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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HB297 • 2026

RESIDENCE PREFERENCE: FISHERY RESOURCES

An Act establishing a preference for the taking of fishery resources by residents for personal and family consumption; adding to the factors the Board of Fisheries may consider in allocating certain fishery resources; 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
REPRESENTATIVES SCHWANKE, Allard
Last action
2026-02-20
Official status
(H) FSH
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the new factors will be implemented or what happens in case of resource shortages.

Residence Preference for Fishing

This act gives Alaska residents a preference when fishing for personal and family use, and it adds new factors the Board of Fisheries can consider when deciding how to allocate fish resources.

What This Bill Does

  • Gives Alaska residents priority over nonresidents when taking fish for personal or family consumption.
  • Adds new factors such as historical participation in each type of fishing (personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial) and the number of expected participants in the future to help decide how to allocate fish resources.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Alaska residents who want to catch fish for personal or family use.
  • The Board of Fisheries which decides on fish allocation rules.

Terms To Know

Sustained yield
A way of managing natural resources so that they can be used without running out over time.
Board of Fisheries
The group in Alaska that makes rules about fishing and how fish are shared among different types of fishermen.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It does not specify when the new rules will start to be used.
  • Does not explain what happens if there is a shortage of fish resources.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-20 1669

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): ALLARD

  2. 2026-02-09 1585

    (H) REFERRED TO FISHERIES

  3. 2026-02-09 1585

    (H) FSH, RES

  4. 2026-02-09 1585

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

RESIDENCE PREFERENCE: FISHERY RESOURCES
An Act establishing a preference for the taking of fishery resources by residents for personal and family consumption; adding to the factors the Board of Fisheries may consider in allocating certain fishery resources; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB0297a -1- HB 297
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1251\H

HOUSE BILL NO. 297

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHWANKE, Allard

Introduced: 2/9/26
Referred: House Special Committee on Fisheries, Resources

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act establishing a preference for the taking of fishery resources by residents for 1
personal and family consumption; adding to the factors the Board of Fisheries may 2
consider in allocating certain fishery resources; and providing for an effective date." 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
* Section 1. AS 16.05.251(d) is amended to read: 5
(d) Regulations adopted under (a) of this section must, consistent with 6
sustained yield and the provisions of AS 16.05.258, provide that [A FAIR AND 7
REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR] the taking of fishery resources by residents 8
for personal and family consumption has preference over other uses [USE, 9
SPORT, AND COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN]. 10
* Sec. 2. AS 16.05.251(e) is amended to read: 11
(e) The Board of Fisheries may, subject to the preference set out in (d) of 12
this section, allocate fishery resources among personal use, sport, guided sport, and 13
commercial fisheries. The board shall adopt criteria for the allocation of fishery 14
34-LS1251\H
HB 297 -2- HB0297a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

resources and shall use the criteria as appropriate to particular allocation decisions. 1
The criteria may include factors such as 2
(1) the history of each personal use, sport, guided sport, and 3
commercial fishery; 4
(2) the number of residents and nonresidents who have participated in 5
each fishery in the past and the number of residents and nonresidents who can 6
reasonably be expected to participate in the future; 7
(3) the importance of each fishery for providing residents the 8
opportunity to obtain fish for personal and family consumption; 9
(4) the availability of alternative fisheries resources; 10
(5) the importance of each fishery to the economy of the state; 11
(6) the importance of each fishery to the economy of the region and 12
local area in which the fishery is located; 13
(7) the importance of each fishery in providing recreational 14
opportunities for residents and nonresidents; and 15
(8) whether personal use, sport, guided sport, and commercial 16
fishermen are provided a fair and reasonable opportunity to take the resource. 17
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 18