GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Alaska CHARR Government Affairs Team

Sarah Oates, President & CEO
Kim Hutchinson, Lobbyist
Cassie Ostrander, Membership & Grassroots Mananger

Government Affairs Committee

Josh Broda, Chairman
Arden Rankins
Bob Klein
Darwin Biwer
Fernando Salvador
Paul Thomas
Michael Cervantes
Jack Manning
Philippe Janicka
Stan Filler
Steven Kantor

Alaska CHARR and the hospitality industry’s 2024 legislative priorities

Alaska’s hospitality industry continues to face significant ongoing challenges to business operations. Three of the greatest issues business owners are facing in 2024 are ongoing labor shortages, liquor liability insurance rate hikes, and significant increases in operating costs. The following are Alaska CHARR and the hospitality industry’s 2024 legislative priorities that would help mitigate these issues.

Pass HB 189: Allow Persons 18-20 On Premises for Alcohol Service or Other Employment

Alaska CHARR respectfully requests that the Alaska Legislature pass HB 189 with an amendment that would allow for persons 18-20 to enter and remain on a licensed premises for other employment purposes, including under employment by a vendor or support business.

Alaska is one of only three states (along with Utah and Nevada) that requires an alcohol server to be 21 or older. Employers struggle to promote or retain quality employees who are 18-20 under existing Alaska law. Moreover, other businesses that support the hospitality industry – including food distributors, cleaners, and restaurant suppliers – are experiencing similar labor shortages and often hire younger people to deliver products and provide services. Those vendor and contractor employees are currently prohibited from entering alcohol premises, creating challenges for numerous industries.

Pass HB 335: Shared Liability for Liquor Licenses

Alaska CHARR respectfully requests that the Alaska Legislature pass HB 335, which will help reduce liability while still protecting the public interest, to make it easier and less expensive for businesses to operate, grow, innovate, and hire more employees in our great state.

With Vermont, Montana, and Alabama successfully reducing liquor liability in 2023, Alaska now has the worst rating of any state for providing liquor liability insurance. Insurance providers are pulling out of Alaska, resulting in businesses around the state being told they either cannot obtain liability insurance at all, or seeing rate hikes as much as 700% in a single year. Businesses are having to choose either to not carry liability insurance or to close their doors – neither of which is good for public safety nor the economy.

Reject HB 220: State Bed Tax Proposal

Alaska CHARR respectfully requests that the Alaska Legislature reject HB 220 any state bed tax. If signed into law, HB 220 will make Juneau the area with the highest bed taxes in the United States. Local governments across the state already have significant bed taxes in place. Increasing taxes for an industry that continues to struggle with high operational costs will be bad for business.

Pass HB 89 or HB 333: Provide Incentives for Employer Support Toward Childcare

Alaska CHARR respectfully requests that the Alaska Legislature pass HB 89 or HB 333, which would enable employers to provide financial assistance for childcare to employees through corporate tax incentives.

Women comprise 56% of the hospitality workforce, and finding childcare that is both available during all hours and affordable is nearly impossible. Lack of affordable childcare is one of the greatest barriers to women entering (or reentering) the workforce, especially in an industry where remote work is less available, and childcare needs fall well outside of Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm.