Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: Enacted

SB 97 — An Act establishing a big game guide concession area permit program on land in the state; relating to the duties of the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Board of Game, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Natural Resources; requiring the Board of Game to establish an initial big game guide concession area; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (H) FN7: (CC:HB53/DNR)

  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 February 12, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on July 30, 2025.

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 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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

35 added · 44 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended version of SB 97 clarifies and formalizes the roles of various state boards and departments in creating a big game guide concession area permit program. It specifically assigns the Board of Game the responsibility to consider and approve proposals for these concession areas. This change is important because it establishes a clear process for managing big game guiding on state land, aiming to enhance oversight and improve hunting regulations to better protect wildlife and resources.

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34-LS0445\A SENATE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
97 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY THE SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE Introduced:
SB 97 _______ AN ACT Establishing a big game guide concession area permit program on land in the state;
2/12/25 Referred:
relating to the duties of the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Board of Game, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Natural Resources;
Resources, Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act establishing a big game guide concession area permit program on land in the state;
relating to the duties of the Big Game Commercial Sees Board, the Board of Game, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Natural Resources;
and providing for an effective date." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
and providing for an effective date.
* Section 1.
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled SB 97 AN ACT Establishing a big game guide concession area permit program on land in the state;
relating to the duties of the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Board of Game, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Natural Resources;
requiring the Board of Game to establish an initial big game guide concession area;
and providing for an effective date.
_______________ * Section 1.
(a) The Board of Game shall consider and approve or disapprove a proposal to establish a big SB0097A -1- SB 97 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0445\A game guide concession area that would be administered by the Department of Natural Resources under AS 38.05.021 in a single game management unit or subunit.
(a) The Board of Game shall consider and approve or disapprove a proposal to establish a big -1- Enrolled SB 97 game guide concession area that would be administered by the Department of Natural Resources under AS 38.05.021 in a single game management unit or subunit.
SB 97 -2- SB0097A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0445\A (2) may not (A) combine more than three existing guide use areas into a single big game guide concession area;
Enrolled SB 97 -2- (2) may not (A) combine more than three existing guide use areas into a single big game guide concession area;
(c) The department shall issue full big game guide concession area and limited SB0097A -3- SB 97 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0445\A big game guide concession area permits for a big game guide concession area established by the Board of Game under AS 16.05.263 in an open, public, and competitive process.
(c) The department shall issue full big game guide concession area and limited -3- Enrolled SB 97 big game guide concession area permits for a big game guide concession area established by the Board of Game under AS 16.05.263 in an open, public, and competitive process.
In approving or disapproving the transfer of a permit, the commissioner shall SB 97 -4- SB0097A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0445\A consider the circumstances of the proposed transfer and whether the transfer will promote the principles listed in (b) of this section.
In approving or disapproving the transfer of a permit, the commissioner shall Enrolled SB 97 -4- consider the circumstances of the proposed transfer and whether the transfer will promote the principles listed in (b) of this section.
(2) "full big game guide concession area permit" means a concession permit made available by the department through a competitive process that limits the number of clients that a permit holder may provide big game guided hunts to in the area and limits the species the permit holder may provide guided hunts for in the SB0097A -5- SB 97 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0445\A concession area;
(2) "full big game guide concession area permit" means a concession permit made available by the department through a competitive process that limits the number of clients that a permit holder may provide big game guided hunts to in the area and limits the species the permit holder may provide guided hunts for in the -5- Enrolled SB 97 concession area;
3 of this Act, in the game management unit or subunit selected by the Board of Game SB 97 -6- SB0097A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0445\A under (a) of this section.
3 of this Act, in the game management unit or subunit selected by the Board of Game Enrolled SB 97 -6- under (a) of this section.
2 of this Act;
6 of this Act;
2 of this Act for a period of at least three years, notwithstanding the requirement in AS 38.05.021(a) and (c), added by sec.
6 of this Act for a period of at least three years, notwithstanding the requirement in AS 38.05.021(a) and (c), added by sec.
SB0097A -7- SB 97 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
-7- Enrolled SB 97
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Action History

  1. (H) FN7: (CC:HB53/DNR)

  2. (H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 53

  3. (H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/30/25

  4. (S) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/30/25

  5. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER

  6. (S) Signed into law 6/24 CHAPTER 16 SLA 25

  7. (S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)

  8. (S) 10:30 A.M. 6/20/25 Transmitted to Governor

  9. (H) VERSION: SB 97

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

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

  12. (H) PASSED Y39 E1

  13. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 97

  14. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  15. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  16. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/16/2025

  17. (H) FN6: (DNR)

  18. (H) FN5: (DFG)

  19. (H) FN4: (DFG)

  20. (H) NR: HANNAN, JOHNSON, ALLARD, BYNUM

  21. (H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, TOMASZEWSKI, FOSTER, JOSEPHSON, SCHRAGE

  22. (H) FIN RPT 6DP 4NR

  23. (H) Minutes (HFIN)

  24. (H) Moved SB 97 Out of Committee -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --

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

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

  27. (H) FINANCE at 10:00 AM ADAMS 519

  28. (H) FIN

  29. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  30. (S) VERSION: SB 97

  31. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

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

  33. (S) PASSED Y18 N1 E1

  34. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 97

  35. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/5 CAL

  36. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  37. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/2/2025

  38. (S) FN6: (DNR)

  39. (S) FN5: (DFG)

  40. (S) FN4: (DFG)

  41. (S) NR: KIEHL

  42. (S) DP: OLSON, STEDMAN, HOFFMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK

  43. (S) FIN RPT 6DP 1NR

  44. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  45. (S) Moved SB 97 Out of Committee

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

  47. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  48. (S) Heard & Held

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

  50. (S) FN3: (DNR)

  51. (S) FN2: (DFG)

  52. (S) FN1: (DFG)

  53. (S) AM: HUGHES, KAWASAKI

  54. (S) NR: WIELECHOWSKI, DUNBAR

  55. (S) DNP: MYERS

  56. (S) DP: GIESSEL, CLAMAN

  57. (S) RES RPT 2DP 1DNP 2NR 2AM

  58. (S) Minutes (SRES)

  59. (S) Moved SB 97 Out of Committee

  60. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  61. (S) Minutes (SRES)

  62. (S) Heard & Held

  63. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  64. (S) REPLACED SENATE RULES COMMITTEE

  65. (S) PRIME SPONSOR CHANGED - SENATE RESOURCES COMMITTEE

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

  67. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  68. (S) RES, FIN

  69. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

  • Senate Resources · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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

Sponsors (1)

  • Senate Resources

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

Third Reading — Final Passage

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 20001
Unaffiliated 1000
D 13000
N 5000
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
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 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 Not Voting
Sarah Vance R Yea
Will Stapp R Yea

Official roll call →

Third Reading - Final Passage — Effective Date(s)

Passed 18 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 8100
D 8001
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 18101
% of votes cast 90%5%0%5%
How each member voted (20)
Member Party Vote
Shelley Hughes — Yea
Mike Shower — Yea
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 Not Voting
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 Nay
Robert Yundt R Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment labor 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 SB 97?
SB 97 is sponsored by Senate Resources.
What is the current status of SB 97?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 12, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 97?
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