AlaskaAlaska phone customers would pay a monthly crisis services charge
If enacted, telephone companies would charge customers $0.98 a month, and lawmakers could approve money for Alaska behavioral health crisis services.
What it does
Telephone companies would add a $0.98 monthly charge for each wireless number and landline access line. Customers with more than 100 landline lines would be charged for only 100.
The state would place surcharge collections in a fund. Lawmakers could approve money for 988, crisis care, workers, training, and related services, but spending is not guaranteed.
Argument forIf lawmakers approve spending, the money could help support 988, crisis care, worker training, and public information about available services.
Argument againstCustomers could face a new monthly bill charge, even though the amount is capped at one charge per number or line and 100 landline lines.
More detail
Telephone companies would bill customers a $0.98 monthly charge and send the money they collect to the state. The charge would apply to each wireless number billed to an Alaska address and each landline access line served in the state. A customer may be charged only once per wireless number or landline access line. Customers with more than 100 landline access lines would owe the charge on only 100. Companies must send collections within 60 days after the month they collect them. For timely remittance, they may keep the greater of 1 percent of collections or $150. Companies do not have to sue to collect unpaid charges. If they try to collect another unpaid debt, they must also try to collect unpaid surcharges. The bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
The Department of Administration would put surcharge collections in a state fund, and lawmakers could approve spending from it for crisis services. The Department of Health could receive approved money for behavioral health crisis services in Alaska. Lawmakers could approve spending from the fund's estimated yearly balance for 988, crisis care, qualified workers, specialized training, public education, data work, and fund oversight. The fund is not dedicated to these purposes, so deposits would not guarantee that money is spent on them. The bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 19(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --Latest
- May 19(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 19(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to 9:00 am --
- May 19(H) FINANCE at 08:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 18(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 06:00 PM ADAMS 519
- May 18(H) -- Public Testimony -- -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 18(H) -- Public Testimony -- -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 15(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 15(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 2:15 pm --
- May 15(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 15(H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
- May 15(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 15(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 15(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to a 9:00 A.M. --
- May 15(H) FINANCE at 08:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 6(H) PRIME SPONSOR CHANGED: JIMMIE REPLACED MINA
- 2025
- May 13(H) REFERRED TO FINANCEMinor
- May 13(H) FN2: INDETERMINATE(REV)
- May 13(H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(DOH)
- May 13(H) DNP: COULOMBE, SADDLER
- May 13(H) DP: BURKE, CARRICK, HALL, FIELDS
- May 13(H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 4DP 2DNP
- May 9(H) Minutes (HL&C)
- May 9(H) Moved CSHB 138(L&C) Out of Committee
- May 9(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
- May 7(H) Minutes (HL&C)
- May 7(H) Heard & Held
- May 7(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
- May 2(H) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY
- May 2(H) FN2: INDETERMINATE(REV)
- May 2(H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(DOH)
- May 2(H) AM: PRAX, RUFFRIDGE, MEARS
- May 2(H) NR: SCHWANKE
- May 2(H) DP: FIELDS, GRAY, MINA
- May 2(H) HSS RPT 3DP 1NR 3AM
- May 1(H) Minutes (HHSS)
- May 1(H) Moved HB 138 Out of Committee
- May 1(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
- Apr 24(H) Minutes (HHSS)
- Apr 24(H) Heard & Held
- Apr 24(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
- Mar 26(H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, HALL
- Mar 21(H) COSPONSOR(S): JIMMIE, STORY
- Mar 17(H) HSS, L&C, FIN
- Mar 17(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
Mental HealthHealthcareTaxes & Budget