Dunbar-Newsletter

Greetings from the second session of the 34th Alaska Legislature! My staff and I are in our third week in Juneau, and the Legislature is picking up right where we left off last May. We began by attempting an override of Governor Dunleavy’s veto of SB 113, a bill which would have reapportioned taxes collected from internet companies like Amazon and Netflix by other states to Alaska. It would have brought in $20-60 million of revenue per year and passed with near-unanimous support last spring. Unfortunately, legislators that voted for the bill, but are aligned with the governor, were not willing to vote for the veto override.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
With the last month of session here, my team and I are committed to finishing out these last few weeks strong.
 
Last week legislators came together to pass a $700 increase to the BSA, the largest BSA increase in a decade. This legislation came in response to Governor Dunleavy’s disappointing veto of the previous education bill. The new version includes some of the policies the governor requested and was approved through the Legislature with a 48-11 vote. Governor Dunleavy has until May 17th to decide whether he’ll allow the bill to pass into law. Each of us in the Legislature recognize this as a compromise, and in the event of a second veto the likelihood of an override is high.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
After much deliberation, two weeks ago the Senate passed HB 69. Included in this version of the bill was an increase of the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by $1,000 per student. This allocation of funds represented the commitment of legislators from across the state coming together to prioritize Alaska’s children.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
Thank you to everyone who was able to make the town hall on the 5th! As was obvious from the testimony there, this session has been defined by the need for education funding. With a deficit of over $600 million, we are focused on the best way to balance the state budget while mitigating the impacts this will have on our most vulnerable communities.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
Greetings from Juneau!
 
First, an invitation: this Saturday, I’ll be attending the Anchorage Delegation Town Hall. Please join co-chairs Representative Mears and Senator Kaufman and myself at Cuddy Hall at UAA, located at 3400 Seawolf Drive. This will be a forum to voice your concerns about our state and I look forward to the opportunity to hear from you all.

Happy first week of spring! I want to remind you that the deadline to file for your 2025 Permanent Fund Dividend is this coming Monday, March 31st. Get it done this weekend (if you haven’t already)! We are working hard in Juneau to make sure the PFD is funded, and remains funded into the future. If you have any problems with your application, please reach out to me or my staff. The PFD is my best opportunity to directly help my constituents, and I am happy to do so.

With Spring just around the corner, there’s been a vibrant, spirited energy in the halls here throughout the capitol building. Over the last few weeks of session, I’ve very much enjoyed all the wonderful opportunities I’ve had to meet with constituents, working groups, and other parties interested and invested in continuing to make life in Alaska everything we know it can be.

Come chat about state government over coffee at Denny’s on March 8th!

As we open up this 34th Legislature together, I’m honored to once again be seated here in Juneau serving and representing Senate District J. As I’ve been settling into the start of the legislative session and the different daily routine of life here in Southeast Alaska, my neighbors of East Anchorage have been at the top of my mind. Each day, I find myself incredibly grateful for the ongoing support, ideas, and encouragement that my team and I receive from our wonderful community. 

The Alaska State Division of Elections certified election results on November 30th, including my re-election to the Alaska State Senate. I’d like to thank the people of District J for their trust, and I am excited to return to Juneau and continue working for East Anchorage.