Back to Alaska

HB116 • 2026

COMMERCIAL FISHING INSURANCE CO-OP

An Act exempting from insurance regulation cooperative agreements entered into by two or more persons engaged in commercial fishing for the purpose of paying claims or losses.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
HOUSE FISHERIES BY REQUEST OF TASK FORCE EVAL ALASKA SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
Last action
2025-07-30
Official status
CHAPTER 24 SLA 25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not define specific internal governance rules for the cooperatives beyond pooling contributions.

Exemption for Commercial Fishing Insurance Cooperatives

This law removes state insurance rules from agreements where two or more commercial fishermen join together to pay claims or losses.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates an exemption from Alaska's insurance regulations for specific groups of fishermen.
  • Allows two or more people in the fishing industry to form a cooperative agreement to pool money.
  • Permits these groups to use pooled funds to cover liability claims against their commercial fishing businesses.
  • Permits these groups to pay for damage to vessels or machines used in commercial fishing that are owned or leased by members.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Two or more people engaged in commercial fishing activities who enter into a cooperative agreement.
  • Members of the pool whose businesses face liability claims.
  • Owners or lessees of vessels and machines used in their commercial fishing business that are part of the agreement.

Terms To Know

Cooperative Agreement
An arrangement where two or more people engaged in commercial fishing pool contributions to pay claims or losses.
Liability Claim
A claim against a commercial fishing business operated by a member of the cooperative pool.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exemption only applies to agreements between two or more people engaged in commercial fishing.
  • Coverage is limited to liability claims and damage to vessels or machines owned or leased by members.
  • The text does not specify internal rules for the groups, such as how much money must be pooled.

Bill History

  1. 2025-07-30 1391

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 10/22/25

  2. 2025-07-30 1391

    (H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 7/24 CHAPTER 24 SLA 25

  3. 2025-07-30 1373

    (H) 2:15 P.M. 7/1/25 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR

  4. 2025-05-16 1305

    (S) VERSION: HB 116

  5. 2025-05-16 1305

    (S) RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT

  6. 2025-05-16 1305

    (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  7. 2025-05-16 1304

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 116

  8. 2025-05-14 1277

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/16 CAL

  9. 2025-05-14 1277

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  10. 2025-05-14 1277

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/14/2025

  11. 2025-05-13 1255

    (S) FN2: ZERO(CED)

  12. 2025-05-13 1255

    (S) NR: MERRICK, YUNDT

  13. 2025-05-13 1255

    (S) DP: BJORKMAN, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON

  14. 2025-05-13 1255

    (S) L&C RPT 3DP 2NR

  15. 2025-05-12 Min

    (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  16. 2025-05-12 Text

    (S) Moved HB 116 Out of Committee -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --

  17. 2025-05-12 Text

    (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  18. 2025-05-09 Min

    (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  19. 2025-05-09 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  20. 2025-05-09 Text

    (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  21. 2025-04-28 973

    (S) L&C

  22. 2025-04-28 973

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  23. 2025-04-25 918

    (H) VERSION: HB 116

  24. 2025-04-25 918

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  25. 2025-04-25 911

    (H) PASSED Y37 E3

  26. 2025-04-25 911

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 116

  27. 2025-04-23 862

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/25 CALENDAR

  28. 2025-04-23 862

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  29. 2025-04-23 862

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/23/2025

  30. 2025-03-26 543

    (H) FN2: ZERO(CED)

  31. 2025-03-26 543

    (H) NR: NELSON

  32. 2025-03-26 543

    (H) DP: CARRICK, COULOMBE, BURKE, FIELDS, HALL

  33. 2025-03-26 543

    (H) L&C RPT 5DP 1NR

  34. 2025-03-24 Min

    (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  35. 2025-03-24 Text

    (H) Moved HB 116 Out of Committee

  36. 2025-03-24 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  37. 2025-03-21 Text

    (H) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  38. 2025-03-21 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  39. 2025-03-13 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  40. 2025-03-13 Text

    (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>

  41. 2025-03-13 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  42. 2025-03-11 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  43. 2025-03-11 Text

    (H) Moved HB 116 Out of Committee

  44. 2025-03-11 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  45. 2025-03-11 408

    (H) FN1: (CED)

  46. 2025-03-11 408

    (H) NR: MCCABE

  47. 2025-03-11 408

    (H) DP: VANCE, KOPP, EDGMON, HIMSCHOOT, ELAM, STUTES

  48. 2025-03-11 408

    (H) FSH RPT 6DP 1NR

  49. 2025-03-06 Text

    (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --

  50. 2025-03-06 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  51. 2025-03-04 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  52. 2025-03-04 Text

    (H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --

  53. 2025-03-04 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:30 AM GRUENBERG 120

  54. 2025-03-01 Text

    (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --

  55. 2025-03-01 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 11:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  56. 2025-02-26 251

    (H) FSH, L&C

  57. 2025-02-26 251

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

COMMERCIAL FISHING INSURANCE CO-OP
An Act exempting from insurance regulation cooperative agreements entered into by two or more persons engaged in commercial fishing for the purpose of paying claims or losses.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Enrolled HB 116
LAWS OF ALASKA

2025

Source Chapter No.
HB 116 _______

AN ACT

Exempting from insurance regulation cooperative agreements ente red into by two or more
persons engaged in commercial fishing for the purpose of paying claims or losses.

_______________

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled HB 116

AN ACT

Exempting from insurance regulation cooperative agreements ente red into by two or more 1
persons engaged in commercial fishing for the purpose of paying claims or losses. 2
_______________ 3
* Section 1. AS 21.03.021 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 4
(l) This title does not apply to two or more persons engaged in commercial 5
fishing activities who enter into a cooperative agreement with each other to pool 6
contributions for the purpose of paying claims or losses arising from 7
(1) a liability claim against a commercial fishing business op erated by 8
a member of the pool; or 9
(2) the loss of or damage to a vessel or machine used in a com mercial 10
fishing business that is owned or leased by a member of the pool. 11