FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS; ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers but reached final enrollment; however, no effective date is provided in the source text.

Alaska Bill SB 119: Fundamental Rights

This bill adds a new law to Alaska statutes that prohibits denying specific rights based on race, religion, age, disability, and other personal traits.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a list of fundamental rights in state law under AS 18.95.050.
• Prohibits denying access to public spaces, medical care, jobs, voter documents, safe living conditions with trash receptacles and toilets, privacy rights, food consumption in public, vehicle occupancy, or resting/sheltering if traffic is not blocked based on protected characteristics.
• Permits courts to award money damages, legal fees, court orders stopping actions, and official statements of rights to people who win lawsuits under this law.

Who It Names or Affects

• All persons in Alaska regarding their access to services and public spaces based on protected traits.
• Public servants required to treat individuals without harassment or fear of retribution.
• Courts handling civil cases involving violations of these rights.
• Entities providing medical care, employment, voter documentation, food, shelter, or vehicle occupancy.

Terms To Know

Fundamental rights

Specific freedoms listed in this law that cannot be denied based on a person's race, religion, age, disability, sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or housing status.

Injunctive relief

A court order requiring someone to stop an action or start doing something specific.

Declaratory relief

A court statement that officially defines the legal rights of people involved in a case.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify an effective date for when these rules begin.
• Resting or seeking shelter is only allowed if it does not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
• Access to public spaces must be done in a manner allowed by law.

Official Summary Text

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS; ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
An Act relating to fundamental rights.

Current Bill Text

SB0119A -1- SB 119
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0172\A

SENATE BILL NO. 119

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON

Introduced: 3/5/25
Referred: State Affairs, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to fundamental rights." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 18.95 is amended by adding a new section to read: 3
Sec. 18.95.050. Fundamental rights. (a) A person may not deny another 4
person, based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, p hysical or mental 5
disability, sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or housing status, the 6
following: 7
(1) access to and use of public spaces in a manner allowed by law; 8
(2) medical and dental care; 9
(3) gainful employment to suppor t independence and community 10
living; 11
(4) documentation to meet voter eligibility requirements; 12
(5) clean, safe, and sanitary living conditions, including acc ess to a 13
trash receptacle, toilet, and shower; 14
(6) medical privacy as provided by law; 15
34-LS0172\A
SB 119 -2- SB0119A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(7) reasonable privacy and autonomy, including the right to gi ve 1
informed consent; 2
(8) reasonable accommodation in the interest of family unity a nd 3
support when applicable and appropriate; 4
(9) equal treatment, without har assment, mistreatment, or fear o f 5
retribution from public servants; 6
(10) the ability to accept, offer, and eat food in a public space; 7
(11) access to and participation or non-participation in a rel igious 8
community of the individual's choosing; 9
(12) occupation of a legally parked vehicle or legally anchore d, 10
moored, or stored watercraft b elonging to the individual or to a person who has given 11
the individual permission to occupy the vehicle or watercraft; and 12
(13) the ability to rest or seek shelter from the elements in a public 13
space if doing so does not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic. 14
(b) In a civil action for viola tion of this section, a court m a y a w a r d a 15
prevailing plaintiff injunctive and declaratory relief, actual damages, and attorney fees 16
and costs. 17