Senate State Affairs Committee reported Senate Bill 107 out of committee on a voice vote Saturday, advancing a proposal to establish an Alaska Sunset Commission to review state agencies and programs.

Sponsor Senator Hughes said the commission would provide a deeper, objective review of state programs and called it a tool governors and the Legislature could use while crafting the state budget. "It is something that could be considered as part of a component for a fiscal plan," Hughes said.

The bill would create a standing mechanism to systematically evaluate programs for effectiveness and efficiency. Hughes told the committee that “there are about 10 other states that have this mechanism in place, both blue and red states, from Texas to Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, Idaho,” and that the commission would allow "a deep dive into the weeds a little more than our finance committees in either body could actually do." The sponsor framed the change as a way to help ensure efficient use of public funds.

Committee members did not record roll-call opposition during the meeting. Senator Bjorkman made the motion to report the committee substitute for Senate Bill 107 out of committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note; the chair called for objections and heard none. The committee’s action was recorded as reporting the measure from committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note.

There were no other probes into statutory language or operational details during the hearing; staff and sponsors indicated the bill would proceed with the committee’s recommendation and fiscal note attached.

The committee did not specify an implementation timeline in the hearing. Further detail on commission membership, review schedule, or triggers for review would be expected in bill text and in subsequent hearings or floor action.