2025-04-09                     House Journal                      Page 0643
HB 179                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 179 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to notice requirements for certain state actions."                                                        
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Resources                                                         
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Zero, Dept. of Environmental Conservation                                                                                    
2.  Zero, Dept. of Natural Resources                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated April 8 follows:                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to public notice                                                                
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                

2025-04-09                     House Journal                      Page 0644
This bill would amend public notice requirements for state entities,                                                            
including notices issued by the Department of Environmental                                                                     
Conservation and the Department of Natural Resources related to land                                                            
and water use, as well as general notice requirements under the                                                                 
Administrative Procedure Act. The intent is to modernize public notice                                                          
practices without changing the underlying processes.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Under the bill, public notices could be posted on the Alaska Online                                                             
Public Notice System, with newspaper publication made discretionary.                                                            
It would also remove requirements for repeated or region-specific                                                               
newspaper publications, allowing state agencies to determine if                                                                 
additional advertising is necessary after initial publication.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
By prioritizing the use of the widely accessible Online Public Notice                                                           
System, this bill aims to reduce costs and streamline the public notice                                                         
process.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"