Gov. Mike Dunleavy allowed two bills to become law without his signature and vetoed two more on Aug. 10, extending the record for the most vetoes in a two-year session of the Alaska Legislature.
The governor vetoed a bill that would have required the University of Alaska to provide notices of fee increases to students.
His second veto canceled a bill that would have set Permanent Fund dividend-like requirements for resident hunting and fishing licenses, which are much less expensive than nonresident licenses.
Dunleavy allowed a bill to become law that names the giant cabbage the Alaska state vegetable. The bill also changes state law to regulate industrial hemp as agriculture rather than a controlled substance.
He also allowed a bill that mandates school boards undergo budget and ethics training; that allows municipalities to set school board terms for less than three years, which is currently required; and allows small communities of under 1,000 population to have city councils with three members, instead of the current requirement of seven members.
The governor has vetoed 31 of the 115 bills passed by lawmakers. Of those 115, only two remain on the wait list for his consideration.
Dunleavy’s actions last week extended the record for the most vetoes by an Alaska governor during a single two-year legislative session. The previous record, 25 vetoes, was set by Gov. Tony Knowles in 1995-1996.
House Bill 176, from Fairbanks Rep. Ashley Carrick and North Pole Sen. Robb Myers would have required the University of Alaska to give students notice of any fee increases and to provide students with itemized billing statements.
The university system testified that it viewed the legislation as unnecessary because it could provide itemized statements under existing authority. The sponsors of the bill, however, said the university currently does not provide sufficient information and does not give students enough advance notice.
In his veto message, the governor sided with the university, saying that “while transparency for students is an important objective, the university should retain the discretion to determine the most effective and efficient methods for providing notices and billing information.”
Dunleavy’s other veto negated House Bill 93, from Sitka Rep. Rebecca Himschoot. Had that bill been enacted, it would have required people to live in the state for one year, with absences allowed for military service, college and medical treatment among other exemptions, before receiving a resident hunting, fishing or trapping license.
The exemptions are those listed in the Permanent Fund dividend eligibility law.
Current law permits someone to obtain a resident license if they have a home in Alaska and do not establish residency in another state. They do not need to physically live in Alaska but do need to declare their intent to return.
The change was intended to limit the abuse of resident hunting and fishing rights, but it drew opposition from commercial pilots and snowbird residents who live in Alaska only seasonally.
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