Alaska 33rd Legislature (2023-2024) Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 19 R · 2 D cosponsors

HB 61 — An Act relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons.

Last action — (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 10/27/23

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 06, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on October 16, 2023.

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 82% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 31 sponsors

    1 primary, 30 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (19 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    6 passed, 6 failed in 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

63 added · 66 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of HB 61 adds clarity by stating that the law specifically does not interfere with state or municipal responsibilities in emergencies. It also introduces provisions that explicitly prevent government entities from restricting firearm possession and use during disaster emergencies. This matters because it aims to protect individual rights to keep and bear arms when the government might otherwise try to impose restrictions, ensuring that residents have access to firearms even in times of crisis.

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Latest
33-LS0333\A HOUSE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
61 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES TILTON, McCabe, Vance, C.Johnson, Carpenter, Prax, Wright, Rauscher, McKay, Cronk, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Tomaszewski, Sumner, Allard, Coulombe, Foster, D.Johnson, Stapp Introduced:
SCS CSHB 61(JUD) am S _______ AN ACT Relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons.
2/6/23 Referred:
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Community and Regional Affairs, State Affairs A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled HB 61 AN ACT Relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons.
* Section 1.
_______________ * Section 1.
The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
It is the intent of the legislature that this Act does not affect the ability of the state or a municipality to exercise its duties under AS 29.35.145.
* Sec.
2.
(a) During a disaster emergency declared under AS 26.23.020, the governor, a state agency, or a municipality may not issue or adopt an order, proclamation, regulation, ordinance, or policy (1) forbidding the possession, use, or transfer of a firearm, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon for personal use;
(a) During a disaster emergency declared under AS 26.23.020, the governor, a state agency, or a municipality may not issue or adopt an order, proclamation, regulation, ordinance, or policy (1) forbidding the possession, use, or transfer of a firearm, a firearm part, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon for personal use;
(2) ordering the seizure or confiscation of a firearm, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon for personal use;
(2) ordering the seizure or confiscation of a firearm, a firearm part, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon for personal use;
(3) limiting the quantity or placing other restrictions on the sale or service of firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition, or other weapons for personal use;
-1- Enrolled HB 61 (3) limiting the quantity or placing other restrictions on the sale or service of firearms, firearm parts, firearm accessories, ammunition, or other weapons for personal use;
(4) unless the closure or limitation applies equally to all forms of HB0061a -1- HB 61 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0333\A commerce within the jurisdiction, closing or limiting the operating hours of (A) an entity engaged in the sale or service of firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition, or other weapons for personal use;
(4) unless a closure or limitation applies equally to all forms of commerce within the jurisdiction, closing or limiting the operating hours of (A) an entity engaged in the sale or service of firearms, firearm parts, firearm accessories, ammunition, or other weapons for personal use;
(b) This section does not apply to the possession of a firearm, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon by a person who is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon under state law.
(b) This section does not apply to the possession of a firearm, a firearm part, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon by a person who is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm, a firearm part, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon under state law.
(c) A person may bring a civil action in superior court if the person is adversely affected by a violation of (a) of this section, and the person is (1) qualified under state law to possess a firearm, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon;
(c) A person may bring a civil action in superior court if the person is adversely affected by a violation of (a) of this section and the person is (1) qualified under state law to possess a firearm, a firearm part, a firearm accessory, ammunition, or other weapon;
(d) Notwithstanding AS 09.17.020(f) - (h), a prevailing plaintiff under (c) of this section may recover (1) the greater amount of actual economic damages or punitive damages in the amount of three times the plaintiff's attorney fees;
(2) court costs;
and (3) attorney fees.
(2) "firearm accessory" means an item that is used in conjunction with or mounted on a firearm but is not essential to the basic function of a firearm, including a telescopic or laser sight, magazine, flash or sound suppressor, folding or aftermarket stock and grip, speedloader, ammunition carrier, and light for target HB 61 -2- HB0061a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0333\A illumination.
(2) "firearm accessory" means an item that is used in conjunction with or mounted on a firearm but is not essential to the basic function of a firearm, including a telescopic or laser sight, magazine, flash or sound suppressor, folding or aftermarket stock and grip, speedloader, ammunition carrier, and light for target illumination;
(3) "firearm part" means a component of a firearm that is essential to Enrolled HB 61 -2- the basic function of a firearm, including a component of an action or lock, the stock, and the barrel.
2.
3.
HB0061a -3- HB 61 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
-3- Enrolled HB 61
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Action History

  1. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 10/27/23

  2. (H) Signed into law 7/29 CHAPTER 21 SLA 23

  3. (H) 9:00 A.M. 7/18/23 Transmitted to Governor

  4. (H) CONCURRED AM OF (S) Y28 N12

  5. (H) CONCUR TAKEN UP UC

  6. (H) CONCUR READ AND HELD

  7. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 61(JUD) AM S

  8. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  9. (S) PASSED Y17 N3

  10. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): STEDMAN, BISHOP, GIESSEL, SHOWER

  11. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 61(JUD) AM S

  12. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  13. (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y15 N5

  14. (S) JUD SCS ADOPTED UC

  15. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  16. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/16/23

  17. (S) FN1: ZERO(LAW)

  18. (S) DP: GIESSEL, KAUFMAN

  19. (S) NR: CLAMAN, KIEHL

  20. (S) JUD RPT SCS(JUD) 2DP 2NR SAME TITLE

  21. (S) Minutes (SJUD)

  22. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 61(JUD) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

  23. (S) JUDICIARY at 10:00 AM BUTROVICH 205

  24. (S) Minutes (SJUD)

  25. (S) Heard & Held

  26. (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  27. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): BJORKMAN, MYERS, KAWASAKI, HUGHES, KAUFMAN, WILSON, MERRICK

  28. (S) JUD

  29. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  30. (S) <Pending Referral> -- MEETING CANCELED --

  31. (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  32. (H) VERSION: CSHB 61(STA)

  33. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  34. (H) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y28 N12

  35. (H) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READING

  36. (H) TECHNICAL SESSION 5/5 - RECON HELD TO 5/8

  37. (H) RECON TAKEN UP SAME DAY FAILED Y25 N13 E2

  38. (H) MCCABE NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION

  39. (H) PASSED Y26 N12 E2

  40. (H) RETURN TO SECOND FOR AM 2 FAILED Y1 N37 E2

  41. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 61(STA)

  42. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/3 CALENDAR

  43. (H) AM NO 5 TABLED Y21 N18 E1

  44. (H) AM NO 4 FAILED Y1 N38 E1

  45. (H) AM NO 3 FAILED Y1 N38 E1

  46. (H) AM NO 2 FAILED Y3 N36 E1

  47. (H) AM NO 1 FAILED Y16 N23 E1

  48. (H) STA CS ADOPTED UC

  49. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  50. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/1/2023

  51. (H) COSPONSOR REMOVED: MCCORMICK

  52. (H) COSPONSOR(S): MCCORMICK

  53. (H) COSPONSOR(S): STAPP

  54. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FOSTER, D.JOHNSON

  55. (H) FN1: ZERO(LAW)

  56. (H) AM: ARMSTRONG, STORY

  57. (H) DP: C.JOHNSON, CARPENTER, ALLARD, WRIGHT, SHAW

  58. (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 5DP 2AM

  59. (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  60. (H) Moved CSHB 61(STA) Out of Committee

  61. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  62. (H) COSPONSOR(S): COULOMBE

  63. (H) COSPONSOR(S): ALLARD

  64. (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  65. (H) Heard & Held

  66. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  67. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SUMNER

  68. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SHAW, TOMASZEWSKI

  69. (H) FN1: ZERO(LAW)

  70. (H) AM: HIMSCHOOT

  71. (H) DNP: MEARS

  72. (H) DP: MCKAY, RUFFRIDGE, MCCABE, MCCORMICK

  73. (H) CRA RPT 4DP 1DNP 1AM

  74. (H) Minutes (HCRA)

  75. (H) Moved HB 61 Out of Committee

  76. (H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124

  77. (H) Minutes (HCRA)

  78. (H) Heard & Held

  79. (H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124

  80. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SADDLER

  81. (H) COSPONSOR(S): RUFFRIDGE

  82. (H) COSPONSOR(S): CRONK

  83. (H) COSPONSOR(S): C.JOHNSON, CARPENTER, PRAX, WRIGHT, RAUSCHER, MCKAY

  84. (H) CRA, STA

  85. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 30 co-sponsors · 34 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (30)

Not signed on (34)

34 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 34 →

"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

public-safety
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 HB 61?
HB 61 is sponsored by Shower, Cathy Giessel (R), Bishop, Bert Stedman (R), Kelly Merrick (R), Wilson, James Kaufman (R), Hughes, Scott Kawasaki (D), Robert Myers (R), Jesse Bjorkman (R), Will Stapp (R), DeLena Johnson (R), Neal Foster (D), Julie Coulombe (R), Jamie Allard (R), Sumner, Frank Tomaszewski (R), Shaw, Dan Saddler (R), Justin Ruffridge (R), Mike Cronk (R), Mckay, George Rauscher (R), Wright, Mike Prax (R), Carpenter, C.Johnson, Sarah Vance (R), Kevin McCabe (R), and Cathy Tilton (R).
What is the current status of HB 61?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 06, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 61?
Track HB 61 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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