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SB239 • 2026

MOTOR VEHICLES: REG/COMM EXAM/INSURANCE

An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle licensing examinations; relating to the registration and titling of legally imported motor vehicles; relating to proof of financial responsibility for suspension for nonpayment of judgments; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
SENATORS TILTON, Myers, Kawasaki, Bjorkman, Cronk, Rauscher, Kaufman, Merrick, Yundt REPRESENTATIVES Fields, St. Clair, Schwanke, Schrage, Galvin, Eischeid, McCabe, Saddler, Josephson, Mina
Last action
2026-07-01
Official status
CHAPTER 39 SLA 26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date for Sections 1 and 2 is immediate, but the specific dates for other sections depend on when Chapter No. SB 239 am H _______ was signed.

Alaska Motor Vehicle Rules: Imports, Tests, and Insurance

This law allows the registration of legally imported vehicles at least 25 years old without current federal safety standards, lets driving test applicants retake only failed portions, and sets longer insurance requirements for repeat suspensions due to unpaid judgments.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the state to register vehicles that are at least 25 years old if they were legally imported into the United States without requiring them to meet current federal safety standards.
  • Stops the department from refusing, suspending, or canceling a vehicle title just because an older, legally imported car does not meet modern safety rules.
  • Requires drivers with multiple license suspensions for unpaid judgments to keep proof of financial responsibility (insurance) for longer periods based on how many times they have been suspended: one year for the first suspension, three years for the second, ten years for the third, and indefinitely during their driving privilege period for a fourth or subsequent suspension.
  • Permits the department to let driving test applicants retake only the specific part of a commercial motor vehicle license test that they failed or did not finish.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Owners of vehicles at least 25 years old that were legally imported into the United States.
  • Drivers who have had their licenses suspended for nonpayment of court judgments more than once.
  • People applying for a commercial motor vehicle license or taking driving tests in Alaska.

Terms To Know

Proof of financial responsibility
Evidence that a driver has insurance to pay for damages if they cause an accident, often required after legal suspensions.
Certificate of title
An official document issued by the state that proves who owns a vehicle.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law requires insurance companies to notify customers about new rules within six months but does not specify how they must deliver these notices.
  • The text defines time limits for keeping proof of financial responsibility but does not list specific dollar amounts or coverage types needed.

Amendments

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

AM 1

2901

AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

Plain English: AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC 2901

  • 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

2903

AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED

Plain English: AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED 2903

  • 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

2903

AM NO 3 ADOPTED UC

Plain English: AM NO 3 ADOPTED UC 2903

  • 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. 2026-07-01 3132

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER

  2. 2026-07-01 3132

    (S) SIGNED INTO LAW 6/24 CHAPTER 39 SLA 26

  3. 2026-06-15 2992

    (S) 3:55 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR

  4. 2026-06-08 2992

    (S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)

  5. 2026-05-20 2824

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  6. 2026-05-20 2824

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

  7. 2026-05-20 2823

    (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP

  8. 2026-05-19 2957

    (H) VERSION: SB 239 AM H

  9. 2026-05-19 2957

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED

  10. 2026-05-19 2955

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GALVIN, EISCHEID, MCCABE, SADDLER, JOSEPHSON, MINA

  11. 2026-05-19 2905

    (H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 29

  12. 2026-05-19 2904

    (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  13. 2026-05-19 2904

    (H) PASSED Y39 A1

  14. 2026-05-19 2904

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 239 AM H

  15. 2026-05-19 2904

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  16. 2026-05-19 2904

    (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION

  17. 2026-05-19 2903

    (H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED UC

  18. 2026-05-19 2903

    (H) AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED

  19. 2026-05-19 2903

    (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION

  20. 2026-05-19 2901

    (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

  21. 2026-05-19 2901

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  22. 2026-05-18 2883

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

  23. 2026-05-18 2883

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2026

  24. 2026-05-07 2446

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): SCHRAGE

  25. 2026-05-06 2415

    (H) FN1: ZERO(ADM)

  26. 2026-05-06 2415

    (H) DP: VANCE, MCCABE, ST. CLAIR, HOLLAND, HIMSCHOOT, STORY, CARRICK

  27. 2026-05-06 2415

    (H) STA RPT 7DP

  28. 2026-05-05 Text

    (H) Moved SB 239 Out of Committee

  29. 2026-05-05 Text

    (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  30. 2026-05-01 2381

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): SCHWANKE

  31. 2026-04-30 2365

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): FIELDS, ST. CLAIR

  32. 2026-04-30 2351

    (H) STA

  33. 2026-04-30 2351

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  34. 2026-04-29 2417

    (S) VERSION: SB 239

  35. 2026-04-29 2417

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  36. 2026-04-29 2415

    (S) COSPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, KAUFMAN, MERRICK, YUNDT

  37. 2026-04-29 2415

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  38. 2026-04-29 2414

    (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  39. 2026-04-29 2414

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 239

  40. 2026-04-28 2387

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/29 CAL

  41. 2026-04-28 2387

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  42. 2026-04-28 2387

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/28/2026

  43. 2026-04-22 2320

    (S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)

  44. 2026-04-22 2320

    (S) NR: WIELECHOWSKI

  45. 2026-04-22 2320

    (S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON, TILTON, BJORKMAN

  46. 2026-04-22 2320

    (S) AM: KAWASAKI

  47. 2026-04-22 2320

    (S) STA RPT 1AM 3DP 1NR

  48. 2026-04-21 Text

    (S) Moved SB 239 Out of Committee

  49. 2026-04-21 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  50. 2026-03-31 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  51. 2026-03-31 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  52. 2026-03-26 Text

    (S) Uniform Rule 23 Waived -- MEETING CANCELED --

  53. 2026-03-26 Text

    (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  54. 2026-03-25 2049

    (S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)

  55. 2026-03-25 2049

    (S) NR: KIEHL, STEDMAN, TOBIN

  56. 2026-03-25 2049

    (S) DP: BJORKMAN

  57. 2026-03-25 2049

    (S) TRA RPT 1DP 3NR

  58. 2026-03-24 Text

    (S) Moved SB 239 Out of Committee

  59. 2026-03-24 Text

    (S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  60. 2026-03-23 2030

    (S) STA WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE 23

  61. 2026-02-26 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  62. 2026-02-26 Text

    (S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  63. 2026-02-11 1664

    (S) COSPONSOR(S): MYERS, KAWASAKI, BJORKMAN, CRONK

  64. 2026-02-11 1660

    (S) TRA, STA

  65. 2026-02-11 1660

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

MOTOR VEHICLES: REG/COMM EXAM/INSURANCE
An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle licensing examinations; relating to the registration and titling of legally imported motor vehicles; relating to proof of financial responsibility for suspension for nonpayment of judgments; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Enrolled SB 239
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
SB 239 am H _______

AN ACT

Relating to commercial motor vehicle licensing examinations; relating to the registration and
titling of legally imported motor vehicles; relating to proof of financial responsibility for
suspension for nonpayment of judgments; 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 239

AN ACT

Relating to commercial motor vehicle licensing examinations; relating to the registration and 1
titling of legally imported motor vehicles; relating to proof of financial responsibility for 2
suspension for nonpayment of judgments; and providing for an effective date. 3
_______________ 4
* Section 1. AS 28.10 is amended by adding a new section to read: 5
Sec. 28.10.068. Registration of legally imported vehicles. If a vehicle is at 6
least 25 years old and was legally imported into the United States, the department may 7
not require that the vehicle comply with current federal motor vehicle safety standards 8
before registering the vehicle under this chapter. 9
* Sec. 2. AS 28.10.221 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 10
(e) If a vehicle is registered under AS 28.10.068, the department may not refuse, 11
suspend, or revoke a certificate of title based on the vehicle's failure to comply with 12
current federal motor vehicle safety standards. 13

Enrolled SB 239 -2-
* Sec. 3. AS 28.20.330(b) is amended to read: 1
(b) The proof required by (a) of this section shall be maintained 2
(1) for one year from the date the judgment is stayed or satisfied if 3
the suspension is the person's first suspension under AS 28.20.270; 4
(2) for three years from the date the judgment is stayed or satisfied 5
if the suspension is the person's second suspension under AS 28.20.270; 6
(3) for 10 years from the date the judgment is stayed or satisfied if 7
the suspension is the person's third suspension under AS 28.20.270; 8
(4) during the period the person has a license or nonresident's operating 9
privilege if the suspension is the person's fourth or subsequent suspension under 10
AS 28.20.270. 11
* Sec. 4. AS 28.33.100 is amended by adding a new subsection to read. 12
(j) If an applicant does not successfully complete any portion of a driving test 13
required under this section, the department may require the applicant to retake only the 14
failed or incomplete portion of the test. 15
* Sec. 5. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 16
read: 17
APPLICABILITY. AS 28.20.330(b), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act, applies to 18
suspensions occurring before, on, or after the effective date of sec. 3 of this Act. 19
* Sec. 6. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 20
read: 21
TRANSITION: NOTIFICATION. Within six months after the effective date of sec. 3 22
of this Act, an insurance company doing business in the state shall provide notice of the 23
provisions of sec. 3 of this Act to the company's customers in this state who maintain proof of 24
financial responsibility as required under AS 28.20.330. 25
* Sec. 7. Sections 1 and 2 of this Act take effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 26