KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB125 • 2026

BOARD OF FISHERIES MEMBERSHIP

An Act relating to membership of the Board of Fisheries.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVES JIMMIE, Foster, Kopp, Burke, Dibert, Story, Galvin, Carrick SENATOR Dunbar
Last action
2026-04-20
Official status
(S) CRA
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the updated definitions of 'subsistence fishing' and 'subsistence uses' will be applied in practice.

Changes to Board of Fisheries Membership

This act modifies the membership requirements for the Board of Fisheries in Alaska, including representation from commercial, sport, and subsistence fishing communities as well as scientific expertise.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds two members who represent commercial fishing to the Board of Fisheries.
  • Adds two members who represent sport fishing to the Board of Fisheries.
  • Adds two members who represent subsistence fishing to the Board of Fisheries.
  • Includes one member from the scientific community with knowledge in fisheries management.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Governor, as they appoint board members subject to legislative confirmation.
  • Members of the Board of Fisheries, who will have new requirements for their roles.

Terms To Know

subsistence fishing
Taking fish or other resources by a resident of Alaska for subsistence uses.
subsistence uses
Noncommercial, traditional ways to use wild resources for food, shelter, and other needs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact geographical locations of residence for board members.
  • It is unclear how the new definitions will be applied in practice.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

AM 1

1175

AM NO 1 OFFERED AND PENDING

Plain English: AM NO 1 OFFERED AND PENDING 1175

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 2

1228

AM NOS 2, 3, AND 4 NOT OFFERED

Plain English: AM NOS 2, 3, AND 4 NOT OFFERED 1228

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 5

1228

AM NO 5 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

Plain English: AM NO 5 FAILED Y18 N21 E1 1228

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 6

1229

AM NO 6 MOVED TO BOTTOM

Plain English: AM NO 6 MOVED TO BOTTOM 1229

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 7

1229

AM NO 7 FAILED Y17 N22 E1

Plain English: AM NO 7 FAILED Y17 N22 E1 1229

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 8

1230

AM NO 8 FAILED Y14 N25 E1

Plain English: AM NO 8 FAILED Y14 N25 E1 1230

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 9

1232

AM NO 9 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

Plain English: AM NO 9 FAILED Y18 N21 E1 1232

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 10

1233

AM NO 10 FAILED Y17 N22 E1

Plain English: AM NO 10 FAILED Y17 N22 E1 1233

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 11

1234

AM NO 11 NOT OFFERED

Plain English: AM NO 11 NOT OFFERED 1234

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 12

1234

AM NO 12 FAILED Y16 N23 E1

Plain English: AM NO 12 FAILED Y16 N23 E1 1234

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 13

1235

AM NO 13 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

Plain English: AM NO 13 FAILED Y18 N21 E1 1235

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-20 2291

    (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): DUNBAR

  2. 2026-04-16 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  3. 2026-04-16 Text

    (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  4. 2025-05-19 1339

    (S) REFERRED TO COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

  5. 2025-05-19 1339

    (S) CRA, RES

  6. 2025-05-19 1339

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  7. 2025-05-17 1274

    (H) VERSION: CSHB 125(FSH)

  8. 2025-05-17 1274

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  9. 2025-05-17 1262

    (H) PASSED Y22 N17 E1

  10. 2025-05-17 1261

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 125(FSH)

  11. 2025-05-16 1248

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK

  12. 2025-05-16 1237

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/17 CALENDAR

  13. 2025-05-16 1236

    (H) AM NO 6 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

  14. 2025-05-16 1235

    (H) AM NO 13 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

  15. 2025-05-16 1234

    (H) AM NO 12 FAILED Y16 N23 E1

  16. 2025-05-16 1234

    (H) AM NO 11 NOT OFFERED

  17. 2025-05-16 1233

    (H) AM NO 10 FAILED Y17 N22 E1

  18. 2025-05-16 1232

    (H) AM NO 9 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

  19. 2025-05-16 1230

    (H) AM NO 8 FAILED Y14 N25 E1

  20. 2025-05-16 1229

    (H) AM NO 7 FAILED Y17 N22 E1

  21. 2025-05-16 1229

    (H) AM NO 6 MOVED TO BOTTOM

  22. 2025-05-16 1228

    (H) AM NO 5 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

  23. 2025-05-16 1228

    (H) AM NOS 2, 3, AND 4 NOT OFFERED

  24. 2025-05-16 1228

    (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING

  25. 2025-05-14 1198

    (H) HELD IN SECOND READING TO 5/16 CALENDAR

  26. 2025-05-14 1197

    (H) FSH CS ADOPTED UC

  27. 2025-05-14 1197

    (H) RESCIND ACTION (ADOPTED) RES CS PASSED Y21 N19

  28. 2025-05-14 1196

    (H) AM NO 1 FAILED Y19 N21

  29. 2025-05-14 1196

    (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING

  30. 2025-05-13 1182

    (H) COSPONSOR REMOVED: ALLARD

  31. 2025-05-13 1182

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN

  32. 2025-05-13 1176

    (H) HELD IN SECOND READING TO 5/14 CALENDAR

  33. 2025-05-13 1175

    (H) AM NO 1 OFFERED AND PENDING

  34. 2025-05-13 1174

    (H) RES CS ADOPTED UC

  35. 2025-05-13 1174

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  36. 2025-05-13 1174

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/13/2025

  37. 2025-05-09 1082

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): ALLARD

  38. 2025-05-07 1053

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): STORY

  39. 2025-05-07 1033

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DFG)

  40. 2025-05-07 1033

    (H) AM: COULOMBE, RAUSCHER

  41. 2025-05-07 1033

    (H) NR: FIELDS, ELAM

  42. 2025-05-07 1033

    (H) DNP: SADDLER

  43. 2025-05-07 1033

    (H) DP: HALL, MEARS, BURKE, DIBERT

  44. 2025-05-07 1033

    (H) RES RPT CS(RES) NEW TITLE 4DP 1DNP 2NR 2AM

  45. 2025-05-05 Text

    (H) Moved CSHB 125(RES) Out of Committee

  46. 2025-05-05 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  47. 2025-05-02 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  48. 2025-05-02 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  49. 2025-05-02 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  50. 2025-04-30 974

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): DIBERT

  51. 2025-04-28 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  52. 2025-04-28 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  53. 2025-04-28 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  54. 2025-04-09 639

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DFG)

  55. 2025-04-09 639

    (H) NR: VANCE, HIMSCHOOT

  56. 2025-04-09 639

    (H) DP: KOPP, EDGMON, MCCABE, STUTES

  57. 2025-04-09 639

    (H) FSH RPT CS(FSH) 4DP 2NR

  58. 2025-04-08 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  59. 2025-04-08 Text

    (H) Moved CSHB 125(FSH) Out of Committee

  60. 2025-04-08 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  61. 2025-03-25 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  62. 2025-03-25 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  63. 2025-03-25 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  64. 2025-03-21 515

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): BURKE

  65. 2025-03-18 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  66. 2025-03-18 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  67. 2025-03-18 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  68. 2025-03-17 482

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): KOPP

  69. 2025-03-05 296

    (H) FSH, RES

  70. 2025-03-05 296

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

BOARD OF FISHERIES MEMBERSHIP
An Act relating to membership of the Board of Fisheries.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB0125c -1- CSHB 125(RES)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0696\I

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 125(RES)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY THE HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Offered: 5/7/25
Referred: Rules

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES JIMMIE, Foster, Kopp, Burke, Dibert, Story, Galvin, Carrick
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to membership of the Board of Fisheries; and relating to the definitions 1
of 'subsistence fishing' and 'subsistence uses.'" 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 16.05.221(a) is amended to read: 4
(a) For purposes of the conserva tion and development of the fi shery resources 5
of the state, there is created the Board of Fisheries composed o f s e v e n m e m b e r s 6
appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by a majorit y of the members of 7
the legislature in joint session. The governor shall appoint ea ch member on the basis 8
of interest in public affairs, good judgment, knowledge, and ab ility in the field of 9
action of the board, and with a v iew to providing diversity of interest and points of 10
view in the membership. The appoi nted members shall be resident s of the state and 11
shall be appointed without regar d to political affiliation or g eographical location of 12
residence. The commissioner is not a member of the Board of Fis heries, but shall be 13
ex officio secretary. The governor shall appoint the members as follows: 14
34-LS0696\I
CSHB 125(RES) -2- HB0125c
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(1) two members who represent commercial fishing and have 1
knowledge of and experience in the commercial fishing industry; 2
(2) two members who represent sport fishing and have knowledge 3
of and experience in sport fishing; 4
(3) two members who represent subsistence fishing and have 5
knowledge of and experience in subsistence fishing; 6
(4) one member of the scientific community who has knowledge o f 7
and experience in fisheries management. 8
* Sec. 2. AS 16.05.940(32) is amended to read: 9
(32) "subsistence fishing" means the taking of, fishing for, o r 10
possession of fish, shellfish, or o ther fisheries resources by a resident [DOMICILED 11
IN A RURAL AREA] of the state for subsistence uses with gill ne t, seine, fish wheel, 12
long line, or other means defined by the Board of Fisheries; 13
* Sec. 3. AS 16.05.940(34) is amended to read: 14
(34) "subsistence uses" means the noncommercial, customary and 15
traditional uses of wild, renewable resources by a resident [DO MICILED IN A 16
R U R A L A R E A ] o f t h e s t a t e f o r d i rect personal or family consumpt ion as food, 17
shelter, fuel, clothing, tools, or transportation, for the maki ng and selling of handicraft 18
articles out of nonedible by-pr oducts of fish and wildlife reso urces taken for personal 19
or family consumption, and for the customary trade, barter, or sharing for personal or 20
family consumption; in this paragraph, "family" means persons r elated by blood, 21
marriage, or adoption, and a person living in the household on a permanent basis; 22
* Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 23
read: 24
TRANSITION. A person who is a member of the Board of Fisheries on the day before 25
the effective date of this Act continues to serve until the exp iration of the member's term. An 26
appointment for a vacancy that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act shall be in 27
accordance with AS 16.05.221(a), as amended by sec. 1 of this Act. 28