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HB93 • 2026

RESIDENCY REQ: HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING

An Act changing the residency requirements for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing privileges; and providing for an effective date.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
REPRESENTATIVES HIMSCHOOT, Hannan, Burke, Saddler, Josephson, Bynum SENATOR Giessel
Last action
2026-05-17
Official status
AWAIT TRANSMIT GOV
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact conditions under which a person can be absent from the state during the required 12-month period are not defined in this bill; they depend on AS 43.23.008.

Alaska Hunting and Fishing Residency Rules

This law updates the rules for proving you live in Alaska to get hunting, trapping, or fishing licenses.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires people with permanent identification cards to keep meeting residency rules to use them for sport activities.
  • Defines a resident as someone who lives in Alaska and plans to stay there indefinitely while making it their home.
  • Mandates that residents must have lived in the state continuously for 12 months before applying for a license, with limited exceptions for absence.
  • States that people cannot claim they live in another place or get benefits from living elsewhere while claiming Alaskan residency.
  • Allows the commissioner of fish and game to create rules about how to prove someone is eligible as a resident.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to hunt, trap, or sport fish in Alaska
  • Holders of permanent identification cards for these activities
  • The commissioner responsible for issuing licenses

Terms To Know

Resident
A person who lives in the state with the intent to stay there indefinitely and has lived there for at least one year.
Domicile
The place where a person legally makes their permanent home, which must be maintained in Alaska for 12 consecutive months before applying for a license.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law does not take effect until January 1, 2028.
  • Specific rules for proving residency will be written later by the commissioner and are not included in this text.
  • The specific types of absences allowed during the required 12-month period depend on another state statute (AS 43.23.008) which is referenced but not detailed here.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

AM 1

1511

AM NO 1 FAILED Y9 N30 E1

Plain English: AM NO 1 FAILED Y9 N30 E1 1511

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 2

1512

AM NO 2 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

Plain English: AM NO 2 FAILED Y18 N21 E1 1512

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.
AM 3

1513

AM NO 3 FAILED Y17 N22 E1

Plain English: AM NO 3 FAILED Y17 N22 E1 1513

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-17 2745

    (H) AWAITING TRANSMITTAL TO GOV

  2. 2026-05-17 2744

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y33 N7

  3. 2026-05-17 2744

    (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y24 N16

  4. 2026-05-17 2743

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP

  5. 2026-05-17 2691

    (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD

  6. 2026-05-16 2697

    (S) VERSION: SCS HB 93(JUD)

  7. 2026-05-16 2697

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  8. 2026-05-16 2695

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y17 N2 E1

  9. 2026-05-16 2694

    (S) PASSED Y13 N6 E1

  10. 2026-05-16 2694

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS HB 93(JUD)

  11. 2026-05-15 2670

    (S) HELD TO 5/16 CAL

  12. 2026-05-15 2662

    (S) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR

  13. 2026-05-14 2645

    (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GIESSEL

  14. 2026-05-14 2642

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/15 CAL

  15. 2026-05-14 2642

    (S) JUD SCS ADOPTED UC

  16. 2026-05-14 2642

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  17. 2026-05-14 2642

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/14/2026

  18. 2026-05-12 Min

    (S) Minutes (SRES)

  19. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  20. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) Moved SCS HB 93(JUD) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

  21. 2026-05-12 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205

  22. 2026-05-12 2592

    (S) FN2: ZERO(DFG)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)

  23. 2026-05-12 2592

    (S) AM: KAWASAKI, MYERS

  24. 2026-05-12 2592

    (S) NR: CLAMAN

  25. 2026-05-12 2592

    (S) DNP: RAUSCHER

  26. 2026-05-12 2592

    (S) DP: GIESSEL, DUNBAR, WIELECHOWSKI

  27. 2026-05-12 2592

    (S) RES RPT SCS(JUD) 3DP 1DNP 1NR 2AM

  28. 2026-05-06 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  29. 2026-05-06 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  30. 2026-03-27 2073

    (S) FN2: ZERO(DFG)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)

  31. 2026-03-27 2073

    (S) AM: TILTON

  32. 2026-03-27 2073

    (S) DP: STEVENS

  33. 2026-03-27 2073

    (S) NR: CLAMAN, TOBIN

  34. 2026-03-27 2073

    (S) JUD RPT SCS 2NR 1DP 1AM SAME TITLE

  35. 2026-03-25 Text

    (S) Moved SCS HB 93(JUD) Out of Committee

  36. 2026-03-25 Text

    (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  37. 2026-03-23 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  38. 2026-03-23 Text

    (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  39. 2026-03-16 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  40. 2026-03-16 Text

    (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  41. 2026-02-16 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  42. 2026-02-16 Text

    (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  43. 2026-02-02 1584

    (S) JUD, RES

  44. 2026-02-02 1584

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  45. 2026-01-30 1533

    (H) VERSION: HB 93

  46. 2026-01-30 1533

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  47. 2026-01-30 1532

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): BYNUM

  48. 2026-01-30 1531

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  49. 2026-01-30 1530

    (H) PASSED Y27 N12 E1

  50. 2026-01-30 1530

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 93

  51. 2026-01-28 1518

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON

  52. 2026-01-28 1517

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 1/30 CALENDAR

  53. 2026-01-28 1513

    (H) AM NO 3 FAILED Y17 N22 E1

  54. 2026-01-28 1512

    (H) AM NO 2 FAILED Y18 N21 E1

  55. 2026-01-28 1511

    (H) AM NO 1 FAILED Y9 N30 E1

  56. 2026-01-28 1511

    (H) FN2: ZERO(DFG)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)

  57. 2026-01-28 1511

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  58. 2026-01-28 1511

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 1/28/2025

  59. 2025-03-28 560

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DFG)

  60. 2025-03-28 560

    (H) AM: SADDLER

  61. 2025-03-28 560

    (H) NR: COULOMBE, ELAM

  62. 2025-03-28 560

    (H) DNP: RAUSCHER

  63. 2025-03-28 560

    (H) DP: FIELDS, HALL, MEARS, DIBERT, BURKE

  64. 2025-03-28 560

    (H) RES RPT 5DP 1DNP 2NR 1AM

  65. 2025-03-26 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  66. 2025-03-26 Text

    (H) Moved HB 93 Out of Committee

  67. 2025-03-26 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  68. 2025-03-26 551

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): SADDLER

  69. 2025-03-21 Text

    (H) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  70. 2025-03-21 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  71. 2025-03-21 514

    (H) COSPONSOR(S): BURKE

  72. 2025-03-14 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  73. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  74. 2025-03-14 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  75. 2025-03-12 Min

    (H) Minutes (HRES)

  76. 2025-03-12 Text

    (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to Immediately Following Session --

  77. 2025-03-12 Text

    (H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124

  78. 2025-02-24 237

    (H) FN1: ZERO(DFG)

  79. 2025-02-24 237

    (H) NR: VANCE

  80. 2025-02-24 237

    (H) DP: KOPP, EDGMON, HIMSCHOOT, STUTES

  81. 2025-02-24 237

    (H) FSH RPT 4DP 1NR

  82. 2025-02-22 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  83. 2025-02-22 Text

    (H) Moved HB 93 Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

  84. 2025-02-22 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 11:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  85. 2025-02-18 Min

    (H) Minutes (HFSH)

  86. 2025-02-18 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  87. 2025-02-18 Text

    (H) FISHERIES at 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120

  88. 2025-02-10 161

    (H) FSH, RES

  89. 2025-02-10 161

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

RESIDENCY REQ: HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING
An Act changing the residency requirements for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing privileges; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Enrolled HB 93
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
SCS HB 93(JUD) _______

AN ACT

Changing the residency requirements for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing privileges; and
providing for an effective date.

_______________

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

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled HB 93

AN ACT

Changing the residency requirements for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing privileges; and 1
providing for an effective date. 2
_______________ 3
* Section 1. AS 16.05.400 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 4
(d) A person issued a permanent identification card under (b) of this section 5
may sport fish, hunt, or trap under the identification card only if the person continues to 6
meet the residency requirements of AS 16.05.415. 7
* Sec. 2. AS 16.05.415(a) is amended to read: 8
(a) In AS 16.05.330 - 16.05.430, a person, except as provided in (c) - (f) of this 9
section, is a resident if the person 10
(1) is physically present in the state with the intent to remain in the state 11
indefinitely and to make a home in the state; 12
(2) has maintained the person's domicile in the state for the 12 13
consecutive months immediately preceding the application for a license; 14

Enrolled HB 93 -2-
(3) has been physically present in the state at all times during the 12 1
consecutive months under (2) of this subsection or, if absent, was absent only as 2
allowed in AS 43.23.008; 3
(4) is not claiming residency in another state, territory, or country; and 4
(5) [(4)] is not obtaining benefits under a claim of residency in another 5
state, territory, or country. 6
* Sec. 3. AS 16.05.415(e) is amended to read: 7
(e) A person who is an alien is a resident for the purposes of AS 16.05.330 - 8
16.05.430 if the person 9
(1) is physically present in the state with the intent to remain in the state 10
indefinitely and to make a home in the state; 11
(2) has maintained the person's domicile in the state for the 12 12
consecutive months immediately preceding the application for a license; 13
(3) has been physically present in the state at all times during the 12 14
consecutive months under (2) of this subsection or, if absent, was absent only as 15
allowed in AS 43.23.008; 16
(4) is not claiming residency in another state, territory, or country; and 17
(5) [(4)] is not obtaining benefits under a claim of residency in another 18
state, territory, or country. 19
* Sec. 4. AS 16.05.415 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20
(j) The commissioner shall adopt regulations under AS 44.62 (Administrative 21
Procedure Act) for determining the eligibility of an individual for licensure as a resident 22
under this section. The commissioner may require an individual to provide proof of 23
eligibility, and the commissioner may use other information available from other state 24
departments or agencies to determine the eligibility of an individual. The commissioner 25
shall consider all relevant circumstances in determining the eligibility of an individual. 26
* Sec. 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2028. 27