Alaska House Bill HJR3

Alaska 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/25
• Refer: 1/22/25

Caption

Res. To Maintain Denali As Official Name

Summary

House Joint Resolution 3 is a nonbinding legislative resolution expressing the Alaska State Legislature’s opposition to any effort to rename Denali as Mount McKinley. The resolution states that the Koyukon Athabaskan name “Denali,” meaning “the high one,” has been used for thousands of years and is the appropriate name for the tallest mountain in North America. It also recounts the mountain’s naming history, including the 1896 christening of Mount McKinley, the 2013 summit by Walter Harper, and the 2015 federal action restoring the name Denali. The resolution further declares support for recognizing the heritage and continuing importance of the mountain and Alaska Native peoples. It directs copies of the resolution to the President, Vice President, Secretary of the Interior, and Alaska’s congressional delegation, signaling that the measure is intended as a formal statement of state policy and sentiment rather than a change to Alaska statutes. Because it is a joint resolution, it does not amend state law or create regulatory requirements; instead, it communicates the Legislature’s position to federal officials.

Impact

HJR 3 does not change Alaska statutes, appropriations, or administrative rules. Its legal effect is limited to a formal legislative expression opposing a federal or executive effort to restore the Mount McKinley name and affirming support for the Denali name and Alaska Native heritage. The practical impact is political and symbolic, aimed at influencing federal decision-makers and reinforcing the state’s position on geographic naming and cultural recognition.

Sentiment

The available text shows strong support for the resolution’s underlying message: preserving the name Denali and honoring Alaska Native history and stewardship. The bill’s framing is affirmative and commemorative, emphasizing respect, tradition, and cultural continuity. No committee testimony or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or bipartisan debate in the supplied materials.

Contention

The central point of contention is the mountain’s official name: Denali versus Mount McKinley. Supporters of the resolution view Denali as the historically and culturally appropriate name and see any attempt to change it back as disrespectful to Alaska Native peoples and the state’s heritage. The opposing view, implied by the resolution’s language, would favor restoring Mount McKinley for political or historical reasons tied to the earlier U.S. naming. No specific legislators, witnesses, or stakeholder groups are identified in the provided record beyond the resolution’s references to federal officials and Alaska’s congressional delegation.