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SB258 • 2026

CONTRACT: LICENSING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

An Act relating to contracts for the licensing of software applications.

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
SENATOR KIEHL
Last action
2026-06-19
Official status
VETOED BY GOVERNOR
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata states the bill was 'Vetoed' on June 18, 2026. The provided text excerpt is labeled 'Enrolled,' which typically means a law has passed all steps and been signed or had its veto overridden; however, without explicit confirmation of an override in the source material, the status remains uncertain based solely on these conflicting signals.

Rules for State Software License Contracts

This bill sets rules so that when Alaska state agencies buy software licenses, they can usually choose which computers to run the software on.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires new contracts for software applications designed for desktop or server hardware to allow the state to install and run them on any such hardware it chooses.
  • Allows exceptions if a restriction is needed because of federal accreditation, security certification requirements, or how the software works technically.
  • Permits the state to buy bundled services like cloud hosting or support even if those deals include some restrictions.
  • Lets the state accept restricted software for lower prices only if officials write down that it benefits the state.
  • Gives the commissioner of administration power to create rules needed to follow this law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State agencies in Alaska entering into new or renewed contracts
  • Software vendors selling licenses to the state government

Terms To Know

License
Permission granted by a software owner for someone else to use their program.
Bundled Software
A deal that includes the computer program along with other services like hosting or support.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law only applies to contracts signed, renewed, or changed on or after its effective date.
  • The bill was vetoed by the governor and did not become active unless lawmakers overrode that decision later.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-19 3029

    (S) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/18/26

  2. 2026-06-04 2961

    (S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR

  3. 2026-05-20 2871

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

  4. 2026-05-20 2871

    (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP

  5. 2026-05-20 3013

    (H) VERSION: HCS SB 258(L&C)

  6. 2026-05-20 3013

    (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED

  7. 2026-05-20 2982

    (H) PASSED Y26 N13 A1

  8. 2026-05-20 2982

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS SB 258(L&C)

  9. 2026-05-19 Text

    (H) Moved HCS SB 258(L&C) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 8:30 AM --

  10. 2026-05-19 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 08:00 AM BARNES 124

  11. 2026-05-19 2909

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CALENDAR

  12. 2026-05-19 2908

    (H) MOTION TO MOVE TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR WITHDRAWN

  13. 2026-05-19 2908

    (H) L&C HCS ADOPTED Y22 N18

  14. 2026-05-19 2908

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  15. 2026-05-19 2908

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/19/2026

  16. 2026-05-19 2907

    (H) FN1: ZERO(ADM)

  17. 2026-05-19 2907

    (H) DP: FRIER, CARRICK, FIELDS, HALL

  18. 2026-05-19 2907

    (H) L&C RPT HCS(L&C) 4DP

  19. 2026-05-18 Text

    (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --

  20. 2026-05-18 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 09:30 AM DAVIS 106

  21. 2026-05-06 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  22. 2026-05-06 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  23. 2026-04-29 Text

    (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 5 min. Following Session --

  24. 2026-04-29 Text

    (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  25. 2026-04-21 2239

    (H) L&C

  26. 2026-04-21 2239

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  27. 2026-04-20 2292

    (S) VERSION: SB 258

  28. 2026-04-20 2292

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  29. 2026-04-20 2286

    (S) PASSED Y19 N- E1

  30. 2026-04-20 2286

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 258

  31. 2026-04-16 2262

    (S) NOT TAKEN UP 4/16 - ON 4/20 CALENDAR

  32. 2026-04-15 2249

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/16 CAL

  33. 2026-04-15 2249

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  34. 2026-04-15 2249

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/15/2026

  35. 2026-04-10 2192

    (S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)

  36. 2026-04-10 2191

    (S) DP: DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON

  37. 2026-04-10 2191

    (S) NR: BJORKMAN, MERRICK, YUNDT

  38. 2026-04-10 2191

    (S) L&C RPT 3NR 2DP

  39. 2026-04-08 Text

    (S) Moved SB 258 Out of Committee

  40. 2026-04-08 Text

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

  41. 2026-03-30 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  42. 2026-03-30 Text

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

  43. 2026-03-20 1994

    (S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)

  44. 2026-03-20 1994

    (S) DP: DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON

  45. 2026-03-20 1994

    (S) NR: MERRICK, YUNDT

  46. 2026-03-20 1994

    (S) CRA RPT 2DP 2NR

  47. 2026-03-19 Text

    (S) Moved SB 258 Out of Committee

  48. 2026-03-19 Text

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

  49. 2026-03-17 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  50. 2026-03-17 Text

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

  51. 2026-02-23 1754

    (S) CRA, L&C

  52. 2026-02-23 1754

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

CONTRACT: LICENSING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
An Act relating to contracts for the licensing of software applications.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Enrolled SB 258
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
HCS SB 258(L&C) _______

AN ACT

Relating to contracts for the licensing of software applications.

_______________

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

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled SB 258

AN ACT

Relating to contracts for the licensing of software applications. 1
_______________ 2
* Section 1. AS 36.90 is amended by adding a new section to read: 3
Sec. 36.90.310. Software licenses. (a) Except for a contract entered into under 4
AS 36.30.300 - 36.30.320, a contract entered into by the state to license a software 5
application designed to run on generally available desktop or server hardware may not 6
limit the state's ability to install or run the software on desktop or server hardware of 7
the state's choosing. 8
(b) This section does not prohibit the state from 9
(1) entering into a contract that includes a restriction that is necessary 10
because of a federal accreditation requirement, a security certification requirement, or 11
the technical architecture of the software application; 12
(2) voluntarily purchasing bundled software, including cloud, hosting, 13
support, or related services, or from negotiating pricing discounts associated with 14
those purchases under a contract that does not otherwise restrict the state's ability to 15

Enrolled SB 258 -2-
install or operate the software application on desktop or server hardware of the state's 1
choosing; or 2
(3) voluntarily purchasing bundled software that is restricted by the 3
vendor for the purpose of discounted rates if the state determines in writing that the 4
restriction is in the best interest of the state. 5
(c) The commissioner of administration may adopt regulations to implement 6
this section. 7
(d) In this section, "state" has the meaning given to "state or a political 8
subdivision of the state" in AS 36.95.010. 9
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 10
read: 11
APPLICABILITY. AS 36.90.310, enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to a contract 12
entered into, renewed, or amended on or after the effective date of sec. 1 of this Act. 13