Alaska 33rd Legislature (2023-2024) Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

HB 227 — An Act relating to liability of an electric utility for contact between vegetation and the utility's facilities.

Last action — (H) REFERRED TO RULES

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

This bill died with 33rd Legislature (2023-2024). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

19 added · 20 removed

Plain-language change summary

The main change in House Bill 227 is a clarification regarding how utilities can manage vegetation near their property. The updated version specifies that utilities can remove vegetation only if part of its trunk is within their boundaries, rather than allowing removal of plants rooted outside those boundaries. This adjustment is important because it limits the scope of vegetation removal by utilities, potentially protecting more plants and trees from being cut down unnecessarily. The bill also maintains that utilities can still be held liable if their actions cause vegetation to come into contact with their facilities.

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33-LS0969\S CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
33-LS0969\B HOUSE BILL NO.
227(JUD) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Referred:
227 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER Introduced:
Rules4 Sponsor(s):
1/16/24 Referred:
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to liability of an electric utility for contact between vegetation and the utility's facilities." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
House Special Committee on Energy, Judiciary A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to liability of an electric utility for contact between vegetation and the utility's facilities." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
(b) A utility is not liable for cutting, girdling, or otherwise injuring or removing vegetation inside the boundaries of the utility's real property, lease, permit, HB0227b -1- CSHB 227(JUD) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0969\S easement, or right-of-way, even if the vegetation is rooted outside the boundaries of the utility's real property, lease, permit, easement, or right-of-way.
(b) A utility is not liable for cutting, girdling, or otherwise injuring or removing vegetation if a part of the trunk of the vegetation is inside the boundaries of HB0227a -1- HB 227 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS0969\B the utility's real property, lease, permit, easement, or right-of-way.
CSHB 227(JUD) -2- HB0227b New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
HB 227 -2- HB0227a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
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Action History

  1. (H) REFERRED TO RULES

  2. (H) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  3. (H) NR: GRAY, GROH

  4. (H) DP: C.JOHNSON, CARPENTER, SUMNER, ALLARD, VANCE

  5. (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 5DP 2NR

  6. (H) Minutes (HJUD)

  7. (H) Moved CSHB 227(JUD) Out of Committee

  8. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  9. (H) Minutes (HJUD)

  10. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 15 Minutes Following Session --

  11. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  12. (H) Minutes (HJUD)

  13. (H) Heard & Held

  14. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  15. (H) Minutes (HJUD)

  16. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 1:15 PM --

  17. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120

  18. (H) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  19. (H) AM: SCHRAGE, ARMSTRONG, PRAX

  20. (H) DP: BAKER, MCKAY, WRIGHT, RAUSCHER

  21. (H) ENE RPT 4DP 3AM

  22. (H) Minutes (HENE)

  23. (H) Moved HB 227 Out of Committee

  24. (H) ENERGY at 10:15 AM BARNES 124

  25. (H) Minutes (HENE)

  26. (H) Heard & Held

  27. (H) ENERGY at 10:15 AM BARNES 124

  28. (H) ENE, JUD

  29. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  30. (H) Prefile released 1/8/24

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 64 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (64)

64 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 64 →

"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

Subjects

public-safety energy
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 227?
HB 227 is sponsored by George Rauscher (R).
What is the current status of HB 227?
This bill died with 33rd Legislature (2023-2024). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 227?
Track HB 227 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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