Alaska Beacon | May 1, 2026
The Alaska House of Representatives advanced two bills relating to certified nurse aide training and home health care workers this week in an effort to support Alaska’s growing senior population.
The bills aim to regulate Alaska’s health care by setting training standards for CNAs and regulating wages and conditions for caregivers.
HB 244, sponsored by Rep. Jubilee Underwood, R-Wasilla, would establish eleven standards of a CNA training program at no cost to the state to ensure that patients receive competent health care. The bill passed with 39 yes votes. Rep. David Nelson, R-0Anchorage was excused absent.
“It simply says through regulation, CNA training should reflect the real job, communicating with patients, recognizing behavioral changes, supporting dignity and independence and properly caring for people with cognitive conditions,” Underwood said.
The House also advanced HB 96, sponsored by Rep. Mike Prax, R-North Pole, which would establish a Home Care Employment Standards Advisory Board to investigate and provide a biennial report on wages, workforce and working conditions for home care personnel. The board would be required to meet at least three times annually. The bill also ensures that 70% of Medicaid funding to agencies providing home and community-based services will go directly to employees and benefits.
“The home care industry has kind of developed organically if you will and there are no professional licensing requirements at this time, but they do need to set up some recognizable standard to organize the industry for purposes of pay and services,” Prax said.
The bill passed 35-5 in the House Monday and advanced to the Senate for consideration.
Alexis Rodich, director of Alaska and Montana SEIU 775, a union representing long-term care workers, said in April that the bill is a solution to a caregiver workforce crisis and provides accountability for Medicaid dollars.