Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) All bills passed by the legislature become law upon the governor's signature or upon the governor's veto being overridden or, when the governor allows a bill to become law without signature, on the day after expiration of the period allowed for gubernatorial action by art. II, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska. Acts become effective 90 days after becoming law, unless the legislature, by concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of each house, provides for another effective date.
(b) The actual effective date of an Act having no effective-date provision is determined by starting with the day after it is signed by the governor or the day after the governor's veto is overridden or the day after expiration of the period allowed for gubernatorial action by art. II, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska, and counting 90 calendar days, the Act becoming effective at 12:01 a.m., Alaska Standard Time on the 90th day.
(c) The actual effective date and time of an Act having an immediate-effective-date provision is 12:01 a.m., Alaska Standard Time, on the day after it is signed by the governor or on the day after the governor's veto is overridden or on the day after expiration of the period allowed for gubernatorial action by art. II, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska.
(d) An Act that specifies a definite effective date becomes effective at 12:01 a.m., Alaska Standard Time, on the date specified. However, if the specified definite effective date is on or before the day the governor signs the Act, the day the governor's veto is overridden, or the last day of the period allowed for gubernatorial action by art. II, § 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska, as applicable, the Act becomes effective at 12:01 a.m., Alaska Standard Time, on the day after the governor signs the Act, the governor's veto is overridden, or the period allowed for gubernatorial action by art. II, § 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska, expires, as applicable.
(e) When the governor allows a bill to become law without signature, the governor shall give written notice of that fact to the legislature. The date of this notice does not affect the date the bill becomes law or the date the Act takes effect.
(f) In this section,
(1) “Act” means a bill which has become law;
(2) “becomes effective” means becomes applicable; “effective date” does not mean date of enactment (or date of becoming law), although the two will coincide when a bill which has an immediate-effective-date provision is allowed to become law without the governor's signature;
(3) “becomes law” means is enacted; “enactment” occurs when any one of the following takes place:
(A) a bill which is passed by the legislature is signed by the governor;
(B) the period specified in art. II, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska expires without gubernatorial action;
(C) the legislature overrides the governor's veto of a bill;
(4) “bill” means a legislative document proposing an Act;
(5) “passed by the legislature” means that the required majority of each house of the legislature has taken final action in approving the same version of a bill.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Alaska Statutes Title 1. General Provisions § 01.10.070. Time statutes become law and take effect - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ak/title-1-general-provisions/ak-st-sect-01-10-070/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)