House Passes Federal Nullification Bill

(Juneau) - The Alaska House of Representatives today passed a bill requiring the Alaska attorney general to notify the Judiciary Committees of the findings of his reviews of federal actions that could be unconstitutional or improperly adopted.

The AG reviews and reports on federal actions to the governor, and HB 8 simply add the legislative oversight committees - the Judiciary Committees - to the list of report recipients.
~ Rep. Wes Keller

House Bill 8, sponsored by Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, would require the AG to file a report of his findings following reviews of federal statutes, regulation, or executive or secretarial order for constitutionality, proper adoption, or pre-emption of state law if it were handled correctly.

"The AG reviews and reports on federal actions to the governor, and HB 8 simply add the legislative oversight committees - the Judiciary Committees - to the list of report recipients," Keller said. "It will be up to those committees to determine the best course of action."

Legislation could be drafted, whereby the state proclaims a federal law void and inoperative, or having no effect in the state, known as nullification. It could also choose to ignore the language or pass a resolution in opposition.

HB 8, which passed by a vote of 29-10, now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.