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HB278 • 2026

ECONOMIC DEV:AK-IRELAND TRADE COMM.

An Act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; and providing for an effective date.

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVES COSTELLO, McCabe, Edgmon, Hall, Vance, Tomaszewski, Bynum, Josephson, Stapp, Story, Carrick SENATORS Rauscher, Merrick, Cronk, Tilton, Stevens, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Yundt, Olson, Tobin, Gray-Jackson, Claman, Stedman
Last action
2026-07-03
Official status
VETOED BY GOVERNOR
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill was vetoed; it is unclear if lawmakers overrode the veto based on the provided text.

Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission Bill

This bill establishes the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission to promote trade, investment, and cooperation between Alaska and Ireland.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
  • Sets up a nine-member commission: five appointed by the governor, two from the House, and two from the Senate.
  • Allows members to serve without pay unless outside donations are received for travel or daily expenses.
  • Requires meetings to be held online except when in-person meetings outside Alaska are needed with seven days of public notice.
  • Orders the commission to submit an annual report listing all grants, donations, and gifts received, along with findings and recommendations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
  • Nine appointed members who serve on the new trade commission
  • Businesses or groups that might provide grants, donations, or gifts to support the commission

Terms To Know

Commission
A group of people chosen by leaders to handle a specific job, like helping trade between Alaska and Ireland.
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present for the group to make official decisions; here it is more than half of all members.
Staggered terms
A system where some members leave office at different times so not everyone leaves at once, keeping experience on the group.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The governor vetoed this bill, so it did not become law unless lawmakers voted to override that decision.
  • Members do not receive a salary and cannot use state funds for travel or daily expenses unless outside donations are received first.

Amendments

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

AM 1

1913

AM NO 1 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN

Plain English: AM NO 1 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN 1913

  • 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. 2026-07-03 3154

    (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26

  2. 2026-06-17 3096

    (H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR

  3. 2026-06-10 3056

    (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)

  4. 2026-05-20 3012

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK

  5. 2026-05-20 2973

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  6. 2026-05-20 2972

    (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y38 A2

  7. 2026-05-20 2972

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP

  8. 2026-05-20 2972

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED

  9. 2026-05-19 2807

    (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 278(STA)

  10. 2026-05-19 2807

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  11. 2026-05-19 2798

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  12. 2026-05-19 2798

    (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  13. 2026-05-19 2797

    (S) STEDMAN

  14. 2026-05-19 2797

    (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, KAWASAKI, YUNDT, OLSON, TOBIN, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN,

  15. 2026-05-19 2797

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 278(STA)

  16. 2026-05-18 2762

    (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, MERRICK, CRONK, TILTON, STEVENS

  17. 2026-05-18 2759

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/19 CAL

  18. 2026-05-18 2759

    (S) STA SCS ADOPTED UC

  19. 2026-05-18 2759

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  20. 2026-05-18 2759

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2026

  21. 2026-05-12 2604

    (S) FIN REFERRAL WAIVED

  22. 2026-05-11 2567

    (S) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER STA

  23. 2026-05-11 2567

    (S) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)

  24. 2026-05-11 2566

    (S) NR: WIELECHOWSKI

  25. 2026-05-11 2566

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

  26. 2026-05-11 2566

    (S) AM: KAWASAKI

  27. 2026-05-11 2566

    (S) STA RPT SCS 1AM 3DP 1NR SAME TITLE

  28. 2026-05-07 Text

    (S) Moved SCS CSHB 278(STA) Out of Committee

  29. 2026-05-07 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  30. 2026-05-05 Text

    (S) Moved CSHB 278(STA) Out of Committee

  31. 2026-05-05 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  32. 2026-04-28 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  33. 2026-04-28 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  34. 2026-03-30 2092

    (S) STA

  35. 2026-03-30 2092

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  36. 2026-03-25 1963

    (H) VERSION: CSHB 278(STA)

  37. 2026-03-25 1963

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  38. 2026-03-25 1957

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  39. 2026-03-25 1956

    (H) PASSED Y40

  40. 2026-03-25 1956

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 278(STA)

  41. 2026-03-23 1943

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON, STAPP, STORY

  42. 2026-03-23 1916

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/25 CALENDAR

  43. 2026-03-23 1913

    (H) AM NO 1 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN

  44. 2026-03-23 1913

    (H) STA CS ADOPTED UC

  45. 2026-03-23 1913

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  46. 2026-03-23 1913

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/23/2026

  47. 2026-03-18 1878

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): BYNUM

  48. 2026-03-12 1842

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): TOMASZEWSKI

  49. 2026-03-11 1818

    (H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)

  50. 2026-03-11 1818

    (H) NR: HIMSCHOOT

  51. 2026-03-11 1818

    (H) DP: MCCABE, VANCE, ST. CLAIR, HOLLAND, STORY, CARRICK

  52. 2026-03-11 1818

    (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 6DP 1NR

  53. 2026-03-10 Text

    (H) Moved CSHB 278(STA) Out of Committee

  54. 2026-03-10 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  55. 2026-03-05 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  56. 2026-03-05 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  57. 2026-03-05 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  58. 2026-02-25 1739

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): VANCE

  59. 2026-02-24 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  60. 2026-02-24 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  61. 2026-02-24 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  62. 2026-02-17 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  63. 2026-02-17 Text

    (H) Scheduled but Not Heard

  64. 2026-02-17 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  65. 2026-02-02 1545

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): HALL

  66. 2026-01-28 1519

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): EDGMON

  67. 2026-01-23 1484

    (H) STA

  68. 2026-01-23 1484

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

ECONOMIC DEV:AK-IRELAND TRADE COMM.
An Act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Enrolled HB 278
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
SCS CSHB 278(STA) _______

AN ACT

Establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; 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 278

AN ACT

Establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; and providing for an effective date. 1
_______________ 2
* Section 1. AS 44.33 is amended by adding a new section to read: 3
Article 7A. Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission. 4
Sec. 44.33.440. Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission. (a) The Alaska-Ireland 5
Trade Commission is established in the department. 6
(b) The commission consists of the following members: 7
(1) five members appointed by the governor; 8
(2) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the 9
speaker of the house of representatives; and 10
(3) two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate. 11
(c) The members of the commission appointed under (b)(1) of this section serve 12
staggered three-year terms. The members of the commission appointed under (b)(2) and 13

Enrolled HB 278 -2-
(3) of this section serve two-year terms. A member of the commission serves at the 1
pleasure of the member's appointing authority. 2
(d) The purpose of the commission is to 3
(1) advance bilateral trade and investment between the state and Ireland; 4
(2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to the state 5
and Ireland; 6
(3) promote business, entrepreneurship, new venture development, and 7
academic exchanges between the state and Ireland; 8
(4) promote research collaborations and funding opportunities that 9
advance the mutual interests of the state and Ireland; 10
(5) encourage mutual economic support between the state and Ireland; 11
(6) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of the state and 12
Ireland; and 13
(7) address other issues as determined by the commission. 14
(e) The commission shall elect a chair from among its members. A majority of 15
the members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 16
(f) Except for meetings held outside of the state that the commission determines 17
should be conducted in person, the commission shall meet by electronic means. The 18
commission shall provide public notice of a meeting at least seven days before the 19
meeting. 20
(g) If the department obtains the information required under (i)(1) of this section 21
and provides a copy of that information to the commission, the department may accept 22
a grant, donation, or gift from a public or private source to pay for 23
(1) per diem and travel expenses of the commission; or 24
(2) other assistance and support the commission requires to carry out the 25
purposes of this section. 26
(h) Except as permitted under (g)(1) of this section, members of the commission 27
serve without compensation and are not entitled to per diem and travel expenses 28
authorized by law under AS 39.20.180. 29
(i) By the 30th day of each regular legislative session, the commission shall 30
prepare a report, deliver the report to the governor, senate secretary, and chief clerk of 31

-3- Enrolled HB 278
the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is available. The 1
report must include 2
(1) information on the grants, donations, and gifts accepted under (g) of 3
this section in the previous year, including 4
(A) the date and amount or value of each grant, donation, and 5
gift; 6
(B) the total amount or value of all grants, donations, and gifts; 7
(C) the name and address of each person who made a grant, 8
donation, or gift, and the dates and total amount or value of the grants, donations, 9
or gifts; and 10
(D) for grants, donations, or gifts in excess of $50 in the 11
aggregate during the previous year, the principal occupation and employer of the 12
person who made the grant, donation, or gift; and 13
(2) the commission's findings, results, and recommendations. 14
(j) The commission may not contract for writing services or support to prepare 15
the report required under (i) of this section unless a grant, donation, or gift is made for 16
that purpose under (g) of this section. The department may not provide staff to the 17
commission to provide writing services or support to prepare the report required under 18
(i) of this section. 19
(k) In this section, "department" means the Department of Commerce, 20
Community, and Economic Development. 21
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 22
read: 23
INITIAL APPOINTMENT; STAGGERED TERMS. Notwithstanding 24
AS 44.33.440(b)(1), enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, the members of the Alaska-Ireland Trade 25
Commission appointed under AS 44.33.440(b)(1), enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, are appointed 26
to initial terms as follows: 27
(1) one member shall serve a one-year term; 28
(2) two members shall serve two-year terms; and 29
(3) two members shall serve three-year terms. 30
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 31