB 48: Civil Legal Services Fund Appropriations

Last scannedSep 21, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law changes how much money from court filing fees can be put into the civil legal services fund to help low-income people get lawyers.

What it does

  • Increases the amount of Alaska Court System filing fees that may go into the fund from 10 percent to 25 percent.
  • Allows the legislature to take this money only after it is deposited in the state general fund.
  • Permits spending from the fund for organizations that give civil legal services to low-income individuals.

Who it affects

  • The Alaska Legislature
  • Organizations providing civil legal services
  • Low-income individuals in Alaska

Limits and unknowns

  • The law states that this section does not create a dedicated fund.
  • The text does not say exactly how much total money will be in the fund each year, only the percentage of fees allowed.
  • The effective date listed is August 23, 2026.

Plain language

Terms to know

Civil Legal Services Fund
A special account in the general fund that holds money for giving legal help to people who cannot afford it.
Appropriations
Money officially set aside by the legislature for a specific purpose.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUND An Act relating to appropriations to the civil legal services fund.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) FN5: (CC:HB263/FUND TRANSFERS)
  2. (H) FN4: (CED)
  3. (H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 263
  4. (H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26
  5. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 8/23/20263034
  6. (H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 5/20 CHAPTER 5 SLA 263034
  7. (H) 3:45 P.M. 5/7/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR2446
  8. (S) VERSION: HB 482492
  9. (S) RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT2492
  10. (S) PASSED Y17 N32492
  11. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 482491
  12. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): CLAMAN2466
  13. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/6 CAL2466
  14. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME2466
  15. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/4/20262466
  16. (S) FN4: (CED)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)2436
  17. (S) FN3: ZERO(AJS)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)2436
  18. (S) NR: STEDMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK2435
  19. (S) DP: OLSON, HOFFMAN, KIEHL2435
  20. (S) FIN RPT 3DP 4NR2435