This bill seeks to enhance wildlife management and protection in Alaska by establishing uniform regulations for state refuges, sanctuaries, and critical habitat areas. It emphasizes the legislature's intent to manage existing game refuges and sanctuaries as wildlife refuges, prohibiting brown bear hunting in specific areas, particularly between the McNeil River Wildlife Sanctuary and Katmai National Park. The bill introduces new sections that clarify the purposes of wildlife refuges, allowing for various public uses while ensuring the protection of fish and wildlife populations. Additionally, it updates legal language to replace "game" with "wildlife" in several sections, reflecting a broader focus on conservation, and includes provisions for the issuance of harvest permits through competitive auctions or raffles.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws to establish and redefine several wildlife refuges, changing the terminology from "State Game Refuge" to "Wildlife Refuge" and expanding their boundaries to include additional state-owned land and water. It restricts the acquisition of privately owned land through eminent domain, allowing only voluntary transactions, and emphasizes the protection of fish and wildlife habitats while ensuring public recreational uses. The bill also establishes new wildlife refuges, outlines management plans, and mandates community involvement through advisory committees, all while balancing wildlife protection with public access and resource development.

Statutes affected:
HB0321A, AM HB 321, introduced 02/23/2026: 02.20.050, 16.05.050, 16.05.251, 16.05.255, 16.05.270, 16.20.010, 16.20.162, 16.20.550, 16.20.690, 16.20.500, 38.04.200, 41.21.020, 16.05.343, 16.20.160, 16.20.020, 16.20.075, 16.20.030, 16.20.031, 16.20.032, 16.20.033, 16.20.080, 16.20.034, 44.62.560, 44.62.570, 16.20.036, 16.20.037, 16.20.038, 16.20.039, 16.20.041, 38.05.185, 38.05.275, 16.20.050, 16.20.090, 16.20.098, 16.20.092, 16.20.094, 16.20.096, 16.20.150, 16.20.120, 16.20.140, 16.20.555, 16.20.560, 16.20.565, 16.20.570, 16.20.575, 16.20.580, 16.20.585, 16.20.590, 16.20.595, 16.20.600, 16.20.605, 16.20.610, 16.20.615, 16.20.620, 16.20.510, 16.20.530, 16.20.625, 16.20.630, 38.05.030, 38.05.825, 41.21.131, 41.21.612, 41.23.480, 41.23.500, 16.20.520