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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB222

State Agency Review and Sunset Process

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This law requires the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to review executive branch agencies at least once every six years to decide if they should continue, change, or end.

What it does

  • Requires the legislative audit division to create a staggered schedule for reviewing each agency at least once every six years.
  • Mandates that agencies submit reports on their performance and costs by January 1 of the review year.
  • Directs auditors to verify information, hold public hearings, and write a report recommending whether an agency should end, continue, or reorganize based on specific criteria like cost-effectiveness and mission success.
  • Gives the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee authority to vote on these recommendations and introduce new laws at the start of the next regular session if they accept them.
  • Sets rules for agencies that are ended so they can finish their work until June 30 of the year following termination before fully closing.

Who it affects

  • Executive branch units including divisions, boards, commissions, authorities, funds, and corporations
  • The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee
  • The legislative audit division

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not apply to principal departments, the University of Alaska, or specific commissions listed in the text.
  • Confidential information shared during a review cannot be published without permission from the agency.
  • The exact schedule for which agencies are reviewed first is determined by the legislative audit division but is not included in this bill.

Plain language

Terms to know

Sunset review
A scheduled check to see if an agency is still needed by looking at its mission, costs, and performance.
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee (LB&A)
The group of lawmakers that reviews audit reports and votes on whether agencies should continue or change.
Terminated agency
An agency ordered to stop operating unless new laws keep it open, which then has one year to finish its work before closing completely.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

STATE AGENCY REVIEW BY LB&A COMMITTEE An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee; relating to the powers and duties of the legislative audit division; providing for a sunset review of executive branch agencies; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE1517
  2. (S) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER1517
  3. (S) FN1: ZERO(GOV)1517
  4. (S) FIN1517
  5. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS1517