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ACTION
Nurse Licensure Compact
March, 2026
SB 124 was introduced by Governor Dunleavy last year to facilitate Alaska’s entry into the Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), the nation’s longest standing and most well-vetted professional licensure compact. The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee is taking public testimony on the bill Friday, March 27 starting at 1:30PM. If passed, this bill would enact the multistate NLC in Alaska without the adoption of concerning provisions like mandated staffing committees or ratios.
We need as many nurses and healthcare leaders to call and provide 2 minutes of public testimony in support of SB 124!
How to participate:
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Call in at 1:25PM:
- If calling from a Juneau phone number: 586-9085
- If calling from an Anchorage phone number: 907-563-9085
- If calling from any other number: 844-586-9085 -
An operator will ask why you are calling - respond with, "I am calling to provide public testimony on SB 124 in Senate Labor & Commerce Committee", and you will be put in the queue for comment. You will hear the committee meeting on your phone while you wait.
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When it is your turn to testify, the Chair will call your name, your phone will be unmuted, and then you will have 2 minutes to provide your remarks. Start by introducing yourself, job title, and then very clearly state you are calling in support of SB 124. Then take the remaining time to explain why you think Alaska should join the nurse licensure compact. Please note that there may be a long line / queue of testifiers, so feel free to multitask while you are on mute waiting for your turn.
Resources and Talking Points:
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AHHA's NLC Issue Brief provides a quick overview of the benefits of joining the NLC.
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The Alaska Board of Nursing is working to get NLC legislation passed and provides further resources and information on their website.
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National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc (NCSBN) provides information about the NLC and how it works.
Why should Alaska join the NLC?
Joining the NLC will be a positive step in addressing Alaska's nursing shortage.
The output of healthcare professionals from Alaska-based programs is nowhere near meeting demand. In 2023, fewer than 800 healthcare graduates emerged from local programs in key occupations requiring 3,471 new hires. Alaska's nursing programs only produce 340 registered nurses while we need more than 1,100 new nursing recruits annually. The healthcare sector works to “grow our own” but these strategies will take years to play out.
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Overwhelming support - An Alaska Board of Nursing survey shows that 92% of nurses support Alaska joining the NLC.
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Get nurses to work faster – 43 states and jurisdictions license nurses using the multistate nurse licensure compact. The NLC’s uniform standards and best practices will help speed up licensure and placement from weeks to a matter of days.
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Aid recruitment and retention – Traveling nurses interested in staying in Alaska on long-term assignments will no longer be deterred by the ultimatum of forfeiting their compact license to stay in a non-NLC state.
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Support Alaska military families – Alaska is home to thousands of military members on assignment, many with spouses and family who are nurses. Joining the NLC will help welcome these individuals to our state and seamlessly transition into our healthcare workforce.