An Act relating to the practice of accounting.
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HB 44 — An Act relating to the practice of accounting.
Last action — (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/7/22
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2021. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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3 sponsors
1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (1 R · 1 I) — cross-party backing.
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Mixed recorded votes
6 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
520 added · 559 removedPlain-language change summary
The amended version of Bill HB 44 clarifies the eligibility criteria for appointment as a public member in the field of accounting. Specifically, it now specifies that individuals who have a license and are not violating the practice of public accounting can be appointed, while also removing redundancy from the eligibility requirements. This change is important because it helps simplify the appointment process and ensures that qualified individuals can participate in public accounting oversight without unnecessary restrictions.
32-LS0302\ALAWS HOUSEOF BILLALASKA NO.Source Chapter No.
44SCS INCSHB THE44(L&C) LEGISLATUREam OFS THE_______ STATEAN OFACT ALASKARelating THIRTY-SECONDto LEGISLATUREthe -practice FIRSTof SESSIONaccounting. BY REPRESENTATIVES THOMPSON, Kaufman, Schrage Introduced:
2/18/21_______________ Referred:BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
StateTHE Affairs,ACT LaborFOLLOWS andON CommercePAGE A1 BILLEnrolled FORHB 44 AN ACT ENTITLEDRelating "An Act relating to the practice of accounting."accounting. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
_______________ * Section 1.
Notwithstanding AS 08.01.025, an accountant who does not hold a license under this chapterchapter, and[AND] is not engaged in the practice of public accounting in violation of this chapterchapter, and does not have a direct financial interest in public accounting is eligible for appointment as a public member under this section.
The holder of a certificate issued under this section is not authorized to engage in the practice of public accounting in the state unless the HB0044a -1- Enrolled HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A holder also has a current license or permit [, OR AN OUT-OF-STATE EXEMPTION OR PRACTICE PRIVILEGE].
and Enrolled HB 44 -2- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A (4) each owner [PARTNER] who is personally engaged in this state in the practice of public accounting as a member of the firm [THAT PARTNERSHIP] and whose principal place of business is in this state is a certified public accountant of this state in good standing.
(2) all of the owners of the firm [PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, HB0044a -3- Enrolled HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY] who are not certified public accountants are active individual participants inthe firm [PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY,] or in an entity affiliated with the firm [PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY];
(k) The board shall grant a permit to engage in the practice of public accounting to a firm that does not have an office in the state but provides, or offers to provide, attest functions in the state, if the firm applies to the board as a firm of certified public accountants and meets the following requirements:
and (4) the firm holds a permit to engage in the practice of public accounting in good standing in the jurisdiction in which the principal office of the firm HB 44 -4- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A is maintained.
Enrolled HB 44 -4- * Sec.
or HB0044a -5- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A (2) does not require as a condition of licensure that an individual -5- Enrolled HB 44 satisfy the requirements of (1) of this subsection, but the individual's qualifications are substantially equivalent to the requirements of (1) of this subsection;
and (4) consent to the appointment of the state board that issued the HB 44 -6- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A individual's license as the individual's or firm's [LEGAL ENTITY'S] agent for service Enrolled HB 44 -6- of process in a court action or in another proceeding against the individual or firm [LEGAL ENTITY] that arises out of a transaction or an operation connected with or incidental to the individual's or firm's [LEGAL ENTITY'S] engagement in the practice of public accounting.
(f) The board shall, not more frequently than once every three years, require as HB0044a -7- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A a condition for renewal of a permit of a firm that the applicant firm undergo a peer -7- Enrolled HB 44 review conducted as required by the board by regulation.
The peer review must include verification that an individual who practices at the firm, including an individual who is responsible for supervising attest functionsfunction or compilation services in the firm, and who signs or authorizes another person to sign the accountant's report on a financial statement on behalf of the firm, meets competency requirements established by the board.
In case of excusable failure, the boarddepartment shall determine the fee for a license or permit or renewal of a license or permit under this section [MAY NOT EXCEED THREE TIMES ONE YEAR'S PORTION OF THE FEE THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN REQUIRED FOR THE LICENSE, PERMIT, OR HB 44 -8- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A RENEWAL].
Enrolled HB 44 -8- * Sec.
(10) failure to comply with the peer [SATISFACTORILY HB0044a -9- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A COMPLETE A QUALITY] review requirement under AS 08.04.426;
[OR] -9- Enrolled HB 44 (11) commission of [COMMITTING] an act in another state for which the holder of the license, practice privilege, or permit [, OR OUT-OF-STATE EXEMPTION] would be subject to discipline in this or the other state;
The board may revoke or suspend the permit of a firm [PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, CORPORATION, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY], may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew its permit, or may censure the firm [PARTNERSHIP, HB 44 -10- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, CORPORATION, OR OTHER LEGAL Enrolled HB 44 -10- ENTITY] for any of the causes enumerated in AS 08.04.450 or for any of the following additional causes:
This restriction does not apply to (1) an officer, partner, member, or employee of a firm [SOLE HB0044a -11- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY -11- Enrolled HB 44 COMPANY, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY] affixing that person's signature to a statement or report in reference to the financial affairs of the firm [SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY] with wording designating the position, title, or office that the person holds in the firm [SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY];
An individual may not assume or use the title or designation "public accountant" or the abbreviation "PA" or other title, designation, word, letter, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that the individual is a public accountant, unless the individual holds a current license or practice privilege and the individual's offices in this state for the practice of HB 44 -12- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A public accounting are maintained as required by AS 08.04.360 and 08.04.370 Enrolled HB 44 -12- [AS 08.04.360 - 08.04.380].
HB0044a -13- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A * Sec.
-13- Enrolled HB 44 Sec.
HB 44 -14- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A (2) an act of a public official or public employee in the performance of Enrolled HB 44 -14- that individual's duties;
(2) an individual who holds a valid license or equivalent authorization in another state from indicating that the individual is entitled to use the title "certified public accountant," but the individual may not indicate that services are available to the public unless the individual holds a current license or practice privilege issued HB0044a -15- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A under this chapter;
-15- Enrolled HB 44 (3) a holder of a certificate, license, or degree from a foreign country that entitles the holder to practice public accounting or the equivalent in the foreign country from providing professional services to the government of the country issuing the license, a business whose principal office is located in the foreign country, or a person who is a resident of the foreign country, if the holder of the certificate, license, or degree issued by the foreign country does not perform attest functions, or issue a report regarding an individualindividual, firm, or government of the state, and uses only the title or designation permitted under the certificate, license, or degree issued by the foreign country followed by an English translation [CONSTITUTES A RECOGNIZED QUALIFICATION FOR THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTING IN THAT COUNTRY FROM INDICATING THAT THE PERSON HOLDS THE CERTIFICATE, LICENSE, OR DEGREE, BUT THE PERSON MAY NOT INDICATE THAT THE PERSON'S SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UNLESS THE PERSON HOLDS A CURRENT LICENSE, PRACTICE PRIVILEGE, PERMIT, OR OUT-OF-STATE EXEMPTION UNDER THIS CHAPTER].
(2) the release of information the client has authorizedlensec holder, permit holder, [OUT-OF-STATE EXEMPTION HOLDER,] or practice HB 44 -16- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A privilege holder to reveal;
Enrolled HB 44 -16- (3) information revealed as part of the discovery of evidence related to a court or administrative proceeding or introduced in evidence in a court or administrative proceeding;
or (E) any examination, other than an examination described in (C) of this paragraph, review, or agreed upon procedure [TO BE] performed in accordance with the standards on attestation engagements as (i) developed by national accountancy organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and HB0044a -17- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
and -17- Enrolled HB 44 (ii) adopted by the board in regulation;
(19) "report," when used with reference to an attest function or compilation service, (A) means (i) an opinion, report, or other form of language that states or implies assurance as to the reliability of the attested information or compiled financial statements and that also contains or is accompanied by a statement or implication that the person issuing it has special knowledge or competency in accounting or auditing, which HB 44 -18- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A may arise from use by the issuer of the report of names or titles Enrolled HB 44 -18- indicating that the issuer is a certified public accountant or auditor, or from the language of the report itself;
HB0044a -19- HB 44 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0302\A (21) "firm" means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability -19- Enrolled HB 44 company, corporation, or other legal entity;
(22) "peer review" means a study, appraisal, or review of oneor more aspects of the professional work of a person in the practice of public accounting who issues attestattests or compilation reports conducted as prescribed under AS 08.04.426 by a person who holds a certificate and who is not affiliated with the person being reviewed;
Enrolled HB 44 -20- HB0044a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
View plain text versions (5)
- Enrolled Enrolled HB 44 Current pdf
- HB 44 View text pdf
- CSHB 44(STA) View text pdf
- SCS CSHB 44(L&C) View text pdf
- SCS CSHB 44(L&C) am S View text pdf
Action History
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(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/7/22
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(H) Signed into law 6/9 CHAPTER 5 SLA 22
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(H) 12:55 P.M. 6/2/22 Transmitted to Governor
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(H) LEGAL MEMO SPREAD ON JOURNAL FAILED Y3 N32 E4 A1
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(H) RESCIND ACTION TO SPREAD 2/9 LEGAL MEMO Y34 N1 E4 A1
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(H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y39 E1
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(H) LEGAL MEMO SPREAD ON JOURNAL UC
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(H) CONCUR TAKEN UP UC
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(H) CONCUR READ AND HELD
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(S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 44(L&C) AM S
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(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
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(S) PASSED Y18 N- E1 A1
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(S) AUTOMATICALLY IN THIRD READING
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(S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y14 N4 E1 A1
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(S) RETURN TO SECOND FOR AM 1 UC
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(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 44(L&C)
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(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 2/1 CALENDAR
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(S) L&C SCS ADOPTED UC
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(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
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(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 1/28/2022
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(S) FN3: ZERO(CED)
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(S) NR: REVAK
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(S) DP: COSTELLO, GRAY-JACKSON, STEVENS
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(S) L&C RPT SCS(L&C) 3DP 1NR SAME TITLE
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(S) Minutes (SL&C)
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(S) Moved SCS CSHB 44(L&C) Out of Committee
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(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
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(S) L&C
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(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
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(H) VERSION: CSHB 44(STA)
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(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
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(H) COSPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, SCHRAGE
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(H) PASSED Y38 N2
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(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 44(STA)
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(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
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(H) STA CS ADOPTED UC
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(H) READ THE SECOND TIME
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(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/19/2021
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(H) LIMIT ALL DEBATE TO 2 MIN EACH Y23 N16 E1
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(H) FN2: ZERO(CED)
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(H) NR: SPOHNHOLZ
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(H) DP: KAUFMAN, SCHRAGE, MCCARTY, SNYDER, NELSON, FIELDS
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(H) L&C RPT CS(STA) 6DP 1NR
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(H) Minutes (HL&C)
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(H) Moved HB 44 Out of Committee
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(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
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(H) Minutes (HL&C)
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(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time & Location Change --
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(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 08:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
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(H) Minutes (HL&C)
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(H) Heard & Held
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(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
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(H) FN1: (CED)
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(H) AM: EASTMAN
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(H) DP: CLAMAN, STORY, KAUFMAN, VANCE, TARR, KREISS-TOMKINS
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(H) STA RPT CS(STA) 6DP 1AM
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(H) Minutes (HSTA)
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(H) Moved CSHB 44(STA) Out of Committee
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(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
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(H) Minutes (HSTA)
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(H) Heard & Held
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(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
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(H) Minutes (HSTA)
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(H) Heard & Held
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(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
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(H) STA, L&C
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(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
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(H) Prefile released 1/8/21
Sponsors
- THOMPSON · Primary
- James Kaufman · Cosponsor
- Calvin Schrage · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 62 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- THOMPSON
Co-sponsors (2)
Not signed on (62)
62 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 62 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 44?
- HB 44 is sponsored by THOMPSON, James Kaufman (R), and Calvin Schrage (N).
- What is the current status of HB 44?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2021. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 44?
- Track HB 44 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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