Dunbar-Newsletter

I know I said that I would get back to you in a few weeks with a more comprehensive update, but things at the Legislature sometimes move faster than expected, and the Governor’s veto of SB 140, which would have been the largest one-time increase of education funding in the State’s history, necessitates another response.

I wanted to give you a quick update on what occurred during the Joint Session yesterday when we took up a vote on all 12 of the Governor’s Executive Orders, centered around eliminating and consolidating the powers of boards and commissions. In the end, we passed resolutions to block 8 of these orders, while 4 were allowed to pass.

It has been a busy last couple of months at the Capitol. We have been working hard to address a multitude of urgent issues including education funding, power line upgrades in the Railbelt, the impending Cook Inlet natural gas shortage, and the consideration of the governor’s Executive Orders that would shutter several popular boards and commissions. Here’s a brief update on what my office has been doing. As always, my door is always open. Please feel free to give our office a call if you have any questions or concerns.

I am hoping you and your family had a peaceful holiday, and are hanging in there through the snow and rain. In this newsletter, I have two significant topics to discuss: our road conditions and the coming shortage of Cook Inlet Gas. Additionally, it is healthcare open enrollment season through January 15th. 

Happy Fall! I hope this message finds you well. I would love for you to join us for a community event with myself, Representative Genevieve Mina, and Representative Andrew Gray. Feel free to bring any questions or topics of concern that you would like to discuss, and please invite your friends and neighbors. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday!

I hope your summer has been as fulfilling as mine has! This July I had the opportunity to attend the State Legislative Foundation’s Emerging Legislative Leaders Program in Charlottesville, Virginia. In addition to discussion about policy challenges in our respective states, the program provided a valuable opportunity to share best practices in our legislative work

Governor Dunleavy signed the budget over the weekend and released the list of line-item vetoes yesterday. Unfortunately, Dunleavy vetoed half of the education funding increase we appropriated in May—effectively reducing next year’s BSA increase from $680 to $340—and targeted a number of other pro-family and pro-education programs with his cuts. Increasing education funding was a

Last Thursday, after one day in Special Session, the Legislature passed the operating and capital budget and adjourned sine die. Adjourning “sine die” means that unless the Governor calls us into a Special Session, we won’t meet again until January 2024.

I am pleased to announce that my first bill, SB 77: Muni Property Tax Exemption/Tax Blighted Property, has passed the Senate! It is now being heard in House Community and Regional Affairs. Thank you to Rep. Sumner for cross-sponsoring! If you have any comments or questions about this bill, feel free to reach out to

Greetings! If you’re able, I’d love to have you join me for upcoming constituent meetings. Come let me know what your priorities are for this session and learn about what I’ve been working on. Please invite your friends and colleagues. I look forward to seeing you this weekend!