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SB16 • 2026

REFUSE UTILITY REGULATIONS

An Act relating to a simplified rate filing procedure for refuse utility rate adjustments; relating to Regulatory Commission of Alaska regulations regarding refuse utilities; 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
SENATOR MYERS
Last action
2026-05-01
Official status
(S) RLS
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the commission reviews implementation or fixes issues with the process.

Simplified Rate Filing for Refuse Utilities

This act simplifies the process for refuse utilities to adjust their rates and ensures public notice and comment opportunities.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes how refuse utilities can ask for rate changes over time using a simpler method.
  • Requires the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to make rules that allow refuse utilities to use this simplified process.
  • Ensures that when refuse utilities want to change rates, they must give public notice and let people comment on the proposed changes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Refuse utilities that provide garbage collection and disposal services in Alaska.
  • The public who will receive notice about proposed rate changes and have a chance to comment on them.

Terms To Know

refuse utility
A company that collects and disposes of waste materials like garbage, trash, or other waste for payment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify when the changes will take effect.
  • It is unclear how many refuse utilities in Alaska this act will impact.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-01 Alaska State Legislature

    (S) REFERRED TO RULES

  2. 2026-05-01 Alaska State Legislature

    (S) FN1: ZERO(CED)

  3. 2026-05-01 Alaska State Legislature

    (S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON, YUNDT

  4. 2026-05-01 Alaska State Legislature

    (S) NR: DUNBAR

  5. 2026-05-01 Alaska State Legislature

    (S) CRA RPT 1NR 2DP

  6. 2026-04-30 Text

    (S) Moved SB 16 Out of Committee

  7. 2026-04-30 Text

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

  8. 2026-04-21 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  9. 2026-04-21 Text

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

  10. 2026-02-27 1789

    (S) FN1: ZERO(CED)

  11. 2026-02-27 1789

    (S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON

  12. 2026-02-27 1789

    (S) NR: BJORKMAN, YUNDT

  13. 2026-02-27 1789

    (S) L&C RPT 2NR 1DP

  14. 2026-02-25 Text

    (S) Moved SB 16 Out of Committee

  15. 2026-02-25 Text

    (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  16. 2026-02-16 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  17. 2026-02-16 Text

    (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  18. 2025-02-07 207

    (S) CRA REPLACES STA REFERRAL

  19. 2025-01-22 29

    (S) L&C, STA

  20. 2025-01-22 29

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  21. 2025-01-22 29

    (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25

Official Summary Text

REFUSE UTILITY REGULATIONS
An Act relating to a simplified rate filing procedure for refuse utility rate adjustments; relating to Regulatory Commission of Alaska regulations regarding refuse utilities; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB0016A -1- SB 16
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0167\A

SENATE BILL NO. 16

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY SENATOR MYERS

Introduced: 1/22/25
Referred: Labor and Commerce, State Affairs

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to a simplified rate filing procedure for refuse utility rate adjustments; 1
relating to Regulatory Commission of Alaska regulations regardi ng refuse utilities; and 2
providing for an effective date." 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
* Section 1. AS 42.05.381(e) is amended to read: 5
(e) The commission shall adopt r egulations for electric cooper atives, [AND 6
FOR] local exchange telephone utilities , and refuse utilities, setting a range for 7
adjustment of rates by a simplified rate filing procedure. A co operative, [ O R ] 8
telephone utility, or refuse utility may apply for permission to adjust its rates over a 9
period of time under the simplifie d rate filing procedure regul ations. The commission 10
shall grant the appli cation if the cooperative , [OR] telephone utility , or refuse utility 11
satisfies the requirement s of the regulations. The commission shall adopt 12
regulations specific to refuse utilities that provide for suffi cient public notice and 13
an opportunity for ratepayers to m e a n i n g f u l l y c o m m e n t o n r a t e filings. The 14
34-LS0167\A
SB 16 -2- SB0016A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

commission may review implementation of the simplified rate fil ing procedure at 1
reasonable intervals and may revoke permission to use the proce dure or require 2
modification of the rates to correct an error. In this subsection, "refuse utility" 3
means a utility furnishing collection and disposal service of g arbage, refuse, 4
trash, or other waste material to the public for compensation. 5
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 6