Committee backs HB 33 to let conflicted Board of Fisheries/Game members remain for deliberations but not vote

House Bill 33, carried from the other body by Representative Louise Stutes, advanced from the Senate Resources Committee after staff summarized the measure and multiple fisheries stakeholders testified in support.

Matt Greening, staff to Representative Stutes, told the committee HB 33 would allow board members who declare a personal or financial conflict under AS 39.52 "to impart their knowledge of a particular fishery or hunt before recusing themselves from the vote." He said the bill preserves the existing prohibition on voting and on offering amendments while permitting conflicted members to remain part of the deliberative discussion.

Commercial‑fisheries groups and individual fishermen called in to support the bill, saying Alaska’s fisheries are geographically and operationally diverse and that board members are often appointed precisely for local expertise. Adelia Myrick, president of the Northwest Setnetters Association in Kodiak, said the bill "recognizes that reality and allows board members with direct knowledge and experience to remain part of the discussion while still requiring them to abstain from voting." Kelsey Hayden, director of Cordova District Fishermen United, and several other testifiers made similar points: keeping expertise in the room improves the record and the quality of deliberation, they said.

With no amendments offered and no objections to the committee motion, Senator Wilkowski moved HB 33 from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note; the motion carried.

The bill now proceeds from committee with the committee’s recommendation and the usual technical‑conforming authority for legislative legal staff.