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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB261

Free Birth Certificates and IDs for Unhoused Young Adults

Last scannedSep 22, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This bill waives fees for birth certificates and non-federal ID cards for unhoused young adults aged 18 to 25 in Alaska.

What it does

  • Removes the fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate for unhoused individuals who are at least 18 years old but not yet 26 years old.
  • Allows expired or unexpired government-issued photo IDs, school records, medical records, or affidavits as proof of identity when requesting these documents if the person qualifies for a fee waiver.
  • Makes identification cards that are not federally compliant free for unhoused individuals who are at least 18 years old but not yet 26 years old.
  • Permits ID applicants to use an address other than their principal residence on non-federal IDs, such as where they frequently stay or a service organization's location.
  • Defines 'unhoused' as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Who it affects

  • Unhoused individuals in Alaska aged 18 through 25
  • The state registrar who issues birth certificates
  • State agencies that issue identification cards

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify an effective date.
  • Applicants must provide written verification on a form prescribed by the department to prove they are unhoused.
  • This bill only covers non-federal identification cards; it does not change rules for federally compliant REAL ID cards.

Plain language

Terms to know

unhoused
An individual lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes people staying in shelters, motels due to lack of other options, cars, parks, or abandoned buildings.
certified copy
An official version of a birth certificate issued by the bureau that is considered original evidence for all purposes.

Official record

Sources

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

UNHOUSED YOUNG ADULTS: IDS, BIRTH CERT. An Act relating to the issuance of certified copies of birth certificates to unhoused young adults; and relating to the issuance of identification cards to unhoused young adults.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE2414
  2. (S) FN2: ZERO(DOH)2414
  3. (S) FN1: (ADM)2414
  4. (S) DP: DUNBAR, MYERS, TOBIN, GIESSEL2414
  5. (S) HSS RPT CS 4DP SAME TITLE2414
  6. (S) Moved CSSB 261(HSS) Out of CommitteeText
  7. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  8. (S) Heard & HeldText
  9. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  10. (S) HSS, FIN1755
  11. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS1755