BOARD OF FISHERIES MEETINGS

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text lists Kodiak under Prince William Sound but removes it from Western Alaska; the relationship between Southcentral and these changes is not explicitly defined beyond the list structure.

HB368: Changes to Board of Fisheries Meeting Requirements

This law requires the Alaska Board of Fisheries to hold at least one annual meeting in a small, remote community and updates the list of general areas where meetings must be held.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Board of Fisheries to hold at least one meeting or hearing each year in a community with fewer than 7,000 people that is not on the interconnected state road system.
• Updates the required list of general areas for meetings by removing Kodiak from Western Alaska and Yakutat from Prince William Sound as separate mentions.
• Includes Kodiak under the Southcentral region or within Prince William Sound in the updated text, while ensuring Southeast includes Yakutat.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Board of Fisheries
• Residents living in communities off the interconnected state road system with fewer than 7,000 people

Terms To Know

Interconnected state road system

Roads that connect to each other across the state; areas not on this system are often remote.

Board of Fisheries

The group in Alaska responsible for managing fish resources and holding public meetings.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the board will choose which specific small communities to visit.
• The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Official Summary Text

BOARD OF FISHERIES MEETINGS
An Act relating to meetings of the Board of Fisheries; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

HB0368a -1- HB 368
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1516\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 368

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER

Introduced: 2/23/26
Referred: House Special Committee on Fisheries, Resources

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to meetings of the Board of Fisheries; and providing for an effective 1
date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 16.05.300 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 16.05.300. Board meetings. (a) Subject to (b) of this section, each 5
[EACH] board shall hold at least one meeting a year and as many other meetings as it 6
considers necessary. Each board shall select the time and place in the state for the 7
transaction of business. Each board shall maintain its office at the principal office of 8
the department. 9
(b) The [IN ADDITION, THE] Board of Fisheries shall hold at least one 10
meeting or hearing a year in a community of fewer than 7,000 persons located off 11
the interconnected state road system. The board shall also hold at least one 12
meeting or hearing a year, which may include the meeting or hearing required in 13
a community of fewer than 7,000 persons located off the interconnected state 14
34-LS1516\N
HB 368 -2- HB0368a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

road system, in each of the following general areas: 1
(1) Upper Yukon - Kuskokwim - Arctic 2
(2) Western Alaska [(INCLUDING KODIAK)] 3
(3) Southcentral 4
(4) Prince William Sound (including Kodiak [YAKUTAT]) 5
(5) Southeast (including Yakutat). 6
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2027. 7