Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 18 R · 14 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 39 — An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Last action — (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/20/26

  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 January 22, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on July 03, 2026.

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.

  • 34 sponsors

    1 primary, 33 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (18 R · 14 D · 1 I) — 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.

In plain language

The bill addresses the needs of deaf or hard of hearing students in public schools.

This bill focuses on improving educational resources and support for public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing. It aims to ensure these students have access to appropriate services and accommodations.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families of deaf or hard of hearing students can expect improved resources and support in public schools.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

62 added · 67 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill HB 39 adds clear requirements for schools to provide parents of deaf or hard of hearing students with detailed information on support services. These changes emphasize the importance of offering parents unbiased resources and allow them to select the best communication methods for their children. This matters because it empowers families to make informed decisions regarding their child's education and support, ensuring better outcomes for students with hearing challenges.

→
Previous
Latest
34-LS0199\A HOUSE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
39 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES ALLARD, Underwood, Johnson, Rauscher, Carrick, Eischeid, Story, Tomaszewski, Jimmie, Costello, Gray, Galvin, Schwanke, Vance, D.Nelson, McCabe, Mina, Josephson Introduced:
CSHB 39(EDC) _______ AN ACT Relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
1/22/25 Referred:
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Education A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled HB 39 AN ACT Relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
* Section 1.
_______________ * Section 1.
and HB0039a -1- HB 39 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0199\A (D) support and advocacy services offered by public and private agencies and other entities knowledgeable about the needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing;
and -1- Enrolled HB 39 (D) support and advocacy services offered by public and private agencies and other entities knowledgeable about the needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing;
(d) A school district shall inform a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, or who the school district suspects may be deaf or hard of hearing, of the school district's duties and of the parent's rights provided under (c) of this section.
(d) A school district shall inform a parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, or who the school district suspects may bedeaf or hard of hearing, of the school district's duties and of the parent's rights provided under (c) of this section.
(e) In this section, (1) "bilingual approach" means the development of both sign language and English language literacy skills as a child's mode of receptive and expressive communication;
(e) In this section, (1) "bilingual approach" means the development of both American Sign Language and English language literacy skills as a child's mode of receptive and expressive communication;
(6) "total communication" means the combined use of signs, speech, speech-reading, auditory training, visual aids, manual gestures, and writing to convey HB 39 -2- HB0039a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0199\A information.
(6) "total communication" means the combined use of signs, speech, speechreading, auditory training, visual aids, manual gestures, and writing to convey information.
* Sec.
Enrolled HB 39 -2- * Sec.
If a school district operates a program, the school district shall annually submit a plan of operations to the department for approval and shall perform all duties of a local school district related to special education under state and federal law, except that the school district is only required to offer transportation to students who reside in the district.
If a school district operates a program, the school district shall annually submit a plan of operations to the department for approval and shall perform all duties of a local school district related to special education under state and federal law, except that the school district is required to offer transportation only to students who reside in the district.
If a school district determines that placement in the program is appropriate for a child who resides in the district, the school district that makes the placement retains the school district's responsibilities for special education for that child under state and federal law.
If a school district determines that placement in the program is appropriate forachild who resides in thedistrict, theschool district thatmakes theplacement retains the school district's responsibilities for special education for that child under state and federal law.
HB0039a -3- HB 39 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
-3- Enrolled HB 39
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 9/20/26

  2. (H) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/22 CH 27 SLA 26

  3. (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)

  4. (H) 2:45 P.M. 6/4/26 Transmitted to Governor

  5. (S) VERSION: CSHB 39(EDC)

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

  7. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  8. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MERRICK, OLSON

  9. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 39(EDC)

  10. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CAL

  11. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  12. (S) RULES TO FIRST SUP CALENDAR 5/19/2026

  13. (S) FN2: ZERO(EED)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)

  14. (S) NR: OLSON, STEDMAN

  15. (S) DP: HOFFMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK, KIEHL

  16. (S) FIN RPT 5DP 2NR

  17. (S) Moved CSHB 39(EDC) Out of Committee

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

  19. (S) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

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

  21. (S) Heard & Held

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

  23. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, KAWASAKI

  24. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): CRONK

  25. (S) YUNDT, CLAMAN, TILTON, RAUSCHER, STEVENS

  26. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON, STEDMAN, WIELECHOWSKI, TOBIN, DUNBAR,

  27. (S) FIN

  28. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  29. (H) VERSION: CSHB 39(EDC)

  30. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  31. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SCHWANKE, VANCE, D.NELSON, MCCABE, MINA, JOSEPHSON

  32. (H) PASSED Y40

  33. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 39(EDC)

  34. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  35. (H) FN2: ZERO(EED)(SUBMITTED BY RULES)

  36. (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING

  37. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 2/2/2026

  38. (H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY, GALVIN

  39. (H) RETURNED TO RULES COMMITTEE

  40. (H) EDC CS ADOPTED UC

  41. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  42. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2025

  43. (H) COSPONSOR(S): TOMASZEWSKI, JIMMIE, COSTELLO

  44. (H) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED

  45. (H) FN1: ZERO(EED)

  46. (H) DP: SCHWANKE, UNDERWOOD, EISCHEID, DIBERT, HIMSCHOOT, STORY

  47. (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 6DP

  48. (H) Minutes (HEDC)

  49. (H) Moved CSHB 39(EDC) Out of Committee

  50. (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106

  51. (H) Minutes (HEDC)

  52. (H) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- Invited & Public Testimony --

  53. (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106

  54. (H) COSPONSOR(S): STORY

  55. (H) COSPONSOR(S): EISCHEID

  56. (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK

  57. (H) COSPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER

  58. (H) EDC, FIN

  59. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  60. (H) Prefile released 1/17/25

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 33 co-sponsors · 31 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (33)

Not signed on (31)

31 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 31 →

"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

Third Reading - Final Passage

Passed 20 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 11000
D 9000
Total 20000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (20)
Member Party Vote
Bill Wielechowski D Yea
Donald Olson D Yea
Elvi Gray-Jackson D Yea
Forrest Dunbar D Yea
Jesse Kiehl D Yea
Lyman Hoffman D Yea
Löki Tobin D Yea
Matt Claman D Yea
Scott Kawasaki D Yea
Bert Stedman R Yea
Cathy Giessel R Yea
Cathy Tilton R Yea
Gary Stevens R Yea
George Rauscher R Yea
James Kaufman R Yea
Jesse Bjorkman R Yea
Kelly Merrick R Yea
Mike Cronk R Yea
Robert Myers R Yea
Robert Yundt R Yea

Official roll call →

Third Reading — Final Passage

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 20000
D 14000
N 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Yea
Andi Story D Yea
Andrew Gray D Yea
Andy Josephson D Yea
Ashley Carrick D Yea
Carolyn Hall D Yea
Donna Mears D Yea
Genevieve Mina D Yea
Maxine Dibert D Yea
Neal Foster D Yea
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Yea
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Yea
Sara Hannan D Yea
Ted Eischeid D Yea
Zack Fields D Yea
Alyse Galvin N Yea
Bryce Edgmon N Yea
Calvin Schrage N Yea
Ky Holland N Yea
Rebecca Himschoot N Yea
Bill Elam R Yea
Chuck Kopp R Yea
Dan Saddler R Yea
David Nelson R Yea
David Nelson R Yea
DeLena Johnson R Yea
Elexie Moore R Yea
Frank Tomaszewski R Yea
Jamie Allard R Yea
Jeremy Bynum R Yea
Jubilee Underwood R Yea
Julie Coulombe R Yea
Justin Ruffridge R Yea
Kevin McCabe R Yea
Louise Stutes R Yea
Mia Costello R Yea
Mike Prax R Yea
Rebecca Schwanke R Yea
Sarah Vance R Yea
Will Stapp R Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights education
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 39?
HB 39 is sponsored by Donald Olson (D), Kelly Merrick (R), Scott Kawasaki (D), James Kaufman (R), Mike Cronk (R), Gary Stevens (R), Matt Claman (D), Robert Yundt (R), Forrest Dunbar (D), Löki Tobin (D), Bill Wielechowski (D), Bert Stedman (R), Elvi Gray-Jackson (D), Cathy Giessel (R), Andy Josephson (D), Genevieve Mina (D), Kevin McCabe (R), D.Nelson, Sarah Vance (R), Rebecca Schwanke (R), Alyse Galvin (N), Andrew Gray (D), Mia Costello (R), George Rauscher (R), Nellie Unangiq Jimmie (D), Frank Tomaszewski (R), Andi Story (D), Ted Eischeid (D), Ashley Carrick (D), DeLena Johnson (R), Jubilee Underwood (R), Jamie Allard (R), and Cathy Tilton (R).
What is the current status of HB 39?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 39?
Track HB 39 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 39

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 39

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →