SPONSORED LEGISLATION

Raises Alaska’s age of sexual consent from 16 to 18 to close a legal gap that hinders prosecution in sexual assault and trafficking cases involving minors. The bill includes a close-in-age exemption and enhances protections for youth in a state with some of the highest abuse rates in the nation. 

Requires a court hearing within seven days when a foster child is admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital, with a possible one-time extension, and permits remote participation. It provides essential due process protections and statutory clarity to prevent unnecessary hospitalization of children in state custody.

Allows Alaska municipalities to adopt up to five optional property tax exemptions to address local housing needs, such as converting short-term rentals to long-term use and supporting low-income or first-time homebuyers. These are flexible, non-mandatory tools to help communities respond to the state’s affordable housing crisis. 

Allows Alaska to join a multi-state social work licensure compact to help address the state’s severe social worker shortage. By easing cross-state licensing barriers, the bill supports workforce growth in critical areas like mental health, education, and child protection. 

Originally introduced as HB 37 in 2025, Rep. Gray championed an amendment to SB 15 which updated required health warning signage in alcohol establishments to warn consumers not only about risks of alcohol use during pregnancy, but also about drinking and risks of certain cancers.

Originally introduced as HB 53 in 2023, Rep. Gray worked to support the Senate companion bill, SB 119, which was passed unanimously by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Dunleavy. As of January 1, 2024, the Alaska DMV is required to work with the Department of Corrections to ensure all people leaving the corrections system are issued a state ID.