PROVISION OF ALCOHOL: CIVIL LIABILITY

Plain English Breakdown

The official status shows 'Passed Legislature,' but no effective date is provided in the source text.

HB 306: Rules for Lawsuits About Alcohol

This bill changes Alaska law to say that people who give alcohol can only be sued in specific situations involving licensed sellers or underage drinkers.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the ability to sue most people who provide alcohol if someone gets hurt after drinking it, unless they are a licensee or work for one.
• Allows lawsuits against license holders, their agents, or employees under certain conditions.
• Permits suits when a licensee gives alcohol to anyone younger than 21 years old without checking ID properly in good faith.
• Permits suits if clear proof shows a licensee knowingly gave alcohol to someone already drunk.
• Permits suits if a licensee sells or gives alcohol after the business hours have ended.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who hold licenses to sell alcoholic beverages in Alaska
• Agents and employees of licensed businesses
• Individuals under 21 years of age

Terms To Know

Civil liability

The legal responsibility for injuries caused to someone else.

Licensee

A person or business that has an official permit from the state to sell alcohol.

Clear and convincing evidence

Proof in a court case that is strong enough to make it very likely the facts are true.

Limits and Unknowns

• The effective date of this law is not listed in the provided source material.
• The bill does not explain how much money someone might have to pay if they lose a lawsuit.

Official Summary Text

PROVISION OF ALCOHOL: CIVIL LIABILITY
An Act relating to civil liability of persons providing alcoholic beverages.

Current Bill Text

HB0306a -1- HB 306
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1425\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 306

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES FIELDS, Himschoot

Introduced: 2/13/26
Referred: Labor and Commerce, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to civil liability of persons providing alcoholic beverages." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 04.21.020(a) is amended to read: 3
(a) Except as provided under (b) and (d) of this section, a person who provides 4
alcoholic beverages to another person may not be held civilly liable for injuries 5
resulting from the intoxication of that person unless the person who provides the 6
alcoholic beverages holds a license authorized under AS 04.09.020 - 04.09.370 or is 7
an agent or employee of a licensee and 8
(1) the alcoholic beverages are provided to a person under 21 years of 9
age in violation of AS 04.16.051, unless the licensee, agent, or employee secures in 10
good faith from the person a signed statement, liquor identification card, or driver's 11
license meeting the requirements of AS 04.21.050(a) and (b), that indicates that the 12
person is 21 years of age or older; or 13
(2) as established by clear and convincing evidence, the alcoholic 14
beverages are 15
34-LS1425\N
HB 306 -2- HB0306a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(A) knowingly sold, given, or bartered to a drunken person 1
in violation of AS 04.16.030(a)(1); 2
(B) provided to a drunken person in violation of 3
AS 04.16.030(a)(2) - (4); or 4
(C) knowingly sold, given, or bartered to a person at an 5
establishment after the lawful hours of operation of the establishment 6
have concluded [AS 04.16.030]. 7