HB187 • 2026

MEMBERS LEG COUNCIL; LEG BUDGET & AUDIT

An Act relating to the membership of the legislative council; and relating to the membership of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.

Budget

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES COSTELLO, McCabe
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: (H) RLS
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how long after each session new members must be chosen or what happens if a minority group is less than 25% of the total membership.

Changes to Legislative Council and Budget Audit Committee Membership

This act updates rules for selecting members of the legislative council and the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, ensuring each includes at least one member from a minority party.

What This Bill Does

It amends the membership requirements for the legislative council to include at least one member from the minority group in each house of the legislature.
It changes how members are selected for the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, requiring that each house sends at least one member from a minority party.

Who It Names or Affects

Members of the legislative council
Members of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee

Terms To Know

minority: A group within a legislature that has organized and elected its own leader, making up at least 25% of the total members in either house.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how long after each session new members must be chosen.
It doesn't explain what happens if a minority group is less than 25% of the total membership.

Bill History

2026-05-07 Alaska State Legislature
(H) COSPONSOR(S): MCCABE
2026-05-06 2409
(H) REFERRED TO RULES
2026-05-06 2409
(H) FN1: ZERO(LEG)
2026-05-06 2409
(H) DP: VANCE, MCCABE, ST. CLAIR, HOLLAND, HIMSCHOOT, STORY, CARRICK
2026-05-06 2409
(H) STA RPT 7DP
2026-05-05 Text
(H) Moved HB 187 Out of Committee
2026-05-05 Text
(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
2026-04-30 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-04-30 Text
(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
2025-04-11 671
(H) STA
2025-04-11 671
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

MEMBERS LEG COUNCIL; LEG BUDGET & AUDIT
An Act relating to the membership of the legislative council; and relating to the membership of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0187a -1- HB 187
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0858\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 187

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO

Introduced: 4/11/25
Referred: State Affairs

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the membership of the legislative council; and relating to the 1
membership of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 24.20.020 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 24.20.020. Membership. The legislative council is composed of the 5
president of the senate and six other senators appointed by the president, and the 6
speaker of the house of representatives and six other represent atives appointed by the 7
speaker. The membership from each house shall include at least one member from the 8
minority [EACH OF THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES]. The appointing 9
authority in each house shall make and announce the appointment or reappointment of 10
members of the council within 15 days after the convening of th e first regular session 11
of each legislature. 12
* Sec. 2. AS 24.20.161 is amended to read: 13
Sec. 24.20.161. Membership. The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee is 14
34-LS0858\A
HB 187 -2- HB0187a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

composed of 10 members: the chairs [CHAIRMEN] of the senate and house finance 1
committees, [;] one member selected from each of the senate and house fina nce 2
committees and appointed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house, 3
respectively, [;] and three members appointed from each house by the respect ive 4
presiding officer. The chair [CHAIRMAN] of the finance committee may choose not 5
to serve on the committee. If this occurs, the presiding office r of the appropriate house 6
shall appoint a replacement from the finance committee. The mem bership from each 7
house shall include at least one member from the minority [EACH OF THE TWO 8
MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES]. The committee shall select its own chair 9
[CHAIRMAN]. 10
* Sec. 3. AS 24.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 11
Article 4. General Provisions. 12
Sec. 24.20.700. Definition. In this chapter, "minority" means a group of 13
members who have organized and elected a minority leader and who constitute at least 14
25 percent of the total house membership. 15