AK HB129: Elections: Voter Reg./legal Fund/comms

In one paragraph

Alaska's HB 129 (2023-24) was a broad elections bill; its Senate version, SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S, would have changed voter registration list maintenance and, per its title, addressed candidate legal funds, absentee and special needs voting, defamation claims based on synthetic media, and synthetic media in electioneering communications. The House passed it 33-6 on February 2, 2024 and the Senate passed its version 14-6 on May 15, 2024. It was never enacted and died when the 33rd Legislature's 2023-24 session ended.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None: the bill died and never became law. Its synthetic media sections would have made a candidate's defamation claim based on AI-manipulated media defamation per se and regulated synthetic media in electioneering communications.

Key provisions

1. 1Would make an action for defamation based on synthetic media a claim for defamation per se brought by a candidate (AS 09.65.360)
2. 2Would require the elections director to send listed voters address-confirmation notices by forwardable mail (and email, if available) and inactivate registrations that do not respond within 45 days (AS 15.07.130)
3. 3Would require regulations for regular review of the voter master register against listed records and databases, and a process for voters to cancel their registration
4. 4Would require the director, not less than 30 days after discovering a breach of confidential voter data, to publish notice of it and report it to legislative leaders, unless disclosure would compromise a criminal investigation
5. 5Per its title, would also address candidate legal funds, absentee and special needs voting, and synthetic media in electioneering communications; the captured text is cut off before most of those sections
6. 6House passed CSHB 129(JUD) 33-6 on February 2, 2024; Senate passed SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S 14-6 on May 15, 2024; never enacted, and died when the 33rd Legislature's 2023-24 session ended

Latest legislative action

May 15, 2024. (S) PASSED Y14 N6 (SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S); died when the 33rd Alaska Legislature's 2023-24 session ended without the bill being enacted

Sponsors

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 12)