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SB23 • 2026

CIVICS EDUCATION

An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date.

Education Taxes
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
SENATORS STEVENS, Gray-Jackson, Tobin, Kaufman, Tilton, Claman, Stedman, Rauscher, Giessel, Cronk, Kawasaki, Wielechowski, Yundt REPRESENTATIVES Eischeid, Stapp, Vance, Gray, Hall, Dibert, McCabe, Elam, Josephson, Holland, Galvin, Stutes, Schrage, D.Nelson, Frier, Saddler
Last action
2026-05-20
Official status
(S) CONCURRED(H) AM
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Civics Education and Graduation Requirements

This act requires schools to provide civics education and assessments for students before they can graduate.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the board to create a list of free educational resources about civics and comparative government on their website.
  • Lists topics that must be covered in civics education, such as U.S. history, federalism, branches of government, civil rights, and international relations.
  • States that students cannot graduate unless they complete a civics course or pass a civics assessment with at least 70%.
  • Allows exceptions for transfer students who have completed similar courses elsewhere or for students with disabilities.
  • Requires schools to note on transcripts when a student has passed the required civics assessment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students in secondary school
  • School districts and boards

Terms To Know

Open educational resource
Learning, teaching, or research material that is freely available for use, reuse, adaptation, and redistribution.
Passing score
A grade of at least 70% in a civics course or on an assessment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act only applies to students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2027.
  • Details about how the civics assessments will be created and administered are not provided.

Amendments

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

AM 1

2729

AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED

Plain English: AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED 2729

  • 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

2729

AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING

Plain English: AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING 2729

  • 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. 2026-05-20 Alaska State Legislature

    (S) AWAITING TRANSMITTAL TO GOV

  2. 2026-05-20 2816

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  3. 2026-05-20 2815

    (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N-

  4. 2026-05-20 2815

    (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP

  5. 2026-05-19 2956

    (H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 23(EDC)

  6. 2026-05-19 2956

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED

  7. 2026-05-19 2954

    (H) SCHRAGE, D.NELSON, FRIER, SADDLER

  8. 2026-05-19 2954

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): DIBERT, MCCABE, ELAM, JOSEPHSON, HOLLAND, GALVIN, STUTES,

  9. 2026-05-19 2910

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  10. 2026-05-19 2910

    (H) PASSED Y37 N3

  11. 2026-05-19 2910

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 23(EDC)

  12. 2026-05-19 2910

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  13. 2026-05-19 2909

    (H) AM NO 2 WITHDRAWN

  14. 2026-05-19 2909

    (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING

  15. 2026-05-18 2883

    (H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/18 - ON 5/19 CALENDAR

  16. 2026-05-17 2751

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): VANCE, GRAY, HALL

  17. 2026-05-17 2739

    (H) HELD IN SECOND READING TO 5/18 CALENDAR

  18. 2026-05-17 2739

    (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING

  19. 2026-05-17 2729

    (H) AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING

  20. 2026-05-17 2729

    (H) AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED

  21. 2026-05-17 2729

    (H) EDC HCS ADOPTED UC

  22. 2026-05-17 2729

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  23. 2026-05-17 2695

    (H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR

  24. 2026-05-17 2695

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026

  25. 2026-05-16 Text

    (H) Moved HCS CSSB 23(EDC) Out of Committee

  26. 2026-05-16 Text

    (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  27. 2026-05-16 2636

    (H) FN3: (EED)

  28. 2026-05-16 2636

    (H) AM: ALLARD

  29. 2026-05-16 2636

    (H) NR: JIMMIE, TOMASZEWSKI, HANNAN, MOORE, BYNUM, STAPP

  30. 2026-05-16 2636

    (H) DP: GALVIN, SCHRAGE, JOSEPHSON, FOSTER

  31. 2026-05-16 2636

    (H) FIN RPT HCS(EDC) 4DP 6NR 1AM

  32. 2026-05-12 Text

    (H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --

  33. 2026-05-12 Text

    (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  34. 2026-05-08 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  35. 2026-05-08 Text

    (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  36. 2026-05-08 Text

    (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Please Note Time Change --

  37. 2026-05-08 Text

    (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  38. 2026-05-08 2463

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): STAPP

  39. 2026-04-13 Text

    (H) Moved HCS SB 23(EDC) Out of Committee

  40. 2026-04-13 Text

    (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106

  41. 2026-04-13 2137

    (H) FN3: (EED)

  42. 2026-04-13 2137

    (H) DP: SCHWANKE, ELAM, DIBERT, UNDERWOOD, EISCHEID, HIMSCHOOT, STORY

  43. 2026-04-13 2137

    (H) EDC RPT HCS(EDC) 7DP

  44. 2026-04-01 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  45. 2026-04-01 Text

    (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106

  46. 2026-03-18 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  47. 2026-03-18 Text

    (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106

  48. 2026-03-11 1827

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): EISCHEID

  49. 2026-03-11 1816

    (H) EDC, FIN

  50. 2026-03-11 1816

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  51. 2026-03-09 1874

    (S) VERSION: CSSB 23(FIN)

  52. 2026-03-09 1874

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  53. 2026-03-09 1872

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  54. 2026-03-09 1872

    (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  55. 2026-03-05 1846

    (S) HELD IN THIRD READING TO 3/9 CAL

  56. 2026-03-05 1846

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 23(FIN)

  57. 2026-03-04 1834

    (S) CRONK, KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI, YUNDT

  58. 2026-03-04 1834

    (S) COSPONSOR(S): TOBIN, KAUFMAN, TILTON, CLAMAN, STEDMAN, RAUSCHER, GIESSEL,

  59. 2026-03-04 1831

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/5 CAL

  60. 2026-03-04 1831

    (S) FIN CS ADOPTED UC

  61. 2026-03-04 1830

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  62. 2026-03-04 1825

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/4/2026

  63. 2026-03-04 1825

    (S) FN2: (EED)

  64. 2026-03-04 1825

    (S) NR: MERRICK, KIEHL

  65. 2026-03-04 1825

    (S) DP: OLSON, STEDMAN, HOFFMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK

  66. 2026-03-04 1825

    (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 2NR SAME TITLE

  67. 2026-03-03 Text

    (S) Moved CSSB 23(FIN) Out of Committee

  68. 2026-03-03 Text

    (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  69. 2026-02-11 Text

    (S) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --

  70. 2026-02-11 Text

    (S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532

  71. 2025-02-28 381

    (S) FN1: INDETERMINATE(EED)

  72. 2025-02-28 381

    (S) NR: BJORKMAN, KIEHL

  73. 2025-02-28 381

    (S) DP: TOBIN, CRONK, STEVENS

  74. 2025-02-28 381

    (S) EDC RPT 3DP 2NR

  75. 2025-02-26 Min

    (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  76. 2025-02-26 Text

    (S) Moved SB 23 Out of Committee **Streamed live on AKL.tv**

  77. 2025-02-26 Text

    (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  78. 2025-02-24 Min

    (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  79. 2025-02-24 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  80. 2025-02-24 Text

    (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  81. 2025-02-21 Text

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

  82. 2025-02-21 Text

    (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  83. 2025-02-12 Min

    (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  84. 2025-02-12 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  85. 2025-02-12 Text

    (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  86. 2025-02-05 Text

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

  87. 2025-02-05 Text

    (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  88. 2025-01-24 74

    (S) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY-JACKSON

  89. 2025-01-22 31

    (S) EDC, FIN

  90. 2025-01-22 31

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  91. 2025-01-22 31

    (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25

Official Summary Text

CIVICS EDUCATION
An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Enrolled SB 23
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
HCS CSSB 23(EDC) _______

AN ACT

Relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation
requirements; 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 SB 23

AN ACT

Relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation 1
requirements; and providing for an effective date. 2
_______________ 3
* Section 1. AS 14.03 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Sec. 14.03.076. Comparative government and civics education and 5
assessments requirement. (a) The board shall make available on the department's 6
Internet website and periodically update a list of open educational resources relating to 7
comparative government and civics education curricula, civics assessments, and civics 8
project-based assessments. A school district may use the list provided by the board to 9
instruct students in comparative government and civics. 10
(b) The list provided under (a) of this section must include resources about 11
instruction on 12
(1) the founding history of the United States, including foundational 13
documents and the principles of government of the United States; 14
(2) federalism, including the role and operations of local, state, and 15

Enrolled SB 23 -2-
national governments; 1
(3) the institutions of the United States government, including the 2
responsibilities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; 3
(4) the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship; 4
(5) civil liberties and civil rights; 5
(6) the Constitution of the State of Alaska and the Constitution of the 6
United States; 7
(7) political parties and interest groups; 8
(8) campaigns and elections; 9
(9) the United States Congress; 10
(10) domestic policy; 11
(11) foreign policy; 12
(12) comparative systems of governments used globally and by Alaska 13
Natives; 14
(13) international relations; and 15
(14) major issues facing local, state, and the United States 16
governments. 17
(c) A school may not issue a secondary school diploma to a student unless the 18
student has received instruction on the topics listed in (b) of this section and the 19
student has 20
(1) completed one semester of a comparative government and civics 21
education course and achieved a passing score in the course; 22
(2) achieved a passing score on a civics assessment; or 23
(3) achieved a passing score on a civics project-based assessment. 24
(d) Notwithstanding (c) of this section, a school may issue a secondary school 25
diploma to a student who has not met the requirements of (c) of this section if the 26
student provides the governing body with evidence that the student 27
(1) transferred into a public school in the state after completing grade 28
10 at a school in another state; 29
(2) has, either within the previous five years or from a secondary 30
school in another state, received instruction on the subjects listed in (b) of this section 31

-3- Enrolled SB 23
and achieved a passing score in a one-semester course or on a civics assessment or 1
civics project-based assessment that is similar to the course or assessments described 2
in (c) of this section; or 3
(3) is a student with a disability who receives a waiver from the 4
governing body. 5
(e) If a student has achieved a passing score as required under (c) of this 6
section, the school shall document on the student's transcript that the student achieved 7
a passing score. A student may retake the assessment required under (c)(2) of this 8
section as needed to achieve a passing score. 9
(f) The department shall adopt regulations to recognize a student who has 10
attained a high level of proficiency in civic knowledge, civic skills, a civic mindset, 11
and civic experiences by affixing a seal of civic readiness on the student's school 12
transcript and diploma. 13
(g) In this section, 14
(1) "open educational resource" means learning, teaching, or research 15
material in any format that resides in the public domain or is under copyright and has 16
been released under an open license that permits access at no cost as well as reuse, 17
repurpose, adaptation, and redistribution by others; 18
(2) "passing score" means a student achieves a grade of 70 percent or 19
higher in a one-semester course, correctly answers 70 percent or more of the questions 20
on a civics assessment, or achieves a score of 70 percent or higher on a civics project-21
based assessment. 22
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 23
read: 24
APPLICABILITY: GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. The requirement that a 25
school issue a secondary school diploma only to a student who has met the requirements set 26
out in AS 14.03.076(c), enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to students who enter grade nine 27
on or after July 1, 2027. 28
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect July 1, 2027. 29