HB 79 — An Act renaming the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska as the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research; and naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park.
Last action — (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26
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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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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 31, 2025. It awaits signature.
Vetoed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on July 03, 2026.
Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.
Odds of enactment
Low chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low 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
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To Executive
Current position in the legislative process.
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11 sponsors
1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 3 parties (9 D · 1 R · 1 I) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 4 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 renames a research institute and a marine park in Alaska.
This legislation renames the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska and a state marine park to honor Vic Fischer. It reflects the state's recognition of Fischer's contributions.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
34 added · 17 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent changes to HB 79 include the renaming of the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska to the Vic Fischer Institute, as well as the establishment of Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the University of Alaska should not spend money specifically to update the signage or materials for the renamed institute. These amendments highlight the state's commitment to honoring Vic Fischer while ensuring that public funds are used responsibly.
34-LS0495\ALAWS HOUSEOF BILLALASKA NO.Source Chapter No.
79SCS INHB THE79(RES) LEGISLATURE_______ OFAN THEACT STATERenaming OFthe ALASKAInstitute THIRTY-FOURTHof LEGISLATURESocial -and SECONDEconomic SESSIONResearch BYat REPRESENTATIVESthe FIELDS,University Galvin,of Josephson,Alaska Grayas SENATORSthe Dunbar,Vic Tobin,Fischer Kawasaki,Institute Olson,of Claman,Social Gray-Jackson,and StevensEconomic Introduced:Research;
1/31/25and Referred:naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park.
Resources_______________ A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
*THE SectionACT 1.FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled HB 79 AN ACT Renaming the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska as the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research;
and naming the Vic Fischer Shoup Bay State Marine Park.
_______________ * Section 1.
The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
It is theintent oftheLegislaturethattheUniversity ofAlaska not spend funds on signage or materials exclusively to update the name of the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research.
* Sec.
2.
AS 14.40.110 is amended to read:
Sec.
14.40.110.
Establishment of Business, Economics, and Public Administration Research Program.
The University of Alaska may establish a Business, Economics, and Public Administration Research Program, which shall be named the Vic Fischer Institute of Social and Economic Research, for the purpose -1- Enrolled HB 79 of developing and publishing statistics and other information regarding the economy, government, and resources of the state.
* Sec.
3.
HB0079aEnrolled -1- HB 79 New-2- Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
View plain text versions (3)
- Enrolled Enrolled HB 79 Current pdf
- HB 79 View text pdf
- SCS HB 79(RES) View text pdf
Action History
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(H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26
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(H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 Transmitted to Governor
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(H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 30
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(H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y29 N11
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(H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP
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(H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND HELD
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(S) VERSION: SCS HB 79(RES)
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(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
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(S) PASSED Y19 N1
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(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS HB 79(RES)
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(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/18 CAL
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(S) RES SCS ADOPTED UC
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(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
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(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026
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(S) FN3: ZERO(UA)
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(S) FN2: ZERO(DNR)
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(S) NR: MYERS, RAUSCHER
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(S) DP: GIESSEL, DUNBAR, KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI
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(S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 30
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(S) RES RPT SCS 4DP 2NR NEW TITLE
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(S) STEVENS
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(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): DUNBAR, TOBIN, KAWASAKI, OLSON, CLAMAN, GRAY-JACKSON,
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(S) Minutes (SRES)
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(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
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(S) Moved SCS HB 79(RES) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
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(S) RESOURCES at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
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(S) Heard & Held
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(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
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(S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
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(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
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(S) FN1: ZERO(DNR)
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(S) DP: MERRICK, OLSON, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON, YUNDT
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(S) CRA RPT 5DP
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(S) Minutes (SCRA)
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(S) Moved HB 79 Out of Committee
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(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
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(S) Minutes (SCRA)
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(S) Heard & Held
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(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
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(S) CRA, RES
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(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
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(H) VERSION: HB 79
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(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
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(H) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y37 N3
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(H) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READING
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(H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY
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(H) COSTELLO NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION
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(H) PASSED Y35 N2 E3
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(H) READ THE THIRD TIME HB 79
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(H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, JOSEPHSON
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(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/11 CALENDAR
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(H) READ THE SECOND TIME
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(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/9/2025
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(H) FN1: ZERO(DNR)
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(H) DP: FIELDS, COULOMBE, HALL, ELAM, RAUSCHER, MEARS, DIBERT, BURKE
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(H) RES RPT 8DP
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(H) Minutes (HRES)
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(H) Moved HB 79 Out of Committee
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(H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
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(H) Minutes (HRES)
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(H) Heard & Held
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(H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
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(H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
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(H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
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(H) RES
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(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
Sponsors
- Gary Stevens · Cosponsor
- Elvi Gray-Jackson · Cosponsor
- Matt Claman · Cosponsor
- Donald Olson · Cosponsor
- Scott Kawasaki · Cosponsor
- Löki Tobin · Cosponsor
- Forrest Dunbar · Cosponsor
- Andrew Gray · Cosponsor
- Andy Josephson · Cosponsor
- Alyse Galvin · Cosponsor
- Zack Fields · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 54 not signed on · 11 voted No
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (10)
Not signed on (54)
54 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 54 →"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
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| R | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| D | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| N | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 29 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 73% | 28% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Steve St. Clair | — | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Chuck Kopp | R | Yea |
| Dan Saddler | R | Nay |
| David Nelson | R | Yea |
| David Nelson | R | Nay |
| DeLena Johnson | R | Yea |
| Elexie Moore | R | Yea |
| Frank Tomaszewski | R | Nay |
| Jamie Allard | R | Nay |
| Jeremy Bynum | R | Yea |
| Jubilee Underwood | R | Yea |
| Julie Coulombe | R | Yea |
| Justin Ruffridge | R | Yea |
| Kevin McCabe | R | Nay |
| Louise Stutes | R | Yea |
| Mia Costello | R | Nay |
| Mike Prax | R | Nay |
| Rebecca Schwanke | R | Nay |
| Sarah Vance | R | Nay |
| Will Stapp | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 5% | 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 | Nay |
| Robert Myers | R | Yea |
| Robert Yundt | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| D | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| N | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 93% | 8% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Robyn Niayuq Burke | — | 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 |
| 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 |
| Cathy Tilton | R | Yea |
| Chuck Kopp | R | Yea |
| Dan Saddler | R | Yea |
| David Nelson | R | Yea |
| DeLena Johnson | R | Yea |
| Elexie Moore | R | Yea |
| Frank Tomaszewski | R | Yea |
| George Rauscher | R | Yea |
| Jamie Allard | R | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Rebecca Schwanke | R | Nay |
| Sarah Vance | R | Yea |
| Will Stapp | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R | 16 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| D | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| N | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 88% | 5% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Robyn Niayuq Burke | — | 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 |
| 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 |
| Cathy Tilton | R | Yea |
| Chuck Kopp | R | Yea |
| Dan Saddler | R | Yea |
| David Nelson | R | Yea |
| DeLena Johnson | R | Yea |
| Elexie Moore | R | Not Voting |
| Frank Tomaszewski | R | Yea |
| George Rauscher | R | Yea |
| Jamie Allard | R | Nay |
| 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 | Not Voting |
| Rebecca Schwanke | R | Nay |
| Sarah Vance | R | Yea |
| Will Stapp | R | Not Voting |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 79?
- HB 79 is sponsored by Gary Stevens (R), Elvi Gray-Jackson (D), Matt Claman (D), Donald Olson (D), Scott Kawasaki (D), Löki Tobin (D), Forrest Dunbar (D), Andrew Gray (D), Andy Josephson (D), Alyse Galvin (N), and Zack Fields (D).
- What is the current status of HB 79?
- This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 31, 2025. It awaits signature.
- Where can I track HB 79?
- Track HB 79 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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