AlaskaHB 23934th Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

CRIME/CNTRL SUBST/ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

39 provisions identified: 19 benefits, 15 costs, 5 mixed.

More survivors can seek abuse damages

People sexually abused before age 18 can bring a damages claim against the perpetrator. The earlier age limit was under 16. The claim must concern injury or a condition caused by the abuse and the perpetrator’s intentional conduct.

Broader penalties for adults enticing minors

Adults at least 18 face enticement charges for knowingly communicating to encourage listed sexual conduct. The target must be under 16, or aged 16–17 and at least six years younger, or believed to meet either test. The encouraged conduct need not happen. In belief-based cases, the target’s actual age is not a defense. Enticement is a class A felony when the offender must register as a sex offender or child kidnapper in Alaska or under similar laws elsewhere.

More convictions increase sexual offense sentences

Generated obscene child sexual-abuse material distribution and possession now count as sexual felonies. Felony attempts, conspiracies, and solicitations also count. For sentences involving two or more listed crimes, courts must add some consecutive prison time for each covered additional crime, attempt, or solicitation. Qualifying out-of-state felonies involving lewd acts on children under 18 now count as prior sexual felonies, up from under 16. Those acts must have been intended to arouse or gratify the defendant’s or victim’s sexual desires.

More convictions trigger sex offender registration

The registration definition adds offenses, including distributing or possessing generated obscene child sexual-abuse material. Listed attempts, solicitations, conspiracies, and similar crimes in other jurisdictions also count. More than two indecent-exposure convictions before someone under 18 count as two or more sex-offense convictions for lifetime registration. That exposure age limit rises from under 16 to under 18.

More convictions end teachers' certificates permanently

Alaska teaching certificate holders lose their certificates for life after covered convictions involving minors. The law adds distributing and possessing generated obscene child sexual abuse material to the covered crimes. Attempts, solicitations, conspiracies, and similar offenses under another jurisdiction's law also trigger lifetime revocation.

Medical release comes with prisoner monitoring

The corrections commissioner can authorize medical release for prisoners with terminal, permanent, or worsening degenerative conditions, or poor health. The chief medical officer must find release poses no threat of harm on electronic monitoring and saves state medical costs. Released prisoners must follow continuous monitoring, supervision, and public-safety conditions; the commissioner can revoke release. Alternative monitoring is allowed when equipment harms health, interferes with medical equipment, or causes loss of medical-care funding. Convictions for specified sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of minors, or sexual conduct with animals, make prisoners ineligible.

Free address protection for eligible victims

Beginning July 1, 2026, Alaska's Department of Administration provides substitute mailing addresses, mail forwarding, and residential address protection. Crime victims qualify with a protective order or by meeting department standards; guardians can enroll minors with court-issued protective orders. People living with an enrollee also qualify, but people required to register as sex offenders or child kidnappers cannot enroll. State and municipal agencies must accept the substitute address; enrollment is free and requires renewal every five years. Address disclosure is restricted, with limited law-enforcement exceptions and criminal penalties for specified unauthorized disclosures.

Reporting protections expand for crime witnesses

The law bars prosecution under AS 11.66.100(a)(1) for qualifying people aged 17 or younger at the offense. It also protects victims or witnesses who report listed crimes in good faith. The listed crimes now include distribution and possession of generated obscene child sexual-abuse material. In either case, the prosecution evidence must result from the person’s report, and the person must cooperate with law enforcement. This is protection from that specific charge, not immunity from every offense.

Stronger sexual assault protections for patients

A health care worker’s sexual penetration of a patient during professional treatment is first-degree sexual assault under this rule. Sexual contact during treatment is second-degree sexual assault. The state no longer must prove the worker knew the patient was unaware a sexual act was happening.

Victims get assault kit tracking rights

Victims have the right to learn their sexual assault examination kit's location and testing date. Beginning July 1, 2026, providers must notify law enforcement within 14 days after using a kit to gather evidence. Police must send it to an accredited or state public safety lab within 20 days after collection or provider notice. Labs must test within 120 days of receipt; police must try to notify victims within 14 days after testing. The state must operate confidential tracking through testing, with victim access, optional automatic updates, and required entries by providers, police, and labs.

Age gaps define teen abuse offenses

The law sets age-gap rules for specified sexual-abuse offenses by offenders at least 17. Victims aged 13–15 must be at least four years younger than the offender. Victims aged 16 or 17 must be at least six years younger. Sexual penetration is covered by the second-degree rule, and sexual contact by the third-degree rule.

Child murder rules cover older teens

Specified child murder rules now cover children under 18, rather than under 16. One first-degree rule covers knowing conduct causing serious injury through criminal negligence in at least two separate acts, one causing death. Another covers deaths during, furthering, or immediately fleeing specified sexual offenses or kidnapping, including attempts. The second-degree rule covers criminally negligent deaths when the offender has a qualifying prior conviction involving a child under 18. Those priors include specified felonies, similar crimes elsewhere, and attempts, solicitations, or conspiracies.

More criminal protections for older teens

Specified assault, stalking, and child-endangerment protections now reach children under 18, rather than under 16. The assault rule covers offenders 18 or older who knowingly injure children aged 12–17, at least two years younger. The injury must reasonably require medical treatment. The assault age-belief defense requires a reasonable belief that the victim was at least 18; it is unavailable below age 13. Stalking becomes first-degree when the victim is under 18, and covered endangerment acts apply to parents, guardians, and legally responsible caregivers.

Older teens protected from authority abuse

Specified sexual-abuse rules now protect victims under 18, rather than under 16, from adults with authority over them. The offender must be at least 18, and the victim must be at least two years younger. The adult must hold authority over the victim, including within a shared household. Sexual penetration falls under the first-degree rule; sexual contact falls under the second-degree rule.

Added prison time for accident offenses

Courts must add consecutive prison time for listed accident-duty crimes when sentencing someone for criminally negligent homicide. The same rule applies to criminally negligent homicide of an unborn child. Each additional offense under AS 28.35.050 or AS 28.35.060 must add some imprisonment, rather than run entirely together.

Broader charges for seeking minors’ pictures

Adults at least 18 face charges for soliciting or making pictures of another person’s genitals, anus, or female breast. The rule covers people under 16 who are at least four years younger. It also covers 16- and 17-year-olds at least six years younger. When the adult believes those age tests apply, the person’s actual age is not a defense. Conduct covered by the separate exploitation or indecent-material laws, AS 11.41.455 or AS 11.61.123, is excluded from this offense.

Broader possession charges for altered images

The possession offense covers material altered to make an actual child under 18 appear to engage in listed sexual conduct. It also covers material produced using a child under 18 engaged in that conduct. The person must knowingly possess it or knowingly access it on a computer with intent to view. The law also requires knowledge of the child’s involvement or the altered depiction.

Higher exposure penalties around older teens

First-degree indecent exposure is a class B felony when observed by someone under 18. Second-degree exposure before someone under 18 is a class A misdemeanor. Before someone 18 or older, second-degree exposure is a class B misdemeanor. The age dividing these penalties rises from 16 to 18.

Material convictions block a specified license

The department cannot issue a license under AS 28.15.046 to applicants with either listed generated-material conviction. The barred convictions are distribution under AS 11.61.121 and possession under AS 11.61.122. This restriction concerns that specified license, not every license.

More material offenses risk property forfeiture

After conviction, the state can take property used to aid covered material offenses under AS 11.61.121 through AS 11.61.128. The rule now includes the added distribution and possession offenses involving generated obscene child sexual-abuse material. It also covers attempts, solicitations, and conspiracies involving the listed offenses.

Older teens’ presence can increase sentences

Courts can increase a sentence for a qualifying domestic-violence felony committed in a child’s presence or hearing. The child age limit rises from under 16 to under 18. The child must have lived in the victim’s home, the offender’s home, or the home where the crime happened. This sentencing factor must be proven under the sentencing law.

Adults can protect qualifying possession records

An agency must not release information about a qualifying possession case when the defendant requests privacy. The conviction must involve less than one ounce of a schedule VIA controlled substance under Alaska law, or a similar municipal offense. The defendant must have been at least 21 when the offense happened and have no other conviction in that case. This restricts agency disclosure; it does not erase the conviction.

Online safety workers get narrow exceptions

Employees and contractors of internet, interactive computer, cloud, and telecommunications services receive narrow exceptions to covered distribution and possession offenses. They must act within their job duties and handle the material solely to prevent, detect, report, or respond to abuse. The distribution exception covers responses to distribution, advertising, promotion, solicitation, or offers to distribute. The possession exception covers responses to production, generation, manipulation, or modification. These exceptions do not allow personal possession or sharing.

Stronger privacy for certain criminal records

Agencies cannot release records described in AS 12.62.160(f) through the rule allowing criminal justice information disclosure for any purpose. That disclosure rule also continues to exclude nonconviction information and correctional treatment information. The restriction applies to this disclosure route, not every possible records release.

Broader harassment rules for explicit images

The explicit-image offense now covers electronic photos or videos made before the depicted person turned 18, rather than 16. It covers images of genitals, anus, or female breast shared with intent to annoy or humiliate that person. Repeatedly sharing electronic or printed genital images to harass or annoy someone becomes second-degree harassment, unless AS 11.61.121, 11.61.125, or 11.61.128 covers it. Covered exploitation conduct under AS 11.41.455 is excluded from the specified first-degree physical-contact harassment charge, but remains covered by that separate law.

Broader protections against child sexual exploitation

The law expands covered sexual conduct to include contact with semen. A person at least 16 commits second-degree sexual abuse by helping, causing, inducing, or encouraging someone under 16 into listed conduct. The exploitation rule covers knowingly involving or recording a child under 18 with intent to produce specified material.

Corrections must hire a tribal liaison

Beginning July 1, 2026, Alaska's Department of Corrections must employ at least one tribal liaison. The liaison supports internal communication and collaboration on cultural programs and processes. The role also connects Alaska communities with federally recognized tribes.

Investigators can seek more internet records

Beginning July 1, 2026, officers can seek administrative subpoenas for internet providers' business records in specified sexual-offense investigations. Covered cases include enticement, sexual exploitation of minors, and actual or generated child sexual abuse material offenses. Officers need reasonable cause linking an account to an offense, and the requested information must help obtain relevant evidence. This authority does not create a general reporting duty for account holders.

Mail theft gains a specific classification

Stealing mail that meets the law’s definition counts as third-degree theft. This includes qualifying mail sent or delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or a private mail delivery company.

Older teens protected from harmful material

The law covers adults at least 18 who intentionally distribute, or possess for distribution, specified harmful sexual material. The recipient must be known or believed to be under 18 and at least two years younger. The material must depict listed actual or simulated sexual conduct, including contact with semen. It must also meet the law’s harmful-to-minors standard for people under 18.

Tribal counseling agencies gain victim-center recognition

Local and tribal government agencies can qualify as victim counseling centers. Direct services for people harmed by sexual assault or domestic violence must be one of their primary purposes. Agencies must be independent of law enforcement and prosecutors and cannot hold state service contracts under Alaska Statutes Title 47. The change expands recognition without providing a stated funding amount.

Animal abuse material brings new penalties

Knowingly possessing specified obscene material showing sexual conduct with an animal, or accessing it intending to view it, is animal cruelty. Covered material must appeal to sexual interest, show clearly offensive conduct, and lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. This rule excludes conduct covered by the specified generated or actual child sexual abuse material possession laws. The offense is a class A misdemeanor, rising to a class C felony for a qualifying repeat conviction within 10 years. Courts can order forfeiture, animal-care cost repayment, and limits on animal ownership, possession, or custody for up to 10 years.

Failing to aid crash victims brings felonies

Failing to give reasonable assistance after an accident resulting in injury is a class B felony. The injury offense carries up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both. Failing to assist after an accident resulting in death is a class A felony, punished under Alaska's felony sentencing law. These penalties do not apply when a person is incapacitated and physically unable to comply.

Felonies for generated child abuse images

Knowingly possessing generated obscene child sexual abuse material, or accessing it on a computer intending to view it, is a class C felony. Covered material appeals to sexual interest, shows an apparent child under 18 in clearly offensive sexual conduct, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. No real child needs to have been used to create it. Knowingly distributing, advertising, promoting, soliciting, or offering to distribute it in Alaska is a class B felony. Possessing 100 or more items counts as initial evidence of distribution and intent to distribute. A qualifying prior conviction raises distribution to a class A felony; generated-material distribution convictions also count toward repeat penalties for distributing actual child sexual abuse material.

More convictions count as serious offenses

The law expands the list of convictions defined as serious offenses. Additions include contributing to a minor’s delinquency, the offense under AS 11.61.110(a)(7), and generated-material distribution under AS 11.61.121. Crimes with substantially similar elements in other jurisdictions also count. The definition affects rights or duties that depend on serious-offense status.

More public access to juvenile cases

Beginning July 1, 2026, courts may open juvenile hearings alleging distribution of generated obscene child sexual abuse material. The Department of Family and Community Services must request access; courts can still limit or block it. On request, the department must disclose public information about these allegations when the minor was at least 13 at the time. The changes expand public access but reduce privacy in the covered cases; they do not make all juvenile records public.

Parole board gains seats and limits

Alaska’s parole board has seven members serving staggered five-year terms, with no more than two terms each. It must include a licensed physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist and someone with criminal-justice experience. It must also include someone with addiction-recovery support or personal addiction experience, and a member of an Alaska federally recognized tribe. These rules govern board membership; they do not directly change a person’s parole eligibility.

Parole reviews consider age at offense

For the covered discretionary parole decisions, Alaska's parole board must consider the prisoner's age when the offense happened. That factor helps assess the likelihood of another offense. The board also considers current age, criminal history, prison behavior, treatment participation, and reentry plans. The law does not require approval or denial based on age.

Criminal penalties target unsafe airbag sales

The law protects vehicle buyers by making knowing sales, imports, installation, reinstallation, or manufacture of fake, nonworking, or federally noncompliant airbags crimes. It also covers devices intended to hide fake or nonworking airbags. Knowingly selling, leasing, or trading a vehicle with an unsafe airbag is covered when the transaction is intentional. Sellers and manufacturers face a class A misdemeanor, rising to a class C felony when death or serious injury results. Exceptions cover specified police vehicles, some sellers without advance knowledge, specified insurance transfers, and transactions with the disclosures specified by law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Chuck Kopp
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Jesse Bjorkman
Republican • Senate
Ashley Carrick
Democratic • House
Matt Claman
Democratic • Senate
Mike Cronk
Republican • Senate
David Nelson
Republican • House
Maxine Dibert
Democratic • House
Forrest Dunbar
Democratic • Senate
Ted Eischeid
Democratic • House
Zack Fields
Democratic • House
Alyse Galvin
Not • House
Cathy Giessel
Republican • Senate
Andrew Gray
Democratic • House
Elvi Gray-Jackson
Democratic • Senate
Sara Hannan
Democratic • House
Andy Josephson
Democratic • House
James Kaufman
Republican • Senate
Scott Kawasaki
Democratic • Senate
Kelly Merrick
Republican • Senate
George Rauscher
Republican • Senate
Calvin Schrage
Not • House
Bert Stedman
Republican • Senate
Gary Stevens
Republican • Senate
Cathy Tilton
Republican • Senate
Loki Tobin
Democratic • Senate
Bill Wielechowski
Democratic • Senate
Robert Yundt
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 39 • No: 1

House vote • 5/20/2026

CONCUR AM OF (S) Y39 N1