Public Records: Audio & Video; Municipal Costs

State Bills: Alaska

Published March 9th, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

Alaska House Bill 377 proposes to amend the Alaska Public Records Act regarding the management, preservation, and inspection/copying fees for audio and video recordings held by government agencies. The bill is sponsored by the House State Affairs Committee and has advanced out of the Community & Regional Affairs committee with committee substitute CSHB 377. The bill applies to state and municipal government entities subject to public records disclosure requirements.

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What changed

HB 377 modifies provisions of the Alaska Public Records Act concerning audio and video recordings maintained by government agencies. The bill addresses how these recordings should be managed, preserved, and made available for public inspection and copying, and establishes or clarifies fee structures that municipalities may charge for providing access to public records. The bill was introduced on March 9, 2026, and has been amended through Committee Substitute version H, with a further amendment proposed by Himschoot on March 28, 2026.

Government agencies in Alaska should monitor the progress of HB 377 through the legislative process, particularly entities that maintain audio and video recordings subject to public records requests. The bill is currently awaiting committee assignment after passing the House Community & Regional Affairs committee and will proceed to the House State Affairs committee. Municipalities should review their current public records fee policies to prepare for potential changes under this legislation. Compliance officers should track amendments as the bill moves through the legislative process.

What to do next

Monitor HB 377 progress through Alaska Legislature and track amendments
Review current agency policies for public records fee assessment on audio/video recordings
Prepare for potential changes to audio/video record management and retention requirements

Source document (simplified)

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Bill
Detail

- HB 377

34th Legislature(2025-2026)

Bill History/Action for Legislature

Next Bill
- Bill HB 377
- Current Status (H) AWAIT NEXT COM
- Then STA
- Status Date 03/31/2026

Bill Version
Short Title PUBLIC RECORDS: AUDIO & VIDEO; MUNI COSTS
Sponsor(S) HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS BY REQUEST
Hearing Mar 31 Tuesday 8:00 AM (H)COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at BARNES 124 TELECONFERENCED Moved CSHB 377(CRA) Out of Committee
Title "An Act relating to public records; relating to managing and preserving audio and video recordings; and relating to fees for the inspection and copying of public records under the Alaska Public Records Act."
Bill Number: Next Bill
Actions
Full Text
Fiscal Notes
Amendments
Minutes and Audio
Documents

03/09/2026

Fiscal Action Summary

Bill Amendments Summary

Bill: HB 377 Amendments that are adopted are incorporated into the next version of the bill. PDF versions of the amendment may have slight variations from the Journal entry. The Journal should be considered the authoritative version.

House and Senate Minutes/Recordings

- Bill: HB 377

| Meeting Date | Start Time | Title | Meeting Details | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | |
| 3/31/2026 | 8:00 AM | HOUSE COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS | | Audio/Video |
| 3/26/2026 | 8:00 AM | HOUSE COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS | | Audio/Video |
| 3/17/2026 | 8:00 AM | HOUSE COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS | | Audio/Video |

Documents for Bill HB 377 34th Legislature

Additional documents may be added - continue to check back.

| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HB 377 Amendment One - H.1 - Himschoot 3.28.26.pdf | HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Questions and Answers 3.25.2026.pdf | HCRA 3/26/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 CS, Version H.pdf | HCRA 3/26/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Summary of Changes Version I to H.pdf | HCRA 3/26/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 AML Resolution 2023-01 Lessen Burden Commercial Public Records Requests.pdf | HCRA 3/26/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 AAMC Resolution 2026-01.pdf | HCRA 3/26/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Backup City of Fairbanks Legislative Priorities.pdf | HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Presentation 3-17-26.pdf | HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Fiscal Note - LAW-SLA 3.13.26.pdf | HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Sectional Analysis Ver. I.pdf | HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Ver. I.pdf | HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |
| HB 377 Sponsor Statement 3-9-26.pdf | HCRA 3/17/2026 8:00:00 AM
HCRA 3/31/2026 8:00:00 AM | HB 377 |

| Jrn Date | Jrn Page | Text |
| --- | --- | --- |
|
3/9/2026
| 1806 | (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS |
|
3/9/2026
| 1806 | (H) CRA, STA |
|
3/9/2026
| 1806 | (H) REFERRED TO COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS |
|
3/17/2026
| Text | (H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124 |
|
3/17/2026
| Text | (H) Heard & Held |
|
3/26/2026
| Text | (H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124 |
|
3/26/2026
| Text | (H) Heard & Held |
|
3/31/2026
| | (H) CRA RPT RECD W/CS AWAIT TRANSMITTAL NXT |
|
3/31/2026
| Text | (H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124 |
|
3/31/2026
| Text | (H) Moved CSHB 377(CRA) Out of Committee |