Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 12 D · 3 R · 1 I cosponsors

SB41 — PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION

Last action — VETO SUSTAINED

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 22, 2025. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on June 19, 2026.

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

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 16 sponsors

    1 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (12 D · 3 R · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    5 passed, 3 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

This bill relates to mental health education.

The bill focuses on the provision of mental health education. It aims to enhance awareness and understanding of mental health issues.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

51 added · 50 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to SB 41 focuses on mental health education by specifying that the state board must use medically and scientifically based content when creating guidelines. Importantly, it has now been made clear that political or advocacy-related content unrelated to student mental health will not be included. This change is significant because it aims to ensure that the mental health education provided to students is objective and rooted in scientific evidence, rather than influenced by outside agendas.

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Latest
34-LS0078\N SENATE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
41 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY SENATORS GRAY-JACKSON, Claman, Giessel, Dunbar, Tobin, Kawasaki, Hoffman, Cronk REPRESENTATIVES Frier, Dibert, Josephson, Himschoot, Hall, Bynum, Mina, Gray Introduced:
SB 41 am H _______ AN ACT Relating to mental health education.
1/22/25 Referred:
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Education, Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to mental health education." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled SB 41 AN ACT Relating to mental health education.
* Section 1.
_______________ * Section 1.
The policies must include procedures (1) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to object to and withdraw the child from a standards-based assessment or test required by SB0041A -1- SB 41 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0078\N the state;
The policies must include procedures (1) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to object to and withdraw the child from a standards-based assessment or test required by -1- Enrolled SB 41 the state;
(b) The state board shall establish guidelines for a health and personal safety education program, including guidelines for developmentally appropriate SB 41 -2- SB0041A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0078\N instruction in mental health.
(b) The state board shall establish guidelines for a health and personal safety education program, including guidelines for developmentally appropriate Enrolled SB 41 -2- instruction in mental health.
The state board shall use medically and scientifically based content when developing the guidelines for developmentally appropriate instruction in mental health and may not include in the guidelines any political, ideological, or advocacy-oriented content that is unrelated to student mental health.
TRANSITION.
-3- Enrolled SB 41 TRANSITION.
SB0041A -3- SB 41 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
Enrolled SB 41 -4-
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View plain text versions (3)

How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill requires the development of mental health education guidelines and establishes reporting requirements for the Alaska Board of Education.

  • AS 14.03.016(a)

    providing for parent notification not less than two weeks before any class or program that provides instruction in mental health is provided to a child.

    Requires school boards to notify parents two weeks in advance before mental health instruction is provided.

  • AS 14.30.360(a)

    [PHYSICAL] → mental health, physical health,

    Adds mental health to the subjects included in health education programs.

  • AS 14.30.360(b)

    including guidelines for developmentally appropriate instruction in mental health.

    Mandates the establishment of guidelines for mental health instruction in health and personal safety education.

  • REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. Two years after the effective date of this Act, the state Board of Education and Early Development shall submit a report to the senate secretary and chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available.

    Requires the Board of Education to report to the legislature on the mental health education guidelines within two years.

  • TRANSITION. The state Board of Education and Early Development shall develop the mental health guidelines required by AS 14.30.360(b), as amended by sec. 4 of this Act, within two years after the effective date of this Act.

    Establishes a timeline for the development of mental health guidelines by the state Board of Education.

Action History

  1. (S) JOINT SESSION at 01:00 PM HOUSE CHAMBER

  2. (S) RETURNED TO GOVERNOR FOR PERMANENT FILING

  3. (S) GOVERNOR VETO SUSTAINED Y38 N22

  4. (S) MOTION TO OVERRIDE VETO

  5. (S) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/18/26

  6. (S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 Transmitted to Governor

  7. (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y17 N3

  8. (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP

  9. (H) VERSION: SB 41 AM H

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

  11. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): BYNUM, MINA, GRAY

  12. (H) PASSED Y27 N13

  13. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 41 AM H

  14. (H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/13 - ON 5/14 CALENDAR

  15. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): FRIER, DIBERT, JOSEPHSON, HIMSCHOOT, HALL

  16. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/13 CALENDAR

  17. (H) AM NO 4 ADOPTED UC

  18. (H) AM NO 3 FAILED Y20 N20

  19. (H) AM NO 2 FAILED Y20 N20

  20. (H) AM NO 1 FAILED Y19 N21

  21. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  22. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/12/2026

  23. (H) FN5: ZERO(DOH)

  24. (H) FN4: ZERO(DFC)

  25. (H) FN3: (EED)

  26. (H) NR: TOMASZEWSKI

  27. (H) DNP: ALLARD

  28. (H) DP: JIMMIE, BYNUM, GALVIN, HANNAN, MOORE, STAPP, SCHRAGE, JOSEPHSON, FOSTER

  29. (H) FIN RPT 9DP 1DNP 1NR

  30. (H) Moved SB 41 Out of Committee

  31. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  32. (H) FIN

  33. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  34. (S) VERSION: SB 41

  35. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  36. (S) PASSED Y19 N1

  37. (S) COSPONSOR(S): HOFFMAN, CRONK

  38. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 41

  39. (S) COSPONSOR(S): TOBIN, KAWASAKI

  40. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/10 CAL

  41. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  42. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/8/2026

  43. (S) Moved SB 41 Out of Committee

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

  45. (S) FN5: ZERO(DOH)

  46. (S) FN4: ZERO(DFC)

  47. (S) FN3: (EED)

  48. (S) NR: STEDMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK

  49. (S) DP: OLSON, HOFFMAN, KIEHL

  50. (S) FIN RPT 3DP 4NR

  51. (S) Heard & Held

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

  53. (S) FN2: ZERO(DFC)

  54. (S) FN1: (EED)

  55. (S) NR: BJORKMAN

  56. (S) DP: TOBIN, CRONK, STEVENS, KIEHL

  57. (S) EDC RPT 4DP 1NR

  58. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  59. (S) Moved SB 41 Out of Committee **Streamed live on AKL.tv**

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

  61. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  62. (S) Heard & Held

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

  64. (S) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

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

  66. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  67. (S) Heard & Held

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

  69. (S) COSPONSOR(S): GIESSEL, DUNBAR

  70. (S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

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

  72. (S) EDC, FIN

  73. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  74. (S) Prefile released 1/17/25

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 49 not signed on · 34 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (49)

49 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 49 →

"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

SB 41 am H — Veto Override

Passed 22 Yea · 18 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 31700
D 14000
N 5000
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 221800
% of votes cast 55%45%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 Nay
David Nelson R Nay
DeLena Johnson R Nay
Elexie Moore R Nay
Frank Tomaszewski R Nay
Jamie Allard R Nay
Jeremy Bynum R Yea
Jubilee Underwood R Nay
Julie Coulombe R Nay
Justin Ruffridge R Nay
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 Nay

Official roll call →

Veto Override

Passed 16 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 7400
D 9000
Total 16400
% of votes cast 80%20%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 Nay
Gary Stevens R Yea
George Rauscher R Nay
James Kaufman R Yea
Jesse Bjorkman R Yea
Kelly Merrick R Yea
Mike Cronk R Yea
Robert Myers R Nay
Robert Yundt R Nay

Official roll call →

Shall the Senate Concur in the House Amendment(s) — to SB 41?

Passed 17 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 8300
D 9000
Total 17300
% of votes cast 85%15%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 Nay
Gary Stevens R Yea
George Rauscher R Nay
James Kaufman R Yea
Jesse Bjorkman R Yea
Kelly Merrick R Yea
Mike Cronk R Yea
Robert Myers R Yea
Robert Yundt R Nay

Official roll call →

Third Reading — Final Passage

Passed 27 Yea · 13 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 81200
D 14000
N 5000
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 271300
% of votes cast 68%33%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 Nay
Elexie Moore R Yea
Frank Tomaszewski R Nay
Jamie Allard R Nay
Jeremy Bynum R Yea
Jubilee Underwood R Yea
Julie Coulombe R Nay
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

Official roll call →

Second Reading — Amendment No. 3

Failed 20 Yea · 20 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 19100
D 01400
N 0500
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 202000
% of votes cast 50%50%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Yea
Andi Story D Nay
Andrew Gray D Nay
Andy Josephson D Nay
Ashley Carrick D Nay
Carolyn Hall D Nay
Donna Mears D Nay
Genevieve Mina D Nay
Maxine Dibert D Nay
Neal Foster D Nay
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Nay
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Nay
Sara Hannan D Nay
Ted Eischeid D Nay
Zack Fields D Nay
Alyse Galvin N Nay
Bryce Edgmon N Nay
Calvin Schrage N Nay
Ky Holland N Nay
Rebecca Himschoot N Nay
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 Nay
Mia Costello R Yea
Mike Prax R Yea
Rebecca Schwanke R Yea
Sarah Vance R Yea
Will Stapp R Yea

Official roll call →

Second Reading — Amendment No. 2

Failed 20 Yea · 20 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 19100
D 01400
N 0500
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 202000
% of votes cast 50%50%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Yea
Andi Story D Nay
Andrew Gray D Nay
Andy Josephson D Nay
Ashley Carrick D Nay
Carolyn Hall D Nay
Donna Mears D Nay
Genevieve Mina D Nay
Maxine Dibert D Nay
Neal Foster D Nay
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Nay
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Nay
Sara Hannan D Nay
Ted Eischeid D Nay
Zack Fields D Nay
Alyse Galvin N Nay
Bryce Edgmon N Nay
Calvin Schrage N Nay
Ky Holland N Nay
Rebecca Himschoot N Nay
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 Nay
Mia Costello R Yea
Mike Prax R Yea
Rebecca Schwanke R Yea
Sarah Vance R Yea
Will Stapp R Yea

Official roll call →

Second Reading — Amendment No. 1

Failed 19 Yea · 21 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 18200
D 01400
N 0500
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 192100
% of votes cast 48%53%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Yea
Andi Story D Nay
Andrew Gray D Nay
Andy Josephson D Nay
Ashley Carrick D Nay
Carolyn Hall D Nay
Donna Mears D Nay
Genevieve Mina D Nay
Maxine Dibert D Nay
Neal Foster D Nay
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Nay
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Nay
Sara Hannan D Nay
Ted Eischeid D Nay
Zack Fields D Nay
Alyse Galvin N Nay
Bryce Edgmon N Nay
Calvin Schrage N Nay
Ky Holland N Nay
Rebecca Himschoot N Nay
Bill Elam R Yea
Chuck Kopp R Nay
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 Nay
Mia Costello R Yea
Mike Prax R Yea
Rebecca Schwanke R Yea
Sarah Vance R Yea
Will Stapp R Yea

Official roll call →

Third Reading - Final Passage

Passed 19 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 10100
D 9000
Total 19100
% 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 Nay
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 →

Subjects

public-safety healthcare education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB41?
SB41 is sponsored by Andrew Gray (D), Genevieve Mina (D), Jeremy Bynum (R), Carolyn Hall (D), Rebecca Himschoot (N), Andy Josephson (D), Maxine Dibert (D), Robyn Niayuq Frier (D), Mike Cronk (R), Lyman Hoffman (D), Scott Kawasaki (D), Löki Tobin (D), Forrest Dunbar (D), Cathy Giessel (R), Matt Claman (D), and Elvi Gray-Jackson (D).
What is the current status of SB41?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 22, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB41?
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