[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6259937,"mediaKeyId","3136666-41155d4b3c5ddb71fc412f7db7bb5b67","parentId",3136666,"title","Committee hears bill to ban medical debt from credit reports and bar its use by landlords, employers","audioSeconds",2416,"startMs",4708000,"endMs",7124000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3136666-41155d4b3c5ddb71fc412f7db7bb5b67&start=4708&end=7124","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3136666-41155d4b3c5ddb71fc412f7db7bb5b67/thumbnail_4708000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6259937/Alaska/Committee-hears-bill-to-ban-medical-debt-from-credit-reports-and-bar-its-use-by-landlords-employers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259937-3b5a3a296cfa95ee0a1011ffe223ca26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770759415&Signature=JJaXaxq0PuvVZ~4tmuO2mp-BaOdtYajSHPGxQqw-6t1YtfkIBtWpXBDTcy53trvkEWVYhwiZGHsmqfEHMq6fc90qtg0I6-XLd~gbDaGLfsnk~ldJyZTlG80uC0Sgv4pmT-LjmkbPk3Jr6VRMGzb35JrJfBUhiG7ukJ9bUGd0ks-BBrdT9qUP2BntQN7jNCwS7hPzLl6BRorRu3KvQDfLRt3SYlPh-hPns4YC0JR8DN8kb-RCkzBNPqeDGVykcTUKv8ryiz40-bYLo6jI5VULcsvPrnyn8lvmuwAoxIm232zg~r62CXQPNfse2yTBVZA~5oQieFTE~ACQQIWE7UrZkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-04-25T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Genevieve Mina (House District 19) introduced House Bill 178 on April 25, 2025, proposing to prohibit furnishing and reporting of medical debt to credit reporting companies and to bar landlords and employers from asking about or using medical debt as an eligibility criterion.

Why it matters: Testifiers told the committee that medical debt is prevalent in Alaska and often stems from emergencies, billing errors or insurance gaps. Removing medical debt from credit reporting, they said, protects consumers from long‑lasting financial harm that can block access to housing, loans and employment.

Key provisions and sponsor’s rationale
Representative Mina told the committee the bill would emulate the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule by banning the reporting and furnishing of medical debt to consumer credit reporting agencies and prohibiting landlords and employers from using medical debt in tenant or hiring decisions. Mina told the committee that medical debt is widespread and “shouldn’t be used as a predictor of financial trustworthiness.” She cited data showing roughly 14 percent of Alaskans had medical debt in collections in 2021 and said Alaska’s median medical debt in collections was about $1,533—near double the national median reported in the evidence she presented.

Invited testimony
Clark Hansen, managing director for advocacy at the ALS Association, urged support for HB 178, saying the bill would protect patients with costly chronic conditions from discrimination in housing and employment and reduce financial instability. Hansen told the committee, “I urge the committee to support this bill and help make Alaska a state where medical debt does not dictate one's opportunities or quality of life.” Hansen described ALS care costs that can average “between $150,000 to $200,000 per year per patient,” and said removing medical debt from credit reports helps patients access loans and housing for needed equipment and adaptations.

A representative from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society said similar concerns apply to cancer patients, citing data that a patient’s care in the first year after diagnosis can total hundreds of thousands of dollars and that 42 percent of cancer patients deplete life savings within two years of diagnosis. The Alaska Public Interest Research Group (ACPIRG) also testified in support, describing Alaska’s high insurance premiums and limited competition as factors that increase the risk of medical debt.

Questions and concerns from committee members
Some legislators pressed testifiers on practical consequences. Representative Sadler asked whether concealing medical debt from lenders or landlords might mask information a mortgage lender or landlord needs about a borrower’s ability to pay. Committee members discussed alternatives such as providing separate scores or adjusted indicators that exclude involuntary medical debt. Representatives also asked whether states can regulate what contributes to widely used credit models; testifiers said states do have some regulatory authority but that a federal standard would be more comprehensive. Witnesses noted the CFPB rule—issued in January 2025 and intended to phase in changes—has been delayed and remains uncertain at the federal level.

Related policy examples
Testimony noted other state approaches: the top three credit reporting agencies had recently removed medical debts under $500 from scoring; some states have limited medical‑debt collection actions (Florida and Virginia were cited for time limits on medical debt lawsuits), Delaware has restricted creditor remedies against homes for medical debt, and New Jersey allocated funds to cancel medical debt in limited programs.

Committee action
After invited testimony and questioning, the committee set HB 178 aside for later consideration; no vote on the bill was taken during the hearing. The committee requested that parties providing data follow up in writing with the committee where appropriate.

Ending: Committee members said they would review the written follow‑up materials and consider how the state bill aligns with or diverges from federal rulemaking. No changes were adopted at the April 25 hearing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/25/2025 09:00 AM House LABOR & COMMERCE","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Genevieve Mina introduced House Bill 178 on April 25, 2025, asking the House Labor and Commerce Committee to prohibit furnishing medical debt to credit reporting agencies and to prevent landlords and employers from using medical debt as a qualification criterion.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6259943,"House Labor and Commerce Committee hears more than a dozen gubernatorial nominees for state boards",0,891000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3136666-41155d4b3c5ddb71fc412f7db7bb5b67&start=891&end=891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3136666-41155d4b3c5ddb71fc412f7db7bb5b67/thumbnail_891000.jpg","/articles/6259943/Alaska/House-Labor-and-Commerce-Committee-hears-more-than-a-dozen-gubernatorial-nominees-for-state-boards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259943-b230d49e671a16931a9a41cbf4211486/orig.mp4?Expires=1770759415&Signature=C6IjF~ax6d9RP8nwa4HjEaZBFvQtCp-9H0dxRlxGgxps8LpFj0z70ocNucyP4BdySjLcZuvyZpfQ98fjZeRPmMevGh2qeBSLz344lxIDqoMUmlhCurSwuwUqE1kYm-lQmy2D4dE8Y5CoLMCz7i~N8M-vGvd13GHQnq1iLoGemzYcylYcF02Xrv4bMb7Fsk8jJsKP0EwtR0AeM69ry5wtACxZw6LODVNhCpehYMvf4FfkBYmGzlEkaaesJMJnV-rZq8dCe5pXRBQvw5YhrXQ~AP6HW~ZVFpz-v~veWV0zizh7WkSKHxcx9Bg6jKp3spxZ5ZvuyGigeMMmHfK9rBPX-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee on April 25, 2025, heard testimony from more than a dozen gubernatorial appointees to state boards and commissions, including the Board of Public Accountancy, Board of Professional Counselors, Board of Veterinary Examiners, the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, the Marijuana Control Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Board, the Real Estate Commission, and the State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board.

The nominations began in the morning and continued after the committee recessed for an afternoon session. Committee members asked nominees about industry trends, supervision and licensing processes, public‑safety readiness, and willingness to serve on boards while holding other roles.

Why it matters: These boards set licensing rules, investigate complaints and help implement professional standards. The committee’s questioning focused on workforce shortages, regulatory compliance, and consumer protections that could affect health care access, public safety and local economies.

Several nominees described practical experience they said would inform their service. Donovan Neal, a certified public accountant applying for the Board of Public Accountancy, told the committee he has been a licensed CPA for 25 years and has worked in public accounting and industry. Neal said changing national workforce conditions have prompted discussion about reducing extra education requirements to recruit more CPAs to Alaska.

James Doughty, another Board of Public Accountancy nominee and a principal at BDO USA, said he applied because he wants to help address the national shortage of certified public accountants and sees changing credit/education requirements as a priority.

Nominees for the Board of Professional Counselors emphasized workforce and access issues. Mary Elkins, applying for confirmation, said she wants counseling regulations to “reflect the on‑the‑ground realities” and cited technology, including AI, and Medicaid access as challenges. Crystal Herring said AI ethics and confidentiality—specifically the growth of unregulated AI “therapist” applications—are expected to be ongoing regulatory topics for the board. Ashley Martin and Elaine (Carrie Elaine) Border told the committee they would prioritize supervision, licensure pathways and measurable outcomes for programs serving underserved populations.

On public‑health readiness, veterinarian Bob Gerlach, an appointee to the Board of Veterinary Examiners and a former state veterinarian, described Alaska’s multiagency response to repeated introductions of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Gerlach said collaboration with federal partners and training wildlife biologists to collect samples expanded the state’s response capacity and, in his words, “I think the state's in very good shape with respect to responding to, these outbreaks.”

Other appointees described regional perspectives and industry priorities. Samson Shepherd, nominated for the board that registers architects, engineers and land surveyors, described himself as a small‑business mechanical engineer; Jimmy Cash and Yolanda (Juan) Logan, nominated to the Real Estate Commission, emphasized broker transparency for consumers and regional differences in housing markets. Lacey Wilcox, nominated to the Marijuana Control Board, said she supports local option decisions by municipal governments. Applicants to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Board and the State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board detailed industry and safety backgrounds relevant to regulatory oversight.

Committee housekeeping: Chair Hall announced an amendment deadline for House Bill 193 (the paid parental leave bill) for the following Tuesday at 2 p.m. The committee recessed at 9:58 a.m. and reconvened in the afternoon to continue nominees and take up House Bill 178 (medical debt information).

The committee did not take final votes on the appointments during the session covered here. Members said they would continue review and complete committee reports.

Ending: The committee scheduled follow‑ups and asked some nominees to provide additional materials when needed. The panel recessed and reconvened later in the day for additional business.

","The House Labor and Commerce Committee took testimony from more than a dozen gubernatorial appointees on April 25, 2025, pressing nominees about qualifications and policy priorities for boards that license professions from public accountants to counselors, veterinarians and engineers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to ban medical debt from credit reports and bar its use by landlords, employers

House Labor and Commerce Committee hears more than a dozen gubernatorial nominees for state boards