Commercial vessel registration and derelict vessel prevention program fund
Summary
Alaska HB31 establishes a commercial vessel registration requirement and creates a derelict vessel prevention program fund. The bill passed the Alaska House 37-0 on April 11, 2025, and the Senate 19-0 on May 20, 2025. The law takes effect October 22, 2025.
What changed
Alaska HB31 adds new requirements for commercial vessel registration and establishes a dedicated derelict vessel prevention program fund. The bill was sponsored by Representatives Stutes, Kopp, Himschoot, Galvin, Schrage, and Claman, along with Senators Stedman and Stevens. It received unanimous support through both chambers and was transmitted to the Governor on July 1, 2025.
Commercial vessel operators should review the new registration requirements and understand how the derelict vessel prevention fund will be administered. The law becomes effective October 22, 2025, giving affected parties approximately three months to prepare for compliance. Businesses should monitor for any implementing regulations or guidance from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Department of Natural Resources.
What to do next
- Review new commercial vessel registration requirements under HB31
- Monitor for implementing regulations from Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Department of Natural Resources
- Prepare registration documentation ahead of October 22, 2025 effective date
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Alaska / HB31 Effective Date HB31 House Bill Effective Date 2025-07-30
Vessels: Registration/derelict Fund
An Act relating to the registration of commercial vessels; and relating to the derelict vessel prevention program fund.
Bill Details
State Alaska
Session 34th Legislature
Chamber House
Official Source www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB31
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Sponsors
Louise Stutes (Rep - R) Charles Kopp (Rep - R) Rebecca Himschoot (Rep - I) Alyse Galvin (Rep - I) Calvin Schrage (Rep - N) Matt Claman (Rep - D) Bert Stedman (Sen - R) Gary Stevens (Sen - R)
Action History
2025-07-30 H EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 10/22/25 2025-07-30 H LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 7/24 CHAPTER 23 SLA 25 2025-07-30 H 2:15 P.M. 7/1/25 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR 2025-05-20 S VERSION: HB 31 2025-05-20 S RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT 2025-05-20 S PASSED Y19 N- A1 2025-05-20 S READ THE THIRD TIME HB 31 2025-05-19 S CROSS SPONSOR(S): CLAMAN, STEDMAN, STEVENS 2025-05-19 S ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/20 CAL 2025-05-19 S READ THE SECOND TIME 2025-05-19 S RULES TO CALENDAR 5/19/2025 2025-05-14 S FN4: ZERO(CED) 2025-05-14 S FN3: ZERO(DNR) 2025-05-14 S FN2: (ADM) 2025-05-14 S FN1: ZERO(DFG) 2025-05-14 S DP: OLSON, STEDMAN, HOFFMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK, KIEHL 2025-05-14 S FIN RPT 7DP 2025-05-07 S FN4: ZERO(CED) 2025-05-07 S FN3: ZERO(DNR) 2025-05-07 S FN2: (ADM) 2025-05-07 S FN1: ZERO(DFG) 2025-05-07 S NR: TOBIN 2025-05-07 S DP: BJORKMAN, KIEHL 2025-05-07 S TRA RPT 2DP 1NR 2025-04-14 S TRA, FIN 2025-04-14 S READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 2025-04-11 H VERSION: HB 31 2025-04-11 H TRANSMITTED TO (S) 2025-04-11 H PASSED Y37 E3 2025-04-11 H READ THE THIRD TIME HB 31 2025-04-09 H COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, SCHRAGE 2025-04-09 H ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/11 CALENDAR 2025-04-09 H READ THE SECOND TIME 2025-04-09 H RULES TO CALENDAR 4/9/2025 2025-03-14 H FN4: ZERO(CED) 2025-03-14 H FN3: ZERO(DNR) 2025-03-14 H FN2: (ADM) 2025-03-14 H FN1: ZERO(DFG) 2025-03-14 H NR: JOHNSON, ALLARD, STAPP 2025-03-14 H DP: BYNUM, HANNAN, TOMASZEWSKI, GALVIN, JIMMIE, FOSTER, JOSEPHSON, SCHRAGE 2025-03-14 H FIN RPT 8DP 3NR 2025-03-06 H COSPONSOR(S): HIMSCHOOT 2025-02-12 H COSPONSOR(S): KOPP 2025-02-12 H FN3: ZERO(DNR) 2025-02-12 H FN2: (ADM) 2025-02-12 H FN1: ZERO(DFG) 2025-02-12 H DP: VANCE, KOPP, EDGMON, HIMSCHOOT, ELAM, MCCABE, STUTES 2025-02-12 H FSH RPT 7DP 2025-01-22 H FSH, FIN 2025-01-22 H READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 2025-01-22 H PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
Votes
2025-04-11 House: Third Reading Final Passage Yea: 37 Nay: 0 2025-05-20 Senate: Third Reading - Final Passage Yea: 19 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2025-01-22 H Fisheries 2025-04-14 S Transportation 2025-05-14 S Rules
Bill Text Versions
2025-01-10 Introduced 2025-05-20 Enrolled
Subjects
Boats & Boating Fish & Game (fish) Funds Licensing Vessels Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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