FEES CHARGED TO DISABLED VETERANS

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status shows it was referred to committees as of February 27, 2026, but metadata indicates it passed both chambers. The effective date is explicitly set for July 1, 2026.

Waiving Municipal Fees for Disabled Veterans' Home Modifications

This law requires Alaska municipalities to waive certain building and permit fees when disabled veterans make home changes needed because of a disability.

What This Bill Does

• Requires municipalities to waive building, permit, plan review, inspection, or reinspection fees for home modifications made by disabled veterans if the work is required to accommodate their disability.
• Allows the veteran or their caretaker to provide proof of veteran status and a statement that the work is needed for the disability.
• Lets each municipality decide what counts as enough proof of veteran status under this rule.
• Sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• Disabled veterans living in Alaska who need to modify their homes due to a disability.
• Homeowners or caretakers acting on behalf of disabled veterans for home modifications.
• Alaska municipalities, including both home rule and general law cities.

Terms To Know

Disabled veteran

A person who served in the U.S. armed forces, National Guard, or reserves and has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having one.

Municipality

A city or borough in Alaska with the power to make local laws and collect fees.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not list specific documents that count as proof of veteran status; each municipality decides what is adequate.
• It only covers fees for modifications needed because of a disability, not other home repairs or improvements.
• The text does not explain how much money this will save veterans or cost municipalities.

Official Summary Text

FEES CHARGED TO DISABLED VETERANS
An Act relating to certain municipal fees and disabled veterans; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

SB0273A -1- SB 273
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1410\N

SENATE BILL NO. 273

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BY REQUEST

Introduced: 2/27/26
Referred: Community & Regional Affairs, State Affairs

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to certain municipal fees and disabled veterans; and providing for an 1
effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 29.10.200 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 4
(68) AS 29.35.128 (fee waiver for disabled veterans). 5
* Sec. 2. AS 29.35 is amended by adding a new section to read: 6
Sec. 29.35.128. Fee waiver for disabled veterans. (a) A municipality shall 7
waive a building fee, permit fee, plan review fee, plan examination fee, inspection or 8
reinspection fee, or other fee normally required by the municipality for modifications 9
to the residence of a disabled veteran, if the modifications are required to 10
accommodate the veteran's disability. The disabled veteran or disabled veteran's 11
caretaker shall provide proof of the disabled veteran's veteran status and attest that the 12
modifications to the residence are required to accommodate the veteran's disability. 13
The municipality shall determine what constitutes adequate proof of veteran status 14
34-LS1410\N
SB 273 -2- SB0273A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

under this section. In this section, "disabled veteran" means an individual who has 1
served in the armed forces of the United States, the National Guard, or a reserve unit 2
of the United States armed services, and who has a physical or mental impairment that 3
substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of having such an 4
impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. 5
(b) This section applies to home rule and general law municipalities. 6
* Sec. 3. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 7