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HB79 • 2026

VIC FISCHER MARINE PARK; RESEARCH PROGRAM

An Act renaming the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska as the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research; and naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park.

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVES FIELDS, Galvin, Josephson, Gray SENATORS Dunbar, Tobin, Kawasaki, Olson, Claman, Gray-Jackson, Stevens
Last action
2026-05-19
Official status
(H) CONCURRED(S) AM
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about specific research goals for the renamed institute.

Renaming Research Institute and Creating a Marine Park

This act renames the University of Alaska's Institute of Social and Economic Research as the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research, and names a new marine park in Shoup Bay.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the name of the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska to the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research.
  • Creates a new marine park in Shoup Bay named the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The University of Alaska
  • Visitors to the newly created marine park

Terms To Know

Marine Park
An area of coastal or ocean waters set aside for conservation, recreation, and education purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the renaming will be implemented.
  • It limits the University from spending funds on updating signs or materials exclusively for the name change.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-19 2948

    (H) AWAITING TRANSMITTAL TO GOV

  2. 2026-05-19 2948

    (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 30

  3. 2026-05-19 2947

    (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y29 N11

  4. 2026-05-19 2947

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ TAKEN UP

  5. 2026-05-19 2892

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD

  6. 2026-05-18 2764

    (S) VERSION: SCS HB 79(RES)

  7. 2026-05-18 2764

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  8. 2026-05-18 2761

    (S) PASSED Y19 N1

  9. 2026-05-18 2760

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS HB 79(RES)

  10. 2026-05-17 2719

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/18 CAL

  11. 2026-05-17 2718

    (S) RES SCS ADOPTED UC

  12. 2026-05-17 2718

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  13. 2026-05-17 2718

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026

  14. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) FN3: ZERO(UA)

  15. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) FN2: ZERO(DNR)

  16. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) NR: MYERS, RAUSCHER

  17. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) DP: GIESSEL, DUNBAR, KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI

  18. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 30

  19. 2026-05-16 2685

    (S) RES RPT SCS 4DP 2NR NEW TITLE

  20. 2026-05-15 2671

    (S) STEVENS

  21. 2026-05-15 2671

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

  22. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  23. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) Moved SCS HB 79(RES) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

  24. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205

  25. 2026-05-06 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  26. 2026-05-06 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  27. 2026-03-06 Text

    (S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  28. 2026-03-06 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  29. 2025-05-14 1274

    (S) FN1: ZERO(DNR)

  30. 2025-05-14 1274

    (S) DP: MERRICK, OLSON, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON, YUNDT

  31. 2025-05-14 1274

    (S) CRA RPT 5DP

  32. 2025-05-13 Min

    (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  33. 2025-05-13 Text

    (S) Moved HB 79 Out of Committee

  34. 2025-05-13 Text

    (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  35. 2025-05-06 Min

    (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  36. 2025-05-06 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  37. 2025-05-06 Text

    (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  38. 2025-04-15 872

    (S) CRA, RES

  39. 2025-04-15 872

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  40. 2025-04-14 751

    (H) VERSION: HB 79

  41. 2025-04-14 751

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  42. 2025-04-14 716

    (H) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y37 N3

  43. 2025-04-14 716

    (H) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READING

  44. 2025-04-11 706

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY

  45. 2025-04-11 703

    (H) COSTELLO NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION

  46. 2025-04-11 702

    (H) PASSED Y35 N2 E3

  47. 2025-04-11 702

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 79

  48. 2025-04-09 651

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, JOSEPHSON

  49. 2025-04-09 648

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/11 CALENDAR

  50. 2025-04-09 647

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  51. 2025-04-09 647

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/9/2025

  52. 2025-03-17 476

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DNR)

  53. 2025-03-17 476

    (H) DP: FIELDS, COULOMBE, HALL, ELAM, RAUSCHER, MEARS, DIBERT, BURKE

  54. 2025-03-17 476

    (H) RES RPT 8DP

  55. 2025-03-14 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  56. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) Moved HB 79 Out of Committee

  57. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  58. 2025-02-17 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  59. 2025-02-17 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  60. 2025-02-17 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  61. 2025-02-07 Text

    (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --

  62. 2025-02-07 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  63. 2025-01-31 113

    (H) RES

  64. 2025-01-31 113

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

VIC FISCHER MARINE PARK; RESEARCH PROGRAM
An Act renaming the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska as the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research; and naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB0079B -1- SCS HB 79(RES)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0495\N

SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 79(RES)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Offered: 5/16/26
Referred: Rules

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES FIELDS, Galvin, Josephson, Gray

SENATORS Dunbar, Tobin, Kawasaki, Olson, Claman, Gray-Jackson, Stevens
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act renaming the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of 1
Alaska as the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research; and naming the 2
Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park." 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 5
to read: 6
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of 7
Alaska not spend funds on signage or materials exclusively to update the name of the Vic 8
Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research. 9
* Sec. 2. AS 14.40.110 is amended to read: 10
Sec. 14.40.110. Establishment of Business, Economics, and Public 11
Administration Research Program. The University of Alaska may establish a 12
Business, Economics, and Public Administration Research Program, which shall be 13
named the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research, for the purpose 14
34-LS0495\N
SCS HB 79(RES) -2- HB0079B
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

of developing and publishing statistics and other information regarding the economy, 1
government, and resources of the state. 2
* Sec. 3. AS 41.21.304 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 3
(b) The marine park unit of the Alaska state park system designated in (a)(4) 4
of this section is named Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park. 5