Alaska’s giant cabbage OK, university fee disclosures vetoed as Alaska governor acts on four bills

Dunleavy permitted an omnibus agriculture bill that names the giant cabbage the Alaska state vegetable. He also permitted a local-government bill that mandates local school boards undergo budget and ethics training, and allows small communities to have smaller city councils.

In the 34th Legislature, Dunleavy has vetoed 31 of the 115 bills passed by lawmakers. Of those 115, only two have not yet been considered by the governor.

Dunleavy’s actions this week extend the record for the most vetoes by an Alaska governor during a single Legislature. The previous record, 25 vetoes, was set by Gov. Tony Knowles in the 19th Alaska State Legislature, which ran from 1995 to 1996.

Gov. Jay Hammond has the career vetoes record, with 74 in his eight years as governor. Knowles is second with 69. Gov. Bill Egan, who had 12 years in office, vetoed 56. Dunleavy’s career tally stands at 46. 

Veto cancels university fee notice mandate

House Bill 176, from Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, and Sen. Robb Myers, R-North Pole, would have required the University of Alaska to give students notice of any fee increases and to provide students with itemized billing statements.

The university system testified that it viewed the bill as unnecessary because it could provide itemized statements under existing powers. The sponsors of the bill, however, said the university’s current actions do not provide sufficient information and do not give students enough advance notice.

In his veto message, the governor appeared to side with the university, saying that “while transparency for students is an important objective, the university should retain the discretion to determine the most effective and efficient methods for providing notices and billing information.”

No tougher requirements for resident hunting licenses

Dunleavy’s other veto negated House Bill 93, from Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka. Had that bill been enacted, it would have required people to live in the state for one year, with absences allowed for military service, college and medical treatment among other exemptions, before receiving a resident hunting, fishing or trapping license. 

The exemptions are those listed in the Permanent Fund dividend eligibility law. 

Current law permits someone to obtain a resident license if they have a home in Alaska and do not establish residency in another state. They do not need to physically live in the state but do need to declare their intent to return.

The change was intended to limit the abuse of resident hunting and fishing rights, but it drew opposition from pilots and snowbird residents who live in Alaska only seasonally.

In his veto message, Dunleavy said the PFD law was written for a “different purpose and may exclude otherwise bona fide Alaska residents such as military members, students, pilots, and seniors.”

Agriculture bill becomes law without governor’s signature

Under the Alaska Constitution, a bill becomes law if the governor takes no action on it after lawmakers send it to him.

That happened with Senate Bill 208, from Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski. That bill reduces the preconditions for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to sell or lease state land for agricultural uses.

The House amended the bill to include two others — a bill regulating industrial hemp as agriculture rather than a controlled substance from Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, and a bill declaring the giant green cabbage Alaska’s state vegetable, from Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer. 

Legislature, governor approve smaller city councils

The governor also allowed Senate Bill 143, from Sen. Robert Yundt, R-Wasilla, to become law without his signature.

As written by Yundt, the bill reduces the minimum size of city councils to three members in towns and villages with fewer than 1,000 residents. The previous limit was seven members. 

In addition, the bill allows boroughs and cities to elect school board members to terms longer or shorter than three years. Prior law limited school board terms to three years only.

The state House amended Yundt’s bill to add additional requirements. Newly elected school board members must take ethics and budget training provided by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE