Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: Enacted

SB 79 — An Act relating to wage payments; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 7/1/26

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 31, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on June 19, 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 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • 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 addresses wage payment procedures for employers.

This legislation sets standards for how and when employers must make wage payments to employees. It aims to clarify the payment process for all workers.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means you can expect clearer guidelines on when and how your wages will be paid.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

17 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of SB 79 includes a new section stating that the law will take effect on July 1, 2026, which was not present in the earlier draft. This change is significant because it establishes a clear timeline for when any new wage payment regulations will be implemented, allowing businesses and workers in Alaska to prepare accordingly. Overall, this helps to ensure a smooth transition to the new rules.

→
Previous
Latest
34-LS0494\A SENATE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
79 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY THE SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE Introduced:
HCS SB 79(FIN) _______ AN ACT Relating to wage payments;
1/31/25 Referred:
and providing for an effective date.
Labor and Commerce A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to wage payments." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
* Section 1.
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled SB 79 AN ACT Relating to wage payments;
and providing for an effective date.
_______________ * Section 1.
(b) An employer paying an employee's wages by credit to a payroll card account shall notify the employee SB0079A -1- SB 79 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0494\A (1) of the employee's wage payment options;
(b) An employer paying an employee's wages by credit to a payroll card account shall notify the employee -1- Enrolled SB 79 (1) of the employee's wage payment options;
(g) In this section, SB 79 -2- SB0079A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0494\A (1) "payroll card" means a card or other device used by an employee to access the employee's wages from a payroll card account;
(g) In this section, Enrolled SB 79 -2- (1) "payroll card" means a card or other device used by an employee to access the employee's wages from a payroll card account;
SB0079A -3- SB 79 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
* Sec.
3.
This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.
-3- Enrolled SB 79
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 7/1/26

  2. (S) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/18 CH 20 SLA 26

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

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

  5. (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N-

  6. (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP

  7. (H) VERSION: HCS SB 79(FIN)

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

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

  10. (H) PASSED Y38 N2

  11. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS SB 79(FIN)

  12. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  13. (H) TECHNICAL TITLE CHANGE

  14. (H) FIN HCS ADOPTED Y30 N10

  15. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  16. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/20/2026

  17. (H) FN3: ZERO(LWF)

  18. (H) NR: TOMASZEWSKI, STAPP, ALLARD, MOORE, SCHRAGE, JOSEPHSON

  19. (H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, HANNAN, BYNUM, FOSTER

  20. (H) TECHNICAL TITLE CHANGE

  21. (H) FIN RPT HCS(FIN) NEW TITLE 5DP 6NR

  22. (H) Moved HCS SB 79(FIN) Out of Committee -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --

  23. (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  24. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to 15 min Following Session --

  25. (H) FINANCE at 06:00 PM ADAMS 519

  26. (H) -- Public Testimony -- -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --

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

  28. (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C

  29. (H) FN2: (CED)

  30. (H) AM: COULOMBE, CARRICK, SADDLER, NELSON

  31. (H) DP: BURKE, FIELDS, HALL

  32. (H) PENDING TITLE CHANGE HCR

  33. (H) L&C RPT HCS(L&C) NEW TITLE 3DP 4AM

  34. (H) Moved HCS SB 79(L&C) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 4:30 pm --

  35. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  36. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  37. (H) Moved HCS SB 79(L&C) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 15 min Following Session --

  38. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  39. (H) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  40. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  41. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  42. (H) Heard & Held

  43. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  44. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  45. (H) Heard & Held

  46. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  47. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  48. (H) Heard & Held

  49. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  50. (H) L&C

  51. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  52. (S) VERSION: SB 79

  53. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  54. (S) PASSED Y19 N- E1

  55. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 79

  56. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 2/24 CAL

  57. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  58. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 2/20/2025

  59. (S) FN1: ZERO(LWF)

  60. (S) NR: MERRICK, YUNDT

  61. (S) DP: BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON

  62. (S) L&C RPT 2DP 2NR

  63. (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  64. (S) Moved SB 79 Out of Committee

  65. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  66. (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  67. (S) Heard & Held

  68. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  69. (S) L&C

  70. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

  • Senate Labor & Commerce · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 64 not signed on · 10 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Senate Labor & Commerce

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (64)

64 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 64 →

"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

Shall the Senate Concur in the House Amendment(s) — to SB 79? — 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 →

Second Reading — Adopt Finance HCS

Passed 30 Yea · 10 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 20000
D 5900
N 4100
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 301000
% of votes cast 75%25%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Steve St. Clair — Yea
Andi Story D Yea
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 Yea
Neal Foster D Yea
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Yea
Robyn Niayuq Frier D Nay
Sara Hannan D Yea
Ted Eischeid D Nay
Zack Fields D Nay
Alyse Galvin N Yea
Bryce Edgmon N Yea
Calvin Schrage N Yea
Ky Holland N Yea
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 Yea
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 38 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 20000
D 12200
N 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 38200
% of votes cast 95%5%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 Nay
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 Nay
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 →

Third Reading - Final Passage

Passed 19 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 9000
D 8001
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 19001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (20)
Member Party Vote
Shelley Hughes — Yea
Mike Shower — Yea
Bill Wielechowski D Yea
Donald Olson D Not Voting
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
Gary Stevens 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

finance labor
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 SB 79?
SB 79 is sponsored by Senate Labor & Commerce.
What is the current status of SB 79?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 31, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 79?
Track SB 79 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 79

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 SB 79

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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

Track this bill →