Alaska 33rd Legislature (2023-2024) Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 11 R · 2 I · 2 D cosponsors

SB 118 — An Act relating to critical and essential minerals.

Last action — (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 11/28/24

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 29, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on October 09, 2024.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 21 sponsors

    1 primary, 20 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (11 R · 2 I · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

57 added · 55 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 118 has shifted focus from a broader perspective on critical and essential minerals as they relate to the global energy transition to a more specific emphasis on developing a strategy for exploration and production within Alaska. The bill now intends for the state to proactively encourage local development and manufacturing of these minerals without the previous clear connection to renewable energy technologies. This change matters because it narrows the scope of state efforts and potentially prioritizes economic development over environmental considerations in strategic planning.

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33-LS0706\A SENATE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
118 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY SENATORS MERRICK, Bjorkman, Dunbar, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Myers, Shower, Bishop, Stedman, Wilson Introduced:
CSSB 118(FIN) _______ AN ACT Relating to critical and essential minerals.
3/29/23 Referred:
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Resources A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to critical and essential minerals and the global energy transition." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled SB 118 AN ACT Relating to critical and essential minerals.
* Section 1.
_______________ * Section 1.
PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL MINERALS.
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL MINERALS;
(a) The Office of the Governor shall consider emerging technologies for renewable energy and the technologies' necessary components, consider mineral economics and development and production regulatory frameworks at all levels of government, and develop a strategic plan for the state to produce critical and essential minerals.
REPORT.
The plan must identify (1) strategies to position state production of critical and essential minerals at the center of United States production and manufacturing to implement the global energy transition;
(a) It is the intent of the legislature that the state develop a strategy to encourage exploration, development, production, refining, and value-added manufacturing of critical and essential minerals in the state.
(2) the state's ability to develop renewable energy emerging technologies and the technologies' required components;
When considering mineral economics and development and production regulatory frameworks at all levels of government, the strategy must (1) position state production of critical and essential minerals at the center of production in the United States;
and (3) the impacts of different regulatory frameworks on mineral development.
(2) support development of emerging technologies and the manufacturing of the required components;
SB0118A -1- SB 118 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0706\A (b) Not later than the first day of the Second Regular Session of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature, the Department of Natural Resources shall provide a report to the legislature comparing the state's production to national and global production of critical and essential minerals, including lithium, copper, tin, gold, uranium, platinum, cobalt, graphite, nickel, silver, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, and chromium.
(3) consider the effects of different regulatory frameworks on development of critical and essential minerals in the state;
When developing the report, the Department of Natural Resources may consult with appropriate state and federal agencies, the University of Alaska, industry representatives, and advocacy organizations.
and -1- Enrolled SB 118 (4) maintain the state's existing environmental standards.
The report must identify strategies to increase state production and development of critical and essential minerals in the next three, five, and 10 years.
(b) Not later than the first day of the Second Regular Session of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature, the Department of Natural Resources shall provide a report to the legislature comparing the state's current production and potential future production to national and global production of critical and essential minerals.
When determining which minerals are critical and essential, the department may rely on the most recent critical minerals lists published by the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of Defense, and the United States Department of the Interior, Geological Survey.
When developing the report, the Department of Natural Resources may consult with appropriate state and federal agencies, the University of Alaska, industry representatives, and Native corporations.
The report must identify strategies to increase industry exploration for and state production and development of critical and essential minerals in the next three, five, and 10 years.
The commissioner of natural resources shall submit the report to the senate secretary and chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available.
The commissioner of natural resources shall post the report on the department's Internet website, submit the report to the senate secretary and chief clerk of the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is available.
(c) Not later than the first day of the Second Regular Session of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature, the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development shall provide a report to the legislature identifying the state's role in innovation, manufacturing, and transportation to support the global energy transition.
(c) Not later than the first day of the Second Regular Session of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State Legislature, the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development shall provide a report to the legislature identifying the state's role in innovation, manufacturing, and transportation.
The report must analyze the potential role of state goods in supply chains critical to the global energy transition, including the potential use of state goods in electric batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and connected consumer devices.
The report must analyze the potential role of state goods in supply chains critical to the global economy, including the potential use of state goods in electric batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and connected consumer devices.
The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development may hire a contractor to prepare the report.
SB 118 -2- SB0118A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
Enrolled SB 118 -2-
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Action History

  1. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 11/28/24

  2. (S) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 8/30 CH 45 SLA 24

  3. (S) 1:45 P.M. 8/7/26 Transmitted to Governor

  4. (S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)

  5. (H) ARMSTRONG, STAPP, WRIGHT

  6. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): CRONK, SCHRAGE, GALVIN, TOMASZEWSKI, SUMNER, BAKER, MCCABE,

  7. (H) VERSION: CSSB 118(FIN)

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

  9. (H) PASSED Y39 N1

  10. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 118(FIN)

  11. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  12. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  13. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/12/2024

  14. (H) FN3: (CED)

  15. (H) FN1: (DNR)

  16. (H) FOSTER

  17. (H) DP: GALVIN, HANNAN, JOSEPHSON, COULOMBE, CRONK, TOMASZEWSKI, ORTIZ, D.JOHNSON,

  18. (H) FIN RPT 9DP

  19. (H) Moved CSSB 118(FIN) Out of Committee -- Recessed to 5:15 PM --

  20. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  21. (H) -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --

  22. (H) FINANCE at 10:00 AM ADAMS 519

  23. (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --

  24. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  25. (H) Minutes (HFIN)

  26. (H) Heard & Held

  27. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  28. (H) RES REFERRAL REMOVED

  29. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): SADDLER

  30. (H) RES, FIN

  31. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  32. (S) VERSION: CSSB 118(FIN)

  33. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  34. (S) COSPONSOR(S): SHOWER, BISHOP, STEDMAN, WILSON

  35. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  36. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 118(FIN)

  37. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/24 CAL

  38. (S) FIN CS ADOPTED UC

  39. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  40. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/22/2024

  41. (S) FN3: (CED)

  42. (S) FN1: (DNR)

  43. (S) NR: KIEHL

  44. (S) DP: STEDMAN, WILSON, MERRICK, BISHOP

  45. (S) FIN RPT CS 4DP 1NR NEW TITLE

  46. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  47. (S) Moved CSSB 118(FIN) Out of Committee

  48. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  49. (S) COSPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, KAWASAKI

  50. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  51. (S) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --

  52. (S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532

  53. (S) COSPONSOR(S): DUNBAR

  54. (S) FIN REFERRAL ADDED

  55. (S) FN2: (CED)

  56. (S) FN1: (DNR)

  57. (S) AM: KAWASAKI

  58. (S) NR: CLAMAN, WIELECHOWSKI

  59. (S) DP: GIESSEL, BISHOP, KAUFMAN, DUNBAR

  60. (S) RES RPT 4DP 2NR 1AM

  61. (S) Minutes (SRES)

  62. (S) Moved SB 118 Out of Committee

  63. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  64. (S) Minutes (SRES)

  65. (S) Heard & Held

  66. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  67. (S) Minutes (SRES)

  68. (S) Heard & Held

  69. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  70. (S) COSPONSOR(S): BJORKMAN, MYERS

  71. (S) RES

  72. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 20 co-sponsors · 44 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (20)

Not signed on (44)

44 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 44 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

transportation energy
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 118?
SB 118 is sponsored by Wright, Will Stapp (R), Armstrong, Kevin McCabe (R), Baker, Sumner, Frank Tomaszewski (R), Alyse Galvin (N), Calvin Schrage (N), Mike Cronk (R), Dan Saddler (R), Wilson, Bert Stedman (R), Bishop, Robert Myers (R), Scott Kawasaki (D), James Kaufman (R), Forrest Dunbar (D), Jesse Bjorkman (R), Kelly Merrick (R), and Mike Shower (R).
What is the current status of SB 118?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 29, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 118?
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