Heavy fuel ban for ships among about 80 bills introduced on final day for individual legislation
- Mark Sabbatini
- Feb 23
- 3 min read
Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, introduces proposal that could drastically alter how cruise ships operate; Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, and Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, also introduce last-day bills
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
A heavy fuel ban for ships proposed by one Juneau legislator and data safeguard proposals by the other two members of the all-Democratic delegation were among about 80 bills and resolutions introduced Monday, the deadline for personal legislation this session.
House Bill 366 by Rep. Sara Hannan bans heavy fuel for marine use, with limited exemptions such as ocean-going vessels not making port stops in Alaska and emergency situations. KTOO reported last fall that nearly 80% of the cruise trips made in Alaska in 2024 burned heavy fuel oil through open-loop or hybrid systems. Advocates of cleaner fuel say it will significantly reduce water and air pollution.
Heavy fuels are cheaper for ships such as cruise lines to use, but bans on their use are spreading. An international ban on them in Arctic waters took effect on July 1, 2024.
A total of 373 House bills have been filed so far during the two-year session that began Jan. 21, 2025, including 53 bills introduced Monday. There are 274 Senate bills, including 17 introduced Monday. Also introduced during the day were nine joint resolutions in the House. The session is scheduled to end by May 20, at which time all pending legislation would be nullified and have to be reintroduced next January.
Juneau’s other House member, Rep. Andi Story, introduced HB 367, which enacts new consumer privacy regulations involving the collection, use and sharing of personal data by businesses and other entities. As with much of the other legislation at the Alaska Capitol this session, it includes policies being considered or implemented in many other states.
Another digital-related proposal by a Juneau lawmaker is Senate Bill 258 by Sen. Jesse Kiehl. It states a software licensing contract cannot restrict what type of desktop or server platform a government entity installs applications on.
Other legislation introduced Monday ranged from simple tweaks to existing laws to a constitutional amendment voters would have to approve imposing term limits on state lawmakers. A sample of the proposals includes:
• HB 324 (by Rep. Elexie Moore, R- Wasilla) and HB 354 (by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer): State licensing, reporting and regulatory requirements for virtual currency kiosks. The bills are not identical, with Moore’s containing additional provisions.
• HB 326 (by Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake): Abortion pills require in-person physical examination of the person before prescribing and a follow-up appointment within 14 days of an abortion.
• HB 335 (by Rep. Ted Eisched, D-Anchorage): Mandates the "Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall prepare and maintain a pet and service animal disaster emergency plan."
• HB 342 (by Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River): Imposing restrictions on sex-reassignment procedures, including requiring consent forms that declare the U.S. and other governments have found that "no reliable evidence to support the notion that the potential benefits of these treatments outweigh the risks."
• HB 348 (by Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage): "An Act relating to feral cats" that allows people to "release a community cat on land from which the cat was originally taken.
• HB 357 (Vance) and SB 271 (by Sen. George Raucher, R-Sutton, imposing new abortion restrictions including who is authorized to provide them, prohibiting the procedure if a "fetal heartbeat" can be detected, and allowing civil lawsuits alleging violations of the law to be filed by any person "other than the state, a political subdivision of the state, or an officer or employee of a state or a political subdivisionof the state."
• HB 371 (McCabe): Requires groups supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot proposition to either maintain a physical address in Alaska or designate an in-state agent.
• HB 363 (by Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak): Allows "patriotic organizations" such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Veterans organizations to sell alcohol under a club license.
• HJR 36 (by Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, R-Fairbanks): Limiting state House members to six two-year terms and state Senate members to three four-year terms.
• SB 257 (By Sen. Mike Cronk): Alters funding for residential schools to a percentage of the Base Student Allocation used for traditional public schools.
• SB 259 (by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, D-Nikiski): Allows municipalities to set a percentage limit or 5% or higher on annual allowed increases to assessed property values.
• SB 261 (by Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage): Easing requirements for youths experiencing homelessness to get birth certificates and identification cards.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
