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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.

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVES FIELDS, Galvin, Josephson, Gray SENATORS Dunbar, Tobin, Kawasaki, Olson, Claman, Gray-Jackson, Stevens
Last action
2026-07-03
Official status
VETOED BY GOVERNOR
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB79: Renaming a Research Institute and a Marine Park

This bill proposes renaming the University of Alaska's research institute and a state marine park to honor Vic Fischer, but it was vetoed by the governor.

What This Bill Does

  • Renames the Business, Economics, and Public Administration Research Program at the University of Alaska as the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research.
  • Names the Shoup Bay State Marine Park unit as the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park.
  • States that the University of Alaska should not spend funds on signs or materials just to update the name for the research institute.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The University of Alaska
  • Visitors and users of Shoup Bay State Marine Park

Limits and Unknowns

  • The governor vetoed this bill, so it did not become law unless lawmakers overrode that decision.
  • It is unclear if the name change for the marine park requires new signs or costs money.

Bill History

  1. 2026-07-03 3149

    (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26

  2. 2026-06-17 3093

    (H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR

  3. 2026-05-19 2948

    (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 30

  4. 2026-05-19 2947

    (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y29 N11

  5. 2026-05-19 2947

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP

  6. 2026-05-19 2892

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD

  7. 2026-05-18 2764

    (S) VERSION: SCS HB 79(RES)

  8. 2026-05-18 2764

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  9. 2026-05-18 2761

    (S) PASSED Y19 N1

  10. 2026-05-18 2760

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

  11. 2026-05-17 2719

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/18 CAL

  12. 2026-05-17 2718

    (S) RES SCS ADOPTED UC

  13. 2026-05-17 2718

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  14. 2026-05-17 2718

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026

  15. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) FN3: ZERO(UA)

  16. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) FN2: ZERO(DNR)

  17. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) NR: MYERS, RAUSCHER

  18. 2026-05-16 2686

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

  19. 2026-05-16 2686

    (S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 30

  20. 2026-05-16 2685

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

  21. 2026-05-15 2671

    (S) STEVENS

  22. 2026-05-15 2671

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

  23. 2026-05-12 Min

    (S) Minutes (SRES)

  24. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  25. 2026-05-12 Text

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

  26. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205

  27. 2026-05-06 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  28. 2026-05-06 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  29. 2026-03-06 Text

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

  30. 2026-03-06 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  31. 2025-05-14 1274

    (S) FN1: ZERO(DNR)

  32. 2025-05-14 1274

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

  33. 2025-05-14 1274

    (S) CRA RPT 5DP

  34. 2025-05-13 Min

    (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  35. 2025-05-13 Text

    (S) Moved HB 79 Out of Committee

  36. 2025-05-13 Text

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

  37. 2025-05-06 Min

    (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  38. 2025-05-06 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  39. 2025-05-06 Text

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

  40. 2025-04-15 872

    (S) CRA, RES

  41. 2025-04-15 872

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  42. 2025-04-14 751

    (H) VERSION: HB 79

  43. 2025-04-14 751

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  44. 2025-04-14 716

    (H) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y37 N3

  45. 2025-04-14 716

    (H) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READING

  46. 2025-04-11 706

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY

  47. 2025-04-11 703

    (H) COSTELLO NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION

  48. 2025-04-11 702

    (H) PASSED Y35 N2 E3

  49. 2025-04-11 702

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 79

  50. 2025-04-09 651

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, JOSEPHSON

  51. 2025-04-09 648

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/11 CALENDAR

  52. 2025-04-09 647

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  53. 2025-04-09 647

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/9/2025

  54. 2025-03-17 476

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DNR)

  55. 2025-03-17 476

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

  56. 2025-03-17 476

    (H) RES RPT 8DP

  57. 2025-03-14 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  58. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) Moved HB 79 Out of Committee

  59. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  60. 2025-02-17 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  61. 2025-02-17 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  62. 2025-02-17 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  63. 2025-02-07 Text

    (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --

  64. 2025-02-07 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  65. 2025-01-31 113

    (H) RES

  66. 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 
Enrolled HB 79
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
SCS HB 79(RES) _______

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.

_______________

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled HB 79

AN ACT

Renaming the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska as the Vic 1
Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research; and naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay 2
State Marine Park. 3
_______________ 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 Alaska 7
not spend funds on signage or materials exclusively to update the name of the Vic Fischer 8
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

Enrolled HB 79 -2-
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) of 4
this section is named Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park. 5