Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning Senate Bill No. 170, relating to gaming; relating to gaming activities on Alaska marine highway system vessels; relating to bingo; relating to pull-tabs and electronic pull-tab systems; relating to the powers of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; and relating to the Alaska marine highway system fund.

34th Legislature (2025-2026)

HCR 22 temporarily waives specific title-change rules to allow expedited consideration of SB 170, which would address various gaming-related policies.

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Overview

House Concurrent Resolution 22 (HCR 22) is a procedural measure in Alaska’s 34th Legislature that seeks to suspend specific Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature in order to consider Senate Bill No. 170. The resolution does not itself enact policy but allows the Senate Bill (SB 170) to move forward by temporarily waiving select rule requirements related to bill title changes.

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of HCR 22 is to permit consideration of SB 170 without adhering to certain procedural restrictions on changes to a bill’s title.

This is a temporary suspension under Rule 54, specifically targeting Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), which govern how titles may be changed during the legislative process.

By suspending these rules, the Legislature enables SB 170 to be discussed, amended, or advanced without being constrained by those title-change requirements.

Key Provisions

The resolution states that the provisions of Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e) are suspended “in consideration of Senate Bill No. 170.”

SB 170 itself concerns a broad array of topics related to gaming, with specific references to:

Gaming activities on Alaska’s Marine Highway System vessels
Bingo
Pull-tabs and electronic pull-tab systems
Powers of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF)
The Alaska Marine Highway System Fund

HCR 22 does not amend or enacted substantive gaming or funding polices; it merely creates the temporary procedural allowance to advance SB 170, which would contain those substantive provisions if enacted.

Who Would Be Affected

Alaska legislators and the legislative process are directly affected, as HCR 22 alters the procedural pathway for SB 170.

Depending on SB 170’s final content, potential impacts could extend to:

Regulations and activities related to gaming on Marine Highway System vessels
Governance of bingo and pull-tab gaming formats, including electronic pull-tabs
DOTPF authorities as they relate to gaming activities and the deployment of related infrastructure or oversight
Financial and administrative aspects of the Alaska Marine Highway System Fund

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

HCR 22 is a House Concurrent Resolution and requires passage by both chambers to take effect.

The action to suspend specified rules is explicitly tied to consideration of SB 170; if SB 170 is advanced or amended, the resolution serves to keep procedural flexibility during that process.

The current action history shows the resolution’s first-time read in the House as of May 15, 2026.

Practical Implications

If enacted, HCR 22 accelerates or smooths the legislative treatment of SB 170 by removing certain title-change constraints.

The substantive policy changes would be determined by SB 170’s text and any amendments adopted during committee or floor debates.

Stakeholders in gaming regulation, DOTPF operations, and the Alaska Marine Highway System Fund may anticipate changes contingent on SB 170’s final form.