All Roll Calls
Yes: 86 • No: 54
AlaskaHB 11034th Legislature (2025-2026)House
HEALTH CARE/LICENSURE COMPACTS/SOCIAL WRK
Sponsored By: Andrew Gray (Democratic)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
40 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 32 mixed.
Respiratory care workers get licensing exceptions
Beginning January 1, 2027, people practicing respiratory care who were qualified on December 31, 2026, can work unlicensed for up to one year. Separate exceptions cover supervised students in accredited programs and workers acting within another Alaska license. Exceptions also cover self-care, family care, emergencies, military or federal duties, and physician-directed work in listed facilities. Student employees must stay within Department limits, with a licensed practitioner or physician available to help. Equipment company workers can deliver, calibrate, or maintain equipment without this license, but cannot assess or evaluate patients.
Social workers gain another Alaska practice route
Clinical social workers can practice in Alaska without a separate Alaska license while working under a Compact multistate authorization. That authorization also exempts them from the specified misdemeanor ban on unlicensed clinical practice. A valid license or multistate authorization satisfies the protected-title rules for clinical, master’s, and bachelor’s social workers. The specified class B misdemeanor rules apply when a person has neither. A separate exception allows people exempt from licensure under Alaska law to use the title “social worker.”
Social workers gain multistate practice access
Alaska joins the Social Work Licensure Compact, creating a home-state license for practice across member states. Home-state authorities must issue qualifying applicants a bachelor's, master's, or clinical multistate license. Member states must recognize the license for corresponding social work categories they regulate. Eligibility includes approved education and an exam or substantial equivalence. Clinical eligibility generally requires 3,000 supervised postgraduate clinical hours, two years of full-time practice, or commission-approved equivalent experience.
Emergency medical workers gain conditional portability
Alaska recognizes eligible emergency medical workers licensed in another compact state, with a joint public commission administering the compact. Workers must be at least 18, hold a current unrestricted qualifying license, and work under a medical director. Their assigned duties must fit compact-approved circumstances, and the receiving state's laws apply. The home state controls license discipline; receiving states can restrict, suspend, or revoke local practice permissions and issue stop-work orders. Restrictions generally block interstate practice until restored, states must report discipline, and practice during home-state discipline requires specified prior written authorizations.
Physician assistants face coordinated interstate discipline
Receiving states can discipline physician assistants' compact practice permissions, following due process; only the issuing state controls the qualifying license. States can investigate together and enforce cross-state subpoenas, but cannot deny permission or impose discipline for conduct lawful where it happened. A state can recover investigation and case costs after discipline only when its own law permits. Alaska must share required license, discipline, denial, and significant investigation records, including nonpublic records; significant investigation records are available only to member states. Prohibited criminal-history reporting is barred, and records must be removed after the contributing state reports an expungement.
Physician assistants gain limited interstate access
Physician assistants can obtain permission to practice in another member state using a qualifying license. Applicants need approved training, current national certification, a qualifying license, and a unique identifier. They cannot have felony or misdemeanor convictions, prior controlled-substance authorization suspensions or revocations, or a revoked license. Current disciplinary restrictions disqualify applicants; restrictions must be removed for two years before eligibility returns. Permission generally lasts until the qualifying license expires or is revoked, and discipline deactivates permissions until restrictions end and two years pass. Applicants must pay applicable fees, meet the receiving state's law-knowledge and controlled-substance requirements, and report nonmember-state discipline within 30 days.
Physicians face shared discipline and records
Discipline against a physician's principal-state license affects licenses obtained through the compact in other states. Specified revocations, suspensions, surrenders, or relinquishments trigger automatic 90-day suspensions in other member states while those states investigate. The commission keeps a database of physicians applying for or receiving expedited licenses. Boards must report required actions, complaints, and investigation information. Shared information stays confidential and can be used only for investigations or discipline.
Psychologists gain limited cross-state practice options
Alaska joins the psychology compact, and its licensing board must implement it. Qualified psychologists can provide telehealth in another compact state without a separate license there, using an active E.Passport. Temporary in-person practice requires an active Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate and is limited to 30 days per calendar year. Both routes require a current, full, unrestricted compact-state license, qualifying graduate education, verification, and no disqualifying criminal or disciplinary history. Psychologists must follow the receiving state's practice limits.
Respiratory care workers need Alaska licenses
Alaska requires a license to provide respiratory care or use the practitioner title, with exceptions for certain supervised and exempt work. Standard applicants need approved national certification, must pay required fees, and must meet state rules. Workers practicing in Alaska under a physician on or before the section's effective date have one year afterward to apply through a special route. Renewal requires 20 continuing education credit hours per licensing period. Violating the respiratory care chapter, or helping someone violate it, is a class B misdemeanor.
Alaska licenses respiratory care practitioners
Alaska places respiratory care licensing under its Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Practitioners licensed elsewhere can get an Alaska license when their licensing requirements are substantially equivalent. They must hold current, approved registered respiratory therapist credentials, pay required fees, and provide verified license and good-standing records. The law also adds respiratory care practitioners to two health care provider definitions.
Doctors gain faster licenses with fees
Alaska joins the physician licensing compact and requires its medical board to implement the physician and physician assistant compacts. Eligible doctors apply through a principal licensing state for faster, full, unrestricted licenses in other member states. Eligibility covers education, exams, training, certification, unrestricted licenses, and limits involving convictions, discipline, controlled-substance licenses, and active investigations. Doctors must complete registration and pay applicable fees; issuing states can charge license and renewal fees, with no amounts stated. Renewal requires an unrestricted principal-state license, continued compliance with conduct rules, and the issuing state's continuing education.
Multistate social work licenses carry requirements
Social workers can qualify for multistate practice through bachelor’s, master’s, or clinical licenses. Applicants must hold or qualify for an active home-state license without restrictions, pay applicable fees, and submit fingerprints or other biometric data for criminal-history checks. Each category requires the matching qualifying degree and competency through a national exam, qualifying prior licensure maintained continuously, or an accepted equivalent. Degree programs must have recognized accreditation or qualifying candidate status that later becomes accredited. Clinical applicants also need a qualifying social work master’s degree and 3,000 hours or two years of full-time postgraduate supervised clinical practice, unless the Commission accepts an equivalent. Workers must meet home-state continuing-competence requirements, report specified license actions within 30 days, and follow laws and standards where clients are located.
Physician assistants get state-exit transition protections
A state leaves the physician assistant compact 180 days after passing a repeal law. After termination, affected practice privileges generally continue for 180 days. A worker from a terminated state can keep another state's privilege longer by holding or obtaining a qualifying member-state license before that deadline. A withdrawing state must recognize compact licenses for at least 180 days after notice; reporting duties continue for pre-withdrawal matters. The compact overrides conflicting state laws, while laws that do not conflict remain enforceable.
Psychologists face compact fees and safeguards
Alaska must set a fee for psychology compact practice authority, but the law gives no amount. Alaska must require an active E.Passport, maintain complaint investigations, report discipline information, and follow commission rules. Initial licensing must include compliant fingerprint or biometric history checks no later than 10 years after compact activation. Receiving and distant states can limit or revoke practice authority with due process; home-state discipline ends both compact practice permissions. Psychologists in alternative programs used instead of discipline cannot provide compact services in another state during the program.
Respiratory practitioners face new practice standards
Respiratory care practitioners must complete 20 continuing education credit hours during each licensing period to renew their licenses. Public signs, stationery, and advertising must show professional letters or a title after the practitioner's name. The department can deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for fraud, unsafe practice, certain convictions, and other listed violations. Practitioners must disclose out-of-state licenses that are not in good standing. For drug or alcohol-related action affecting safe practice, the department must consider participation in a substance abuse program.
Social worker discipline crosses state lines
A state outside a social worker’s home state can discipline only the worker’s authorization to practice there. Only the home state can act against the multistate license, and it must give other member states’ reports equal priority. Restrictions on that license stop practice authorizations in all other member states until the restrictions are removed. Discipline must follow applicable due-process rules and state procedures, including when relying on another state’s findings. A member state can charge the worker investigation and case-resolution costs only when its own law allows.
Social workers get state-exit license protections
Social work compact withdrawal takes effect 180 days after a state passes a repeal law. The state must recognize compact licenses for at least 180 days after notifying licensees of withdrawal. A majority of member-state delegates can terminate a defaulting state only after notice, assistance, and other compliance steps fail. A terminated state must recognize compact licenses for at least six months after notifying licensees. It remains responsible for obligations already incurred.
Group plans protect respiratory care coverage
Beginning January 1, 2027, qualifying group health coverage cannot unfairly discriminate against covered services from respiratory care practitioners. Services must be within the practitioner’s licensed scope. This protection applies to expense-incurred group health insurance policies and specified group service or indemnity contracts, not all plans.
Military families gain licensing portability help
Active-duty service members and their spouses can keep their designated home state for multistate social work licenses during active duty. Emergency medical services member states must speed licensing for veterans, active service members, qualifying separating Guard or Reserve members, and their spouses. Applicants need current, valid, unrestricted National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification at or above the license level sought. That certification meets minimum training and exam requirements, but other licensing requirements still apply.
Rural health grants get public oversight
The Alaska Department of Health must set grant-application scoring criteria for the Rural Health Transformation Program. It must publish the state’s application, grant information, and annual progress updates. The Department can use program funds for grants that address initiatives in the state’s federally approved application. These statutory duties end December 31, 2031. The law does not specify grant amounts or recipients.
Physicians pay fees for compact licensing
Alaska must set fees for issuing and renewing expedited physician licenses through the interstate medical licensing compact. The fee requirement also covers a compact privilege. The law does not state fee amounts.
Licensing commissions can charge operating costs
The physician licensing commission can collect annual assessments from member states for operating costs not covered by other revenue. Its rule-based formula determines how states divide those costs. The emergency medical services commission can also assess member states or charge other parties fees for uncovered operating costs. The law gives no assessment or fee amounts and does not establish a direct household charge.
Emergency medical applicants face paid checks
Alaska EMT, mobile intensive care paramedic, and covered advanced EMT applicants must submit fingerprints and pay required background-check fees. This applies to covered licenses and certificates. Checks include state criminal justice information and a national criminal history check. The department can use results only to assess qualifications and fitness for licensing or practice privileges. Fee amounts are not stated.
New compact rules for physician assistants
Alaska must recognize eligible physician assistants' compact permissions, use a nationally recognized licensing exam, investigate complaints, and share required records. Alaska may charge a practice-permission fee and must implement criminal background checks on the commission's schedule. Applicants must identify their application state, keep their home address current, and accept legal papers by mail there. Commission rules have legal force on their stated start date, except where a court finds conflict with state law defining assistants' medical services. After notice and exhausted compliance efforts, a majority vote can remove a defaulting state; federal court enforcement is available, and prior obligations remain.
Psychologist applicants must pay for checks
Applicants for an initial Alaska psychologist license or a license by credentials must submit fingerprints and pay required background-check fees. Checks include state criminal justice information and a national criminal history check. The board can use the results only to assess qualifications and fitness for licensing or practice. The law does not state fee amounts.
Psychologist records shared with removal protections
Psychology compact states must submit required license, discipline, significant investigation, and specified denial records to a shared database. The database must promptly notify member states about discipline and significant investigation information. Records that the reporting state's law requires to be expunged must be removed.
Social worker records gain interstate reach
The social work commission must keep a shared records system and give each multistate applicant a unique identifier. States must submit required license, discipline, denial, investigation, and specified alternative-program records. Significant investigation records are available only to member states, and state-designated records cannot become public without that state's permission. Records expunged under applicable federal or contributing-state law must be removed. Commission-certified records count as authenticated business records and may qualify for a hearsay exception in court or administrative proceedings.
Social workers gain portability with fees
The social work compact provides multistate licensing, and member states choose the eligible license categories. States must meet exam, fingerprint or biometric background-check, data-sharing, reporting, and commission-rule requirements. Social workers practicing in another member state must follow that state's laws and practice standards; conflicting state laws give way to the compact. The commission may charge multistate licensees fees and member states annual assessments for approved annual costs not covered by other revenue. The law does not set charge amounts.
Medical applicants face paid background checks
Applicants for covered expedited physician or osteopath licenses, and covered physician assistant licenses, must submit fingerprints and pay background-check fees. The medical board forwards the materials to Alaska's Department of Public Safety for state and national checks. The board can use the results only to assess licensing qualifications and fitness. Alaska also authorizes criminal-record use for specified psychology, emergency medical services, and multistate social work licensing decisions.
Moving social workers must reissue licenses
Social workers moving between member states with active, unrestricted multistate licenses must immediately apply for reissuance by their new home state. They must pay applicable fees and notify their former home state. The new state verifies eligibility and conducts criminal-history procedures, including fingerprints or other biometrics. It can also require its initial licensing law requirements. Workers who do not qualify, or move between member and nonmember states, must meet the new state's single-state licensing requirements.
Respiratory care services require supervised practice
Alaska-licensed respiratory care practitioners can provide listed heart and lung assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and related services. They must work under a qualified medical director and an approved medical protocol or authorized provider order, except for specified emergency protocols. Allowed settings include clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and private homes. Other settings require a Department determination, a physician’s order, and medical director supervision. Advanced techniques outside the ordinary scope require accredited, structured training with classroom, laboratory, and clinical work and standardized competency testing.
Social workers pay multistate licensing costs
Alaska multistate social work applicants must submit fingerprints and pay required Department of Public Safety fees. The board forwards fingerprints for state and national criminal-history checks. Results can be used only to assess qualifications and fitness for the multistate license. Applicants must also pay applicable licensing fees, and home states can charge a fee for granting the license. The law states no fee amounts and does not require every home state to charge a license fee.
Emergency medical commission gains legal powers
The emergency medical services commission can issue uniform rules with the force of law in every member state. Rules start on their stated dates and stop everywhere if a majority of member-state legislatures rejects them. Covered commission personnel receive civil immunity, defense, and payment of qualifying claims for acts within their duties. These protections exclude intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct.
Emergency medical regulators share licensing records
Emergency medical services member states must share required license, discipline, and significant investigation data through a coordinated database. The database administrator must promptly notify member states about discipline and significant investigations. States can restrict public sharing, and records must be removed when the contributing state's law later requires expungement. State authorities can obtain witnesses and evidence through subpoenas enforced by courts in other member states. The issuing authority pays required witness fees and expenses.
Medical boards share interstate enforcement powers
Member medical boards can investigate doctors together, share case records, and enforce subpoenas across member states. The compact overrides conflicting state laws but preserves state power over medical practice and respects state constitutional limits. Commission officers and employees receive civil liability protection and a defense for covered duties, except intentional or willful and wanton misconduct. The commission covers qualifying liability when other coverage is unavailable. The compact ends if withdrawal or default leaves one member state; the commission closes its affairs and distributes surplus funds under its bylaws.
Psychology compact adds funding and safeguards
The psychology compact takes effect upon the seventh state's enactment; later states must follow existing commission rules. The commission can charge annual state assessments or fees to other parties for operating costs not covered elsewhere. Its allocation formula is set by binding rule, and charge amounts are not stated. Commission personnel receive civil liability protection, defense, and coverage of qualifying claims, except for intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct. After an uncured default and exhausted compliance efforts, a majority of member states can end membership; the state loses compact benefits but keeps accrued obligations, including those extending beyond termination.
Social work compact rules have limits
Social work commission rules have legal force, usually starting the day after adoption unless a later date is stated. A court can make a rule ineffective where it conflicts with state laws, regulations, or social work standards. A majority of member-state legislatures can reject a rule or part of one within four years. Commission officials and staff receive civil suit and liability protection, defense, and coverage of qualifying claims and judgments. These protections exclude intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct; no dollar limit for covered payments is stated.
States face emergency medical compact duties
The emergency medical services compact activates upon enactment by the tenth state, initially allowing commission assembly and rulemaking. Member governments must enforce it; later-joining states must follow existing commission rules. The commission offers help and dispute resolution, can seek federal-court enforcement, and can terminate defaulting states after other measures fail. Terminated states remain liable for obligations incurred through termination. Withdrawal requires repeal and takes effect six months later, while pre-withdrawal investigation and discipline reporting duties continue.
States face medical compact membership rules
The medical licensing compact first takes effect after seven states enact it; later states are bound upon enactment. A joint commission manages rules, enforcement, staff, budgets, and reports, and must help resolve disputes when a member state asks. After notice, assistance, and exhausted compliance efforts, a majority vote can end a defaulting state's membership, but prior obligations remain. By majority vote, the commission can also seek federal court orders or damages; the winning party receives necessary legal costs. A state can leave by repealing the compact, giving written notice to other member governors, and waiting one year after repeal takes effect; it still owes obligations through withdrawal.
Psychology compact withdrawal takes six months
A state can leave the psychology compact by passing a law repealing it. Withdrawal takes effect six months after enactment, rather than immediately. The state's psychology regulator must continue required investigation and discipline reporting until withdrawal takes effect.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Andrew Gray
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Alyse Galvin
Not • House
Andy Josephson
Democratic • House
Mike Prax
Republican • House
Andi Story
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/20/2026
RESCIND ACTION Y13 N7
Yes: 13 • No: 7
Senate vote • 5/20/2026
AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y13 N7
Yes: 13 • No: 7
Senate vote • 5/20/2026
FAILED PASSAGE Y9 N11
Yes: 9 • No: 11
Senate vote • 5/20/2026
EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y19 N1
Yes: 19 • No: 1
Senate vote • 5/20/2026
PASSED Y13 N7
Yes: 13 • No: 7
House vote • 2/11/2026
AM NO 2 FAILED Y19 N21
Yes: 19 • No: 21
Actions Timeline
(H) FN6: (DPS)
9/30/2026House(H) FN4: (CED)
9/30/2026House(H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 263
9/30/2026House(H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26
9/30/2026House(S) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26
9/30/2026Senate(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER
7/3/2026House(H) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 6/22 CHAPTER 28 SLA 26
7/3/2026House(H) 12:55 P.M. 6/5/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
6/10/2026House(H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
6/4/2026House(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
5/20/2026House(H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y39 A1
5/20/2026House(H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP
5/20/2026House(H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 25
5/20/2026House(H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED
5/20/2026House(S) VERSION: SCS HB 110(FIN) AM S
5/20/2026Senate(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
5/20/2026Senate(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y19 N1
5/20/2026Senate(S) PASSED Y13 N7
5/20/2026Senate(S) RESCIND ACTION Y13 N7
5/20/2026Senate(S) FAILED PASSAGE Y9 N11
5/20/2026Senate(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS HB 110(FIN) AM S
5/20/2026Senate(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
5/20/2026Senate(S) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
5/20/2026Senate(S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y13 N7
5/20/2026Senate(S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC
5/20/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled HB 110
5/20/2026
SCS HB 110(FIN) am S
5/20/2026
SCS HB 110(FIN)
5/19/2026
SCS HB 110(L&C)
5/8/2026
HB 110 am
2/9/2026
HB 110
2/21/2025