Back to Alaska

HB317 • 2026

DOT: WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE MAINT PLAN

An Act relating to maintenance of transportation facilities in wildland urban interface zones.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND
Last action
2026-05-05
Official status
(H) TRA
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify that the act aims to prepare transportation facilities for wildfire seasons or focuses specifically on fuel load treatment.

DOT: Wildland Urban Interface Maintenance Plan

This act requires the Department of Transportation to develop a plan for prioritizing maintenance of transportation facilities in areas where wildlands and urban development meet, especially those accessible by only one route.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Transportation to create a program that focuses on maintaining roads and highways in wildland urban interface zones.
  • The department must consult with local communities and organizations when developing this plan.
  • Includes a requirement for the department to submit an annual report detailing its prioritization methodology and list of state-maintained roads and highways needing maintenance.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
  • Local municipalities, community organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, and service areas

Terms To Know

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
An area where buildings or development meet or intermingle with wildland vegetation.
Fuel loads
The amount of flammable material, such as dry grass and leaves, that can contribute to the spread of wildfires.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear how much funding will be allocated for this maintenance program.
  • There are no specific penalties or consequences outlined if the department fails to comply with these requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-05 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  2. 2026-05-05 Text

    (H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  3. 2026-04-07 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  4. 2026-04-07 Text

    (H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  5. 2026-03-24 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  6. 2026-03-24 Text

    (H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  7. 2026-02-18 1645

    (H) REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

  8. 2026-02-18 1645

    (H) TRA, FIN

  9. 2026-02-18 1645

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

DOT: WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE MAINT PLAN
An Act relating to maintenance of transportation facilities in wildland urban interface zones.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB0317a -1- HB 317
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0765\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 317

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND

Introduced: 2/18/26
Referred: Transportation, Finance

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to maintenance of transportation facilities in wildland urban interface 1
zones." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 44.42.020(a) is amended to read: 4
(a) The department shall 5
(1) plan, design, construct, and maintain all state modes of 6
transportation and transportation facilities and all docks, floats, breakwaters, buildings, 7
and similar facilities; 8
(2) study existing transportation modes and facilities in the state to 9
determine how they might be improved or whether they should continue to be 10
maintained; 11
(3) study alternative means of improving transportation in the state 12
with regard to the economic costs of each alternative and its environmental and social 13
effects; 14
34-LS0765\N
HB 317 -2- HB0317a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(4) develop a comprehensive, long-range, intermodal transportation 1
plan for the state; 2
(5) study alternatives to existing modes of transportation in urban areas 3
and develop plans to improve urban transportation; 4
(6) cooperate and coordinate with and enter into agreements with 5
federal, state, and local government agencies and private organizations and persons in 6
exercising its powers and duties; 7
(7) manage, operate, and maintain state transportation facilities and all 8
docks, floats, breakwaters, and buildings, including all state highways, vessels, 9
railroads, pipelines, airports, and aviation facilities; 10
(8) study alternative means of transportation in the state, considering 11
the economic, social, and environmental effects of each alternative; 12
(9) coordinate and develop state and regional transportation systems, 13
considering deletions, additions, and the absence of alterations; 14
(10) develop facility program plans for transportation and state 15
buildings, docks, and breakwaters required to implement the duties set out in this 16
section, including but not limited to functional performance criteria and schedules for 17
completion; 18
(11) supervise and maintain all state automotive and mechanical 19
equipment, aircraft, and vessels, except vessels and aircraft used by the Department of 20
Fish and Game or the Department of Public Safety; for state vehicles maintained by 21
the department, the department shall, every five years, evaluate the cost, efficiency, 22
and commercial availability of alternative fuels for automotive purposes, and the 23
purpose for which the vehicles are intended to be used, and convert vehicles to use 24
alternative fuels or purchase energy efficient vehicles whenever practicable; the 25
department may participate in joint ventures with public or private partners that will 26
foster the availability of alternative fuels for all automotive fuel consumers; 27
(12) supervise aeronautics inside the state, under AS 02.10; 28
(13) implement the safety and financial responsibility requirements for 29
air carriers under AS 02.40; 30
(14) inspect weights and measures; 31
34-LS0765\N
HB0317a -3- HB 317
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(15) at least every four years, study alternatives available to finance 1
transportation systems in order to provide an adequate level of funding to sustain and 2
improve the state's transportation system; 3
(16) allot space to and manage space in state buildings for the various 4
departments according to need and available space; 5
(17) develop a program for prioritizing maintenance of 6
transportation facilities in wildland urban interface zones. 7
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 8
read: 9
REPORT ON PRIORITIZING MAINTENANCE OF TRANSPORTATION 10
FACILITIES IN WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE ZONES. The Department of 11
Transportation and Public Facilities shall implement a plan for prioritizing maintenance of 12
transportation facilities that support communities in wildland urban interface zones that are 13
only accessible by one route. The department shall solicit input from and consult with local 14
municipalities, community organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, regional 15
transportation planning organizations, and service areas to develop a prioritized list of state-16
maintained roads and highways in these areas for annual wildfire season preparation, facility 17
maintenance, and treatment of fuel loads. Not later than December 20, 2026, the department 18
shall submit a written report on the plan that includes the department's prioritization 19
methodology and the prioritized list of state-maintained roads and highways to the senate 20
secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the 21
report is available. 22