The House Judiciary Committee adopted a substitute to Senate Bill 82, the Judicial Protection Act, after hearing extended testimony both supporting protections for judges and opposing provisions that commenters say could shield misconduct in probate and guardianship cases.

The committee heard SB 104 to extend transfer‑on‑death deeds to vehicles, boats and certain manufactured homes, accepted DMV’s $75,000 programming cost estimate, heard supportive testimony from a trust lawyer and a longtime Alaska resident, and advanced the bill out of committee without objection.

Senate Bill 104 would extend transfer-on-death deeds to vehicles and some manufactured homes titled through the DMV, allowing designated beneficiaries to receive ownership at the owner’s death without probate; invited witnesses from Peak Trust and New York Life supported the change and the committee set the bill aside for action next week.

In a first hearing on Feb. 3, the Senate Finance Committee considered SB 104, sponsored by Senator Scott Kawasaki, which would extend transfer‑on‑death registrations to titled vehicles and boats; invited witnesses supported the bill and the fiscal note showed a $75,000 one‑time DMV programming cost.

SB 104 allows transfer on death of vehicles and boats, easing probate for Alaskans.

House Bill 2124 would adopt a Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act permitting recorded deeds that transfer property at death outside probate; sponsors said the change could save probate costs and the committee unanimously reported the bill with an effective date 180 days.