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SB40 • 2026

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

An Act establishing the period between September 15 and October 15 of each year as Hispanic Heritage Month.

Education
Enacted

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

Sponsor
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON REPRESENTATIVES Josephson, Galvin
Last action
2026-05-11
Official status
CHAPTER 3 SLA 26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date listed in metadata is August 6, 2026, but the specific start year for observance depends on when this law takes effect relative to September 15.

Establishing Hispanic Heritage Month

This law establishes September 15 through October 15 each year as Hispanic Heritage Month in Alaska.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets the period between September 15 and October 15 of each year as Hispanic Heritage Month.
  • Allows schools, community groups, public and private agencies, and individuals to observe this month with appropriate activities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Schools
  • Community groups
  • Public and private agencies
  • Individuals

Terms To Know

Hispanic Heritage Month
The period between September 15 and October 15 established to honor Hispanic American contributions.
AS 44.12.183
The new section of Alaska state law that establishes this observance.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Observing the month is optional, not required.
  • The law does not specify what activities must be held or provide funding for them.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-11 2560

    (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 8/6/26

  2. 2026-05-11 2560

    (S) SIGNED INTO LAW 5/8 CHAPTER 3 SLA 26

  3. 2026-05-01 2446

    (S) 4:25 P.M. 5/1/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR

  4. 2026-04-30 2365

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GALVIN

  5. 2026-04-30 2360

    (H) VERSION: SB 40

  6. 2026-04-30 2360

    (H) RETURN TO (S), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT

  7. 2026-04-30 2359

    (H) PASSED Y36 N3 E1

  8. 2026-04-30 2359

    (H) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 40

  9. 2026-04-29 2344

    (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON

  10. 2026-04-29 2340

    (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/30 CALENDAR

  11. 2026-04-29 2340

    (H) FN2: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)(UPDATED BY RULES)

  12. 2026-04-29 2340

    (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  13. 2026-04-29 2340

    (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/29/2025

  14. 2025-05-09 1070

    (H) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  15. 2025-05-09 1070

    (H) DNP: VANCE

  16. 2025-05-09 1070

    (H) DP: MCCABE, MOORE, HIMSCHOOT, CARRICK

  17. 2025-05-09 1070

    (H) STA RPT 4DP 1DNP

  18. 2025-05-08 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  19. 2025-05-08 Text

    (H) Moved SB 40 Out of Committee

  20. 2025-05-08 Text

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

  21. 2025-05-06 Min

    (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  22. 2025-05-06 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  23. 2025-05-06 Text

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

  24. 2025-04-15 754

    (H) STA

  25. 2025-04-15 754

    (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  26. 2025-04-14 862

    (S) VERSION: SB 40

  27. 2025-04-14 862

    (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  28. 2025-04-14 860

    (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  29. 2025-04-14 860

    (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 40

  30. 2025-04-11 783

    (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/14 CAL

  31. 2025-04-11 783

    (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  32. 2025-04-11 783

    (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/11/2025

  33. 2025-03-05 421

    (S) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  34. 2025-03-05 421

    (S) DP: KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI, GRAY-JACKSON, BJORKMAN, YUNDT

  35. 2025-03-05 421

    (S) STA RPT 5DP

  36. 2025-03-04 Min

    (S) Minutes (SSTA)

  37. 2025-03-04 Text

    (S) Moved SB 40 Out of Committee

  38. 2025-03-04 Text

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

  39. 2025-02-25 Min

    (S) Minutes (SSTA)

  40. 2025-02-25 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  41. 2025-02-25 Text

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

  42. 2025-01-22 37

    (S) STA

  43. 2025-01-22 37

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  44. 2025-01-22 37

    (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/17/25

Official Summary Text

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
An Act establishing the period between September 15 and October 15 of each year as Hispanic Heritage Month.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Enrolled SB 40
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
SB 40 _______

AN ACT

Establishing the period between September 15 and October 15 of each year as Hispanic
Heritage Month.

_______________

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

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled SB 40

AN ACT

Establishing the period between September 15 and October 15 of each year as Hispanic 1
Heritage Month. 2
_______________ 3
* Section 1. AS 44.12 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Sec. 44.12.183. Hispanic Heritage Month. The period between September 15 5
and October 15 of each year is established as Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic 6
Heritage Month may be observed by schools, community groups, and other public and 7
private agencies and individuals with appropriate activities to honor and recognize the 8
contributions that Hispanic Americans have made in the history and culture of this 9
state and the United States. 10