Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 14 R · 9 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 278 — An Act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 23, 2026. 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 chance

Based 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

Likely to advance 90% · high confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 24 sponsors

    1 primary, 23 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (14 R · 9 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 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 establishes the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission.

This bill creates a commission to foster trade between Alaska and Ireland. The commission aims to enhance economic opportunities and partnerships in both regions.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

89 added · 52 removed

Plain-language change summary

The changes to Bill HB 278 establish the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission and refine its structure and purpose. The revised bill now creates a commission under the Department of Commerce, with five members appointed by the governor and additional members from the state legislature, serving staggered three-year terms instead of two. This new setup aims to strengthen trade relations between Alaska and Ireland, fostering economic opportunities for both areas. This matters because it could lead to increased investment and collaboration, benefiting local businesses and the economy.

→
Previous
Latest
34-LS1299\I HOUSE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
278 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES COSTELLO, McCabe, Edgmon, Hall, Vance, Tomaszewski, Bynum, Josephson, Stapp, Story, Carrick Introduced:
SCS CSHB 278(STA) _______ AN ACT Establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission;
1/23/26 Referred:
and providing for an effective date.
State Affairs A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission;
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
and providing for an effective date." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled HB 278 AN ACT Establishing the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission;
* Section 1.
and providing for an effective date.
_______________ * Section 1.
(a) The Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission is established in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
(a) The Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission is established in the department.
(b) The commission consists of five members appointed by the governor.
(b) The commission consists of the following members:
The members of the commission serve two-year terms at the pleasure of the governor.
(1) five members appointed by the governor;
(c) The purpose of the commission is to (1) advance bilateral trade and investment between the state and Ireland;
(2) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to the state HB0278a -1- HB 278 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1299\I and Ireland;
and (3) two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate.
(3) promote business and academic exchanges between the state and Ireland;
(c) The members of the commission appointed under (b)(1) of this section serve staggered three-year terms.
(4) encourage mutual economic support between the state and Ireland;
The members of the commission appointed under (b)(2) and -1- Enrolled HB 278 (3) of this section serve two-year terms.
(5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of the state and Ireland;
A member of the commission serves at the pleasure of the member's appointing authority.
and (6) address other issues as determined by the commission.
(d) The purpose of the commission is to (1) advance bilateral trade and investment between the state and Ireland;
(d) The commission shall elect a chair from among its members.
(2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to the state and Ireland;
(3) promote business, entrepreneurship, new venture development, and academic exchanges between the state and Ireland;
(4) promote research collaborations and funding opportunities that advance the mutual interests of the state and Ireland;
(5) encourage mutual economic support between the state and Ireland;
(6) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of the state and Ireland;
and (7) address other issues as determined by the commission.
(e) The commission shall elect a chair from among its members.
(e) The commission shall provide public notice of a meeting at least seven days before the meeting.
(f) Except for meetings held outside of the state that the commission determines should be conducted in person, the commission shall meet by electronic means.
(f) The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development may accept gifts, donations, and grants from public and private sources to assist and support the commission in carrying out the purposes of this section.
The commission shall provide public notice of a meeting at least seven days before the meeting.
(g) Ifthe department obtains theinformation required under (i)(1)ofthis section and provides a copy of that information to the commission, the department may accept a grant, donation, or gift from a public or private source to pay for (1) per diem and travel expenses of the commission;
or (2) other assistance and support the commission requires to carry out the purposes of this section.
(h) Except as permitted under (g)(1) of this section, members of the commission serve without compensation and are not entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized by law under AS 39.20.180.
(i) By the 30th day of each regular legislative session, the commission shall prepare a report, deliver the report to the governor, senate secretary, and chief clerk of Enrolled HB 278 -2- the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is available.
The report must include (1) information on the grants, donations, and gifts accepted under (g) of this section in the previous year, including (A) the date and amount or value of each grant, donation, and gift;
(B) the total amount or value of all grants, donations, and gifts;
(C) the name and address of each person who made a grant, donation, orgift, and thedatesand total amount orvalueofthegrants, donations, or gifts;
and (D) for grants, donations, or gifts in excess of $50 in the aggregateduringthe previous year,the principal occupation and employerof the person who made the grant, donation, or gift;
and (2) the commission's findings, results, and recommendations.
(j) The commission may not contract for writing services or support to prepare the report required under (i) of this section unless a grant, donation, or gift is made for that purpose under (g) of this section.
The department may not provide staff to the commission to provide writing services or support to prepare the report required under (i) of this section.
(k) In this section, "department" means the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
INITIAL APPOINTMENT;
The Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission shall prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a report of the commission's findings, results, and recommendations.
STAGGERED TERMS.
The commission shall submit the report on or before the 30th day of the First Regular Session of the Thirty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature.
Notwithstanding AS 44.33.440(b)(1), enacted by sec.
Show all 46 changed rows (6 more)
Previous
Latest
The commission shall deliver the report to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available.
1 of this Act, the members of the Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission appointed under AS 44.33.440(b)(1), enacted by sec.
1 of this Act, are appointed to initial terms as follows:
(1) one member shall serve a one-year term;
(2) two members shall serve two-year terms;
and (3) two members shall serve three-year terms.
HB 278 -2- HB0278a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
-3- Enrolled HB 278
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26

  2. (H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 Transmitted to Governor

  3. (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)

  4. (H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK

  5. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  6. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y38 A2

  7. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP

  8. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED

  9. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 278(STA)

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

  11. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  12. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  13. (S) STEDMAN

  14. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, KAWASAKI, YUNDT, OLSON, TOBIN, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN,

  15. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 278(STA)

  16. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, MERRICK, CRONK, TILTON, STEVENS

  17. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/19 CAL

  18. (S) STA SCS ADOPTED UC

  19. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  20. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2026

  21. (S) FIN REFERRAL WAIVED

  22. (S) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER STA

  23. (S) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)

  24. (S) NR: WIELECHOWSKI

  25. (S) DP: TILTON, BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON

  26. (S) AM: KAWASAKI

  27. (S) STA RPT SCS 1AM 3DP 1NR SAME TITLE

  28. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 278(STA) Out of Committee

  29. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  30. (S) Moved CSHB 278(STA) Out of Committee

  31. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  32. (S) Heard & Held

  33. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  34. (S) STA

  35. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  36. (H) VERSION: CSHB 278(STA)

  37. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  38. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  39. (H) PASSED Y40

  40. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 278(STA)

  41. (H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON, STAPP, STORY

  42. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/25 CALENDAR

  43. (H) AM NO 1 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN

  44. (H) STA CS ADOPTED UC

  45. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  46. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/23/2026

  47. (H) COSPONSOR(S): BYNUM

  48. (H) COSPONSOR(S): TOMASZEWSKI

  49. (H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)

  50. (H) NR: HIMSCHOOT

  51. (H) DP: MCCABE, VANCE, ST. CLAIR, HOLLAND, STORY, CARRICK

  52. (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 6DP 1NR

  53. (H) Moved CSHB 278(STA) Out of Committee

  54. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  55. (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  56. (H) Heard & Held

  57. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  58. (H) COSPONSOR(S): VANCE

  59. (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  60. (H) Heard & Held

  61. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  62. (H) Minutes (HSTA)

  63. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard

  64. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  65. (H) COSPONSOR(S): HALL

  66. (H) COSPONSOR(S): EDGMON

  67. (H) STA

  68. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 23 co-sponsors · 41 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (23)

Not signed on (41)

41 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 41 →

"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

Concur

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 18002
Unaffiliated 1000
D 14000
N 5000
Total 38002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting

Official roll call →

Third Reading - Final Passage — Effective Date(s)

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

finance healthcare technology agriculture
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 278?
HB 278 is sponsored by Bert Stedman (R), Matt Claman (D), Elvi Gray-Jackson (D), Löki Tobin (D), Donald Olson (D), Robert Yundt (R), Scott Kawasaki (D), James Kaufman (R), Gary Stevens (R), Mike Cronk (R), Kelly Merrick (R), Ashley Carrick (D), Cathy Tilton (R), Andi Story (D), Will Stapp (R), Andy Josephson (D), Jeremy Bynum (R), Frank Tomaszewski (R), Sarah Vance (R), Carolyn Hall (D), Bryce Edgmon (N), Kevin McCabe (R), Mia Costello (R), and George Rauscher (R).
What is the current status of HB 278?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 23, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track HB 278?
Track HB 278 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 278

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 278

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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

Track this bill →