HB262 • 2026

NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES

An Act increasing the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district; and providing for an effective date.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: HOUSE RULES BY REQUEST
Last action: 2026-07-03
Official status: CHAPTER 46 SLA 26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is listed as July 1, 2026, though metadata shows a later action date of July 3, 2026; the bill text controls for the legal effective date.

Increasing Superior Court Judges in Alaska's Third Judicial District

This law increases the total number of superior court judges in Alaska to 46 by adding one judge specifically for the third judicial district.

What This Bill Does

Increases the total number of superior court judges from 45 to 46.
Raises the number of judges assigned to the third judicial district from 28 to 29.
Keeps the judge counts for the first, second, and fourth districts at six, three, and eight respectively.
Requires the judicial council to specify which district a new appointee will serve in when submitting nominee names to the governor.

Who It Names or Affects

The Alaska superior court system
Judges serving in the third judicial district
The state's judicial council

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify how much funding is needed for this new position.
The text does not explain when an election or appointment will occur to fill the seat.

Bill History

2026-07-03 3161
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 7/3/26
2026-07-03 3161
(H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/30 CH 46 SLA 26
2026-06-17 3095
(H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
2026-05-20 2857
(S) VERSION: HB 262
2026-05-20 2857
(S) RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT
2026-05-20 2857
(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-05-20 2857
(S) PASSED Y20 N-
2026-05-20 2857
(S) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 262
2026-05-19 2801
(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CAL
2026-05-19 2801
(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-05-19 2801
(S) RULES TO FIRST SUP CALENDAR 5/19/2026
2026-05-13 2623
(S) FN2: (AJS)
2026-05-13 2623
(S) NR: OLSON, STEDMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK
2026-05-13 2623
(S) DP: HOFFMAN, MERRICK, KIEHL
2026-05-13 2623
(S) FIN RPT 3DP 4NR
2026-05-12 Min
(S) Minutes (SFIN)
2026-05-12 Text
(S) Moved HB 262 Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-05-12 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-04-24 2340
(S) FIN
2026-04-24 2340
(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-04-22 2264
(H) VERSION: HB 262
2026-04-22 2264
(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
2026-04-22 2262
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-04-22 2262
(H) PASSED Y37 E3
2026-04-22 2261
(H) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 262
2026-04-21 2243
(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/22 CALENDAR
2026-04-21 2242
(H) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-04-20 2233
(H) HELD TO 4/21 CALENDAR
2026-04-20 2233
(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/20/2026
2026-04-10 Text
(H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- MEETING CANCELED --
2026-04-10 Text
(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
2026-04-08 2050
(H) FN4: (ADM)
2026-04-08 2050
(H) FN3: (LAW)
2026-04-08 2050
(H) FN2: (AJS)
2026-04-08 2050
(H) FN1: (ADM)
2026-04-08 2050
(H) NR: TOMASZEWSKI
2026-04-08 2050
(H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, HANNAN, STAPP, ALLARD, BYNUM, JOSEPHSON, SCHRAGE, FOSTER
2026-04-08 2050
(H) FIN RPT 9DP 1NR
2026-04-07 Text
(H) Moved HB 262 Out of Committee
2026-04-07 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2026-03-24 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-03-24 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2026-02-09 1584
(H) FN3: (LAW)
2026-02-09 1584
(H) FN2: (AJS)
2026-02-09 1584
(H) FN1: (ADM)
2026-02-09 1584
(H) DP: UNDERWOOD, KOPP, COSTELLO, MINA, GRAY
2026-02-09 1584
(H) JUD RPT 5DP
2026-02-06 Min
(H) Minutes (HJUD)
2026-02-06 Text
(H) Moved HB 262 Out of Committee
2026-02-06 Text
(H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
2026-02-04 Min
(H) Minutes (HJUD)
2026-02-04 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-02-04 Text
(H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
2026-01-23 1472
(H) JUD, FIN
2026-01-23 1472
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES
An Act increasing the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Enrolled HB 262
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
HB 262 _______

AN ACT

Increasing the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district; and providing for
an effective date.

_______________

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

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled HB 262

AN ACT

Increasing the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district; and providing for 1
an effective date. 2
_______________ 3
* Section 1. AS 22.10.120 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 22.10.120. Number of judges. The superior court consists of 46 [45] 5
judges, six of whom shall be judges in the first judicial district, three of whom shall be 6
judges in the second judicial district, 29 [28] of whom shall be judges in the third judicial 7
district, and eight of whom shall be judges in the fourth judicial district. At the time of 8
submitting the names of nominees to the governor to fill a vacancy on the superior court 9
bench, the judicial council shall also designate the district in which the appointee is to 10
reside and serve. 11
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 12