ECONOMIC DEV:AK-IRELAND TRADE COMM.
Sponsored By: Mia Costello (Republican)
Vetoed
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New Alaska-Ireland Trade Commission starts now
The law creates the Alaska–Ireland Trade Commission in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. It advances trade and investment with Ireland, promotes business and academic exchanges, and supports joint research and infrastructure investment. It can take up other related issues it identifies. The law takes effect immediately. It does not itself provide state funding for the commission.
Who serves and how the commission meets
The commission has nine members: five picked by the governor, two House members picked by the Speaker, and two Senate members picked by the Senate President. Governor’s appointees serve staggered three‑year terms; House and Senate appointees serve two‑year terms. For the first five governor picks, one serves one year, two serve two years, and two serve three years. Each member serves at the pleasure of the official who appointed them. The commission elects a chair, and a majority of members is a quorum. Meetings are usually by electronic means, with at least seven days’ public notice. It may meet in person when it meets outside the state. Members serve without state pay, per diem, or travel, unless donor funds cover those costs. In this section, “department” means the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
Donor-funded support and yearly public report
The department may accept grants, donations, or gifts to pay commission per diem, travel, and other support. Before accepting funds, it must collect the donor’s name, address, date and amount or value, and for donors giving over $50 in a year, the donor’s main job and employer, and give this to the commission. By the 30th day of each regular legislative session, the commission must deliver a report to the governor, the Senate secretary, and the House chief clerk, and notify the legislature. The report lists all grants, donations, and gifts from the prior year, totals, donor names and addresses, and—for donors giving over $50 in aggregate—their principal occupation and employer. It must also include the commission’s findings, results, and recommendations. The commission cannot hire writers or use department staff to prepare the report unless a grant, donation, or gift pays for that work.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Mia Costello
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Jeremy Bynum
Republican • House
Ashley Carrick
Democratic • House
Matt Claman
Democratic • Senate
Mike Cronk
Republican • Senate
Bryce Edgmon
Independent • House
Elvi Gray-Jackson
Democratic • Senate
Carolyn Hall
Democratic • House
Andy Josephson
Democratic • House
James Kaufman
Republican • Senate
Scott Kawasaki
Democratic • Senate
Kevin McCabe
Republican • House
Kelly Merrick
Republican • Senate
Donny Olson
Democratic • Senate
George Rauscher
Republican • Senate
Will Stapp
Republican • House
Bert Stedman
Republican • Senate
Gary Stevens
Republican • Senate
Andi Story
Democratic • House
Cathy Tilton
Republican • Senate
Loki Tobin
Democratic • Senate
Frank Tomaszewski
Republican • House
Sarah Vance
Republican • House
Robert Yundt
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
(H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/24/26
7/3/2026House(H) 3:10 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
6/17/2026House(H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
6/10/2026House(H) COSPONSOR(S): CARRICK
5/20/2026House(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
5/20/2026House(H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y38 A2
5/20/2026House(H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP
5/20/2026House(H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED
5/20/2026House(S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 278(STA)
5/19/2026Senate(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
5/19/2026Senate(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
5/19/2026Senate(S) PASSED Y20 N-
5/19/2026Senate(S) STEDMAN
5/19/2026Senate(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KAUFMAN, KAWASAKI, YUNDT, OLSON, TOBIN, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN,
5/19/2026Senate(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 278(STA)
5/19/2026Senate(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, MERRICK, CRONK, TILTON, STEVENS
5/18/2026Senate(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/19 CAL
5/18/2026Senate(S) STA SCS ADOPTED UC
5/18/2026Senate(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
5/18/2026Senate(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2026
5/18/2026Senate(S) FIN REFERRAL WAIVED UC
5/12/2026Senate(S) FIN REFERRAL ADDED
5/11/2026Senate(S) FN1: INDETERMINATE(CED)
5/11/2026Senate(S) NR: WIELECHOWSKI
5/11/2026Senate(S) DP: TILTON, BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON
5/11/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled HB 278
5/20/2026
SCS CSHB 278(STA)
5/11/2026
CSHB 278(STA)
3/11/2026
HB 278
1/23/2026