Governor Mike Dunleavy signed legislation expanding Alaska Permanent Fund dividend eligibility for temporarily out-of-state residents. House Bill 75, introduced by Representative Jeremy Bynum of Ketchikan, was the first of his legislative efforts to become law.
Dunleavy signed the bill quietly without a formal announcement or signing ceremony last week. Although no press release followed the bill’s approval, official legislative notices confirmed its passage.
Representative Bynum expressed satisfaction that the law will soon help more Alaskans retain their dividend eligibility. The newly enacted law clarifies and broadens what counts as allowable absences for Permanent Fund dividend (PFD) purposes.
It includes training for the US Merchant Marine, academic holiday breaks for college students, and deployment for federal corps members. Specifically, Alaskans training for the US Merchant Marine no longer risk losing PFD benefits due to their temporary absence.
College students spending holiday breaks outside Alaska will also be protected under the law. In addition, commissioned officers serving in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps and the US Public Health Service will remain eligible while deployed out of state.
The Department of Revenue, which administers the PFD program, also gains authority to conduct fingerprint-based background checks of its employees. This provision aims to enhance security and transparency within the division.
House Bill 75 was one of four legislative actions finalized last week. The governor signed Senate Bill 152 naming Ruby’s airport after pilot Harold Esmailka. Dunleavy allowed Senate Bills 80 and 137 concerning professional licensing boards and the state parole board to become law without his signature.
Despite the low-profile signing, the bill marks a policy victory for the Republican minority caucus and improves Alaska Permanent Fund dividend eligibility for many absent but deserving residents.
