Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 17 D · 9 R · 3 I cosponsors

HJR39 — WAIVE VISA FEES FOR TEACHERS

Last action — LEGIS RESOLVE 35

  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 February 23, 2026. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate 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.

  • 29 sponsors

    1 primary, 28 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (17 D · 9 R · 3 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 urges the federal government to eliminate new H-1B Visa fees for teachers in the state.

This measure calls on the federal government to waive the recently introduced fees for H-1B Visas specifically for teachers. It aims to ease financial burdens associated with the hiring of foreign educators.

What this means for you
  • Families: This could help schools hire more diverse teachers, potentially benefiting your children's education.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

45 added · 50 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of HJR 39 now has added context explaining why waiving the new H-1B visa fees for teachers in Alaska is important. It highlights the increasing financial burden imposed by a recent executive order that raised visa costs to $100,000 per person, which creates challenges for school districts already struggling to find qualified educators, especially in remote areas. This change matters because it emphasizes the urgent need for federal action to help keep qualified teachers in Alaskan schools and maintain quality education.

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34-LS1535\A HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.
S T A T E O F A L A S K A THE LEGISLATURE Legislative Source Resolve No.
39 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES GALVIN, Hannan, Edgmon, Hall, Frier, Mears, Eischeid, Story, Gray, Josephson, Fields, Saddler, Kopp, Foster, Bynum, Stutes, Schrage, Mina Introduced:
HJR 39 am 35 Urging the federal government to waive the new H-1B Visa fees for teachers in the state.
2/23/26 Referred:
_______________ BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Education A RESOLUTION Urging the federal government to waive the new H-1B Visa fees for teachers in the state.
WHEREAS many school districts in the state, particularly those located in rural and remote communities, face persistent shortages of qualified educators, especially in critical subject areas, including math, science, and special education, which create significant challenges to maintaining consistent and high-quality instruction;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS many school districts in the state, particularly those located in rural and remote communities, face persistent shortages of qualified educators, especially in critical subject areas, including math, science, and special education, which creates significant challenges to maintaining consistent and high-quality instruction;
and WHEREAS a 2025 executive order raised the cost of H-1B visas to $100,000 a person each year, which threatens to impose significant financial hurdles for schools and employers in the state;
and WHEREAS a 2025 executive order raised the cost of H-1B visas to $100,000 a person, which threatens to impose significant financial hurdles for schools and employers in the state;
and WHEREAS implementation of the 2025 executive order could result in the state facing the difficult choice of paying millions of dollars for visa recipients or going without HJR039a -1- HJR 39 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS1535\A these needed teachers;
and WHEREAS implementation of the 2025 executive order could result in the state facing the difficult choice of paying millions of dollars for visa recipients or going without these -1- Enrolled HJR 39 needed teachers;
and WHEREAS, already, more than 5,000 state students began this school year without a teacher, undermining their right to a properly maintained education system;
and WHEREAS ongoing teacher vacancies across the state have affected thousands of students, particularly in rural and remote communities where staffing challenges are most severe;
and WHEREAS the state is committed to providing students with a high-quality education, ensuring each student has the opportunity to succeed academically and reach their full potential;
and WHEREAS the state is committed to providing students with a high-quality education, ensuringeach student has theopportunity to succeed academically and reach theirfull potential;
Trump, President of the United States;
Trump, President ofthe UnitedStates;
the Honorable JD Vance, Vice President of the United States and President of the U.S.
the Honorable JDVance, VicePresident ofthe United States and President of the U.S.
the Honorable Kristi Noem, United States Secretary of Homeland Security;
the Honorable Markwayne Mullin, United States Secretary of Homeland Security;
HJR 39 -2- HJR039a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
Enrolled HJR 39 -2-
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Action History

  1. (H) LEGISLATIVE RESOLVE NO. 35

  2. (H) 10:45 A.M. 6/16/26 Transmitted to Governor

  3. (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)

  4. (S) VERSION: HJR 39 AM

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

  6. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  7. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME HJR 39 AM

  8. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): CLAMAN, GIESSEL, STEDMAN, TOBIN, DUNBAR

  9. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/13 CAL

  10. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  11. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/12/2026

  12. (S) FN1: ZERO(LEG)

  13. (S) NR: YUNDT

  14. (S) DP: TOBIN, STEVENS, KIEHL

  15. (S) EDC RPT 3DP 1NR

  16. (S) Moved HJR 39 am Out of Committee -- Delayed to 4:00 PM --

  17. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  18. (S) Heard & Held

  19. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  20. (S) Scheduled but Not Heard

  21. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  22. (S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAWASAKI, GRAY-JACKSON, CRONK, YUNDT, OLSON, STEVENS

  23. (S) EDC

  24. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  25. (H) VERSION: HJR 39 AM

  26. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  27. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FOSTER, BYNUM, STUTES, SCHRAGE, MINA

  28. (H) PASSED Y38 E2

  29. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HJR 39 AM

  30. (H) KOPP

  31. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FRIER, MEARS, EISCHEID, STORY, GRAY, JOSEPHSON, FIELDS, SADDLER,

  32. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/20 CALENDAR

  33. (H) AM NOS 4 AND 5 NOT OFFERED

  34. (H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED UC

  35. (H) AM NO 2 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN

  36. (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

  37. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  38. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/18/2026

  39. (H) COSPONSOR(S): HALL

  40. (H) FN1: ZERO(LEG)

  41. (H) AM: ELAM

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

  43. (H) EDC RPT 6DP 1AM

  44. (H) Moved HJR 39 Out of Committee

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

  46. (H) Moved HJR 39 Out of Committee

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

  48. (H) Heard & Held

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

  50. (H) EDC

  51. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 28 co-sponsors · 36 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (28)

Not signed on (36)

36 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 36 →

"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 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 18002
D 14000
N 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
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 Not Voting
Chuck Kopp R Yea
Dan Saddler R Yea
David Nelson R Not Voting
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

immigration 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 HJR39?
HJR39 is sponsored by Forrest Dunbar (D), Löki Tobin (D), Bert Stedman (R), Cathy Giessel (R), Matt Claman (D), Gary Stevens (R), Donald Olson (D), Robert Yundt (R), Mike Cronk (R), Elvi Gray-Jackson (D), Scott Kawasaki (D), Genevieve Mina (D), Calvin Schrage (N), Louise Stutes (R), Jeremy Bynum (R), Neal Foster (D), Chuck Kopp (R), Dan Saddler (R), Zack Fields (D), Andy Josephson (D), Andrew Gray (D), Andi Story (D), Ted Eischeid (D), Donna Mears (D), Robyn Niayuq Frier (D), Carolyn Hall (D), Bryce Edgmon (N), Sara Hannan (D), and Alyse Galvin (N).
What is the current status of HJR39?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 23, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track HJR39?
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Last checked for changes 16 days ago · updated continuously

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