# Alaska SB 249: VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS

Alaska SB 249, VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS, is a 34th Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Cathy Tilton (Republican); status became law, last action 2026-07-16 ((S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 10/1/26); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB249-34
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Alaska SB 249
- State: Alaska
- Session: 34th Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS
- Status: became law
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-18
- Last action: 2026-07-16, (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 10/1/26
- Sponsor: Cathy Tilton (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 22
- Touches household money: yes
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Full kiosk refunds for fraud victims: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska kiosk operators must refund fraud victims the full amount paid, including transaction fees. Refunds must be in the currency originally paid. You must notify the operator within 90 days after your last affected transaction or learning of the fraud, whichever is late…
- Clearer costs and warnings for kiosk users: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska kiosk operators must clearly disclose terms, charges, exchange rates, fraud warnings, and virtual-currency risks. They must use the user's chosen language, obtain acknowledgment, and provide operator and fraud-reporting contacts. Each transaction requires paper and…
- Kiosk users get a fee cap: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska kiosk operators cannot collect total transaction fees above 10% of the transaction's value. The cap uses the value in U.S. dollars or its equivalent in virtual currency.
- Live help in kiosk users' languages: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska kiosk operators must provide live help during operating hours, including 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Alaska time. They must display a toll-free customer-service number on the kiosk or its screen. Written notices must be in both English and Spanish. Operators must communic…
- More state and local kiosk oversight: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska operators must report each kiosk's identity, location, service dates, service address, and suspicious declines quarterly. Reports are due within 45 days after quarter-end; annual reports covering the previous year are due March 31. Annual reports include revenue, c…
- Stronger kiosk fraud prevention and investigations: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska kiosk operators must take reasonable steps against fraud and money laundering and follow the federal Bank Secrecy Act. Their written policy must assess risks, set safeguards, assign monitoring duties, and require regular reviews. Operators must give each location s…
- Kiosk users face new transaction limits: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, an Alaska kiosk operator cannot accept more than $1,000 from one user per calendar day. The same operator cannot accept more than $10,000 from that user in any 30-day period. Both limits include virtual-currency equivalents and cover all the operator's products. Operators…
- Kiosk operators need licenses, face penalties: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska treats kiosk operation as money transmission. Operators need a state money transmission license before conducting or offering kiosk transactions for another person. They must register kiosk locations and obtain prior approval from the Department of Commerce, Commun…
- Kiosk fraud checks restrict some transactions: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Alaska operators must verify identity before accepting payment and copy the user's government-issued ID. They must collect the user's true name, birth date, phone number, address, and email. Transactions under another name, account, or identity are barred; operators are s…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Cathy Tilton (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jesse Bjorkman (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Matt Claman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Cronk (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Forrest Dunbar (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Alyse Galvin (Not), House
- Cosponsor: Cathy Giessel (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Andrew Gray (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elvi Gray-Jackson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Carolyn Hall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andy Josephson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: James Kaufman (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Scott Kawasaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kevin McCabe (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Donna Mears (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kelly Merrick (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Robert Myers (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: George Rauscher (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bert Stedman (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Gary Stevens (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Loki Tobin (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Frank Tomaszewski (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Sarah Vance (Republican), House

## Actions (77)

- 2026-07-16: (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 10/1/26 (Senate)
- 2026-07-16: (S) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 6/30 CHAPTER 50 SLA 26 (Senate)
- 2026-06-15: (S) 3:55 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N- (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: (H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 249(L&C) (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) VANCE (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GRAY, HALL, TOMASZEWSKI, JOSEPHSON, GALVIN, MCCABE, MEARS, (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) PASSED Y40 (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 249(L&C) (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) L&C HCS ADOPTED UC (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) READ THE SECOND TIME (House)
- 2026-05-19: (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/19/2026 (House)
- 2026-05-14: (H) FN1: ZERO(CED) (House)
- 2026-05-14: (H) AM: SADDLER (House)
- 2026-05-14: (H) DP: FRIER, COULOMBE, CARRICK, FIELDS, HALL (House)
- 2026-05-14: (H) L&C RPT HCS(L&C) 5DP 1AM (House)
- 2026-05-13: (H) Moved HCS CSSB 249(L&C) Out of Committee -- Recessed to 08:00 am 5/14-- (House)
- 2026-05-13: (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124 (House)
- 2026-05-13: (H) L&C (House)
- 2026-05-13: (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS (House)
- 2026-05-13: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-05-12: (S) VERSION: CSSB 249(JUD) AM (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) PASSED Y20 N- (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) STEVENS (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) COSPONSOR(S): KAWASAKI, GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON, RAUSCHER, KAUFMAN, STEDMAN, (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) AUTOMATICALLY IN THIRD READING (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) RETURN TO SECOND FOR AM 1 UC (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 249(JUD) (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair -- (House)
- 2026-05-11: (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124 (House)
- 2026-05-11: (S) COSPONSOR(S): CLAMAN, MERRICK, BJORKMAN, TOBIN (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/12 CAL (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: (S) JUD CS ADOPTED UC (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: (S) READ THE SECOND TIME (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/11/2026 (Senate)
- 2026-04-27: (S) FN1: ZERO(CED) (Senate)
- 2026-04-27: (S) NR: TOBIN (Senate)
- 2026-04-27: (S) DP: CLAMAN, TILTON, KIEHL, STEVENS (Senate)
- 2026-04-27: (S) JUD RPT CS 4DP 1NR TECHNICAL TITLE CHANGE (Senate)
- 2026-04-24: (S) Moved CSSB 249(JUD) Out of Committee (Senate)
- 2026-04-24: (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 (Senate)
- 2026-04-24: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-03-30: (S) Heard & Held (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-03-20: (S) Heard & Held (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-03-18: (S) COSPONSOR(S): DUNBAR (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: (S) FN1: ZERO(CED) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: (S) AM: DUNBAR, MERRICK (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: (S) NR: YUNDT, GRAY-JACKSON (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: (S) DP: BJORKMAN (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: (S) L&C RPT CS 1DP 2NR 2AM SAME TITLE (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: (S) Moved CSSB 249(L&C) Out of Committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-03-13: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: (S) Heard & Held (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-03-02: (S) Minutes (SL&C) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: (S) Heard & Held (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Audio/Video (House)
- 2026-02-19: (S) COSPONSOR(S): CRONK, MYERS (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: (S) L&C, JUD (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enrolled SB 249, 2026-05-20: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249Z), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249Z.PDF)
- HCS CSSB 249(L&C), 2026-05-14: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249E), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249E.PDF)
- CSSB 249(JUD) am, 2026-05-12: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249D), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249D.PDF)
- CSSB 249(JUD), 2026-04-27: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249C), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249C.PDF)
- CSSB 249(L&C), 2026-03-18: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249B), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249B.PDF)
- SB 249, 2026-02-18: [HTML](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249A), [PDF](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249A.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 178: EXPAND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES (became law)
- SB 104: VEHICLES/BOATS: TRANSFER ON DEATH TITLE (became law)
- SB 86: MONEY TRANSMISSION; VIRTUAL CURRENCY (became law)
- HB 265: APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET (signed)
- HB 263: APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET;FUNDS;SUPP (signed)
- HB 239: CRIME/CNTRL SUBST/ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY (became law)

## Sources
- [Enrolled SB 249 (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249Z)
- [Enrolled SB 249 (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249Z.PDF)
- [HCS CSSB 249(L&C) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249E)
- [HCS CSSB 249(L&C) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249E.PDF)
- [CSSB 249(JUD) am (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249D)
- [CSSB 249(JUD) am (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249D.PDF)
- [CSSB 249(JUD) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249C)
- [CSSB 249(JUD) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249C.PDF)
- [CSSB 249(L&C) (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249B)
- [CSSB 249(L&C) (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249B.PDF)
- [SB 249 (HTML)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=SB0249A)
- [SB 249 (PDF)](https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0249A.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 178: EXPAND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB178-34)
- [SB 104: VEHICLES/BOATS: TRANSFER ON DEATH TITLE](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB104-34)
- [SB 86: MONEY TRANSMISSION; VIRTUAL CURRENCY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB86-34)
- [HB 265: APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB265-34)
- [HB 263: APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET;FUNDS;SUPP](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB263-34)
- [HB 239: CRIME/CNTRL SUBST/ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-HB239-34)
- [Alaska bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alaska/bills)
- [Alaska state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alaska)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AK-SB249-34 (as of 2026-11-04).