HB 33 Summary

• Removes the prohibition on manufacturing switchblades and gravity knives, allowing only the sale and transfer of these knives to minors without parental consent to remain illegal.

• Adds statutory definitions of "gravity knife" (opens by gravity or centrifugal force, excluding knives with bias-toward-closure mechanisms) and "switchblade" (opens automatically by button or device pressure, excluding knives with bias-toward-closure mechanisms).

• Reserves authority to regulate knives to the state, prohibiting municipalities from enacting ordinances on knife possession, ownership, sale, transfer, use, carrying, transportation, licensing, taxation, or registration except as specifically authorized by statute.

• Allows municipalities to enact ordinances identical to state law, restricting firearm and knife discharge in certain areas, restricting where firearms or knives may be sold, and prohibiting firearms or knives in restricted access areas of municipal government buildings.

• Repeals the provision in AS 11.61.220(a)(5) that criminalized possession or transportation of switchblades and gravity knives.