What US state has no snakes, and has laws to keep it that way?

There is no U.S. state that is snake-free:

http://www.herpedia.com/snakes.html

http://www.wildlife-removal.com/snake.htm

Traditionally, and just like Ireland, Hawaii has no snakes.

http://www.edohawaii.com/baobab/btsn.html


Hawaii is well known for all its colorful birds. If something like the brown tree snake was allowed to invade the islands, the snakes would eat the bird eggs and many of these bird species would die off.

Sorry...but, there ARE snakes in Hawaii!

How many times have I heard, "OH, what! I thought there were NO snakes in Hawaii!" It's an all too common phrase of tourists and locals alike in Hawaii. Its falseness is propagated by untrained tour guides and others that think they "know". Yet, I can assure you there are snakes. I have caught one. Probably the only snake you'll ever see is an Island Blind Snake, which you may actually mistake for a worm. The only other established snake, the sea snake is so rare even scientists will probably never see one. There are also, however, many snakes that make it illegally to our island every year and are confiscated. What a disaster it could be if a trouble snake did ever make it to Hawaii!

http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/Hawaii/BiodiversityForgotten/Wildlife/Reptiles/Snakes.htm

Traveling to Hawaii you will hear from all tour guides and read in all travel guides that Hawaii is a paradise without snakes.

That is untrue. In the recent past a snake has been, inadvertently, imported to the Hawaiian islands and was able to successfully establish itself. It is the Ramphotyphlops braminus (Hawaiian blind snake). However it is no surprise that even people living in Hawaii are not aware of its existence, as it is only 10-20 cm long and spends most of its time underground. Although it is called a blind snake, it does have rudimentary eyes, that are covered by translucent scales, with which it can see differences in light intensity.

It mainly lives on soft bodied insects like termites (which makes it actually one of the few useful imported species on the islands).

As if its diminutive size and hidden lifestyle aren't special enough, it has one more trick up its sleeve: it reproduces through parthenogenesis.

http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/Hawaii/BiodiversityForgotten/Wildlife/Reptiles/Snakes%20-%20Blind.htm

Further:

Oahu, State of Hawaii, in the Central Pacific was a snake-free oceanic island until snakes began appearing in ship and air traffic from the mainland and other island areas. In recent years, 20-30 snakes per year have been discovered in Hawaii. Of particular concern are the 8 documented discoveries of brown Treesnakes on Oahu. Within one 8-week period, 2 corn snakes were captured within a single city block area, 1 boa was discovered inside a chicken coop, 2 pythons were confiscated from a hobbyist's home, and 2 other snakes were reported to have escaped capture at Hickam Air Force Base, which constitutes the primary focal point for air traffic from Guam. Emergency trapping was conducted without resulting in captures of these snakes. Whether the brown Treesnake will be the first snake to colonize the Island of Oahu, or another species arriving as a passive stowaway or smuggled pet, is unknown, but the magnitude of the traffic of snakes to Hawaii strongly contributes to the likelihood of establishment of one or more snake species in the immediate future. The presence of introduced species of birds, mammals, and lizards on the Hawaiian Islands makes it likely that such a snake population will expand rapidly, reach high population levels, and have additional ecological effects on the quality of life in the State.

There may have ever been a snake or two wash into Alaska from a Canadian river, but for all practical purposes, there are no snakes in Alaska. I've never heard of anyone, in their wildest hiking, finding one.

enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=20439 no longer exists

There may not be "native snake species living in Alaska," however, I know for a fact that there are snakes in Alaska...thus, Alaska is NOT snake-free.

"A variety of exotic reptiles have on occasion been reported in Alaska, usually as escaped pets near populated areas. Examples include a rubber boa, garter snake, and bull snake in Juneau, and a snapping turtle near Anchorage."

http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/herps/enigma.htm

Alaska Exotic Animal Laws -- Alaska exotic animal laws are very specific. According to Alaska Administrative Code Title 5, Section 92.029, there is a list of exotic animals in Alaska that individuals are allowed to own and raise under the condition that none of them are released into the wild. Any animal that is not covered on that list is not allowed to be owned by anyone in Alaska regardless of situation. Any non-venomous reptile is allowed to be owned as a pet in Alaska, and is not supposed to be released into the wild (although the winters will take care of any population problem). For information on specific animals, refer to the list offered by Alaska state law.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_6574024_laws-owning-exotic-animal.html

http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/aac/title05/chapter092/section029.htm

You're right, and I missed the part about laws. MIT wisely inserts the word "ostensibly":

"Because Hawaii ostensibly has no snakes - other than two reptiles on display in the public zoo here and those illegally imported by residents who like to have them as pets - state and federal officials take their snake control efforts seriously. Anyone caught with a snake faces as much as a year in jail and a maximum fine of $25,000."
http://tech.mit.edu/V117/N33/snakes.33w.html

Hawaii does have snakes, but most are illegal.
http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/aliensp.html

"No snake species are native to Hawai`i (although the small, harmless blind snake has become established here this century), and all have the potential to become problems should they establish here. So if you see a snake anywhere in Hawai`i, immediately report it to the proper authorities, such as the Department of Agriculture (586-PEST) or the police. If it is safe to do so, it is best to kill the snake (e.g., drive over it, beat it with any blunt object, cut it in half with a machete) before calling. If not, keep the snake in visual contact until authorities arrive. A prompt response is essential to ensuring that the snake does not escape and can be captured by the proper authorities."