Did you hear? The legal age of consent is now 18 years old.
Effective July 1, 2026, the age of consent for sexual activity changed from 16-years-old to 18-years-old in Alaska, providing additional legal protections for specific ages. (Note: prior relationships are not exempt.)
So what does that mean?
For folks younger than 13-years-old: There are no exemptions. Any adult or teen partner is automatically subject to criminal prosecution.
For 13, 14, & 15-year-olds: Their partner can be a maximum of 4 years older. For example, a 14-year-old can legally consent to an 18-year-old partner but not a 19-year-old.
For 16 & 17-year-olds: Their partner can be a maximum of 6 years older. For example, a 16-year-old can legally consent to a 22-year-old partner but not a 23-year-old.
Positions of Authority: If the older person is in a position of authority (in or out of the younger person’s home) and 18 years old or older, the age difference must be 2 years or less.
Thank you to Resource Center for Parents and Children and Standing Together Against Rape for their work in disseminating this information to the public and sharing their resources!
