Kawasaki-JuneauNote

The Alaska Legislature is just past the half-way point of the 121-day session and the office has been extremely busy last week as the House will begin to finalize the budget and my legislation in support of our military begins to move.

Thank you to everyone who made it out to my constituent meetings over the weekend! It was nice to hear from my neighbors in person. I had a day to get back on my feet before a Joint Session to decide what happens with the Governors Executive Orders, a bill hearing on ALS Awareness Month and Campaign Contribution Limits!

The Legislature has been incredibly busy during the first 50 days of the 120 day session. Since many of the legislators will be in Anchorage for the Fur Rendezvous and their Anchorage Caucus town hall, two of my colleagues in the House also decided to come to Fairbanks to host our own open house!

Today is Day 45 of the 120-day legislative session convened in the State Capitol in Juneau. Legislators are preparing for debate and discussion on the only ‘constitutionally’-required items which is the operating and capital budget.

It is day 39 of session which means we are over a third of the way through session! Bills are moving, even if slowly, in both bodies! After much negotiation in the State House, a historical increase to the BSA was passed last night by a vote of 38-2.

SB 207, my Military Help Desk Bill is being heard in the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee! SB 207 creates a military help desk to ease the transition for service members and their families coming to Alaska. Public Testimony will take place TODAY starting at 1:30pm!

The Legislature completed the third week of a 16-week legislative session beginning with the State of the State address by Governor Dunleavy and rounding out the week with movement on important legislation. I am excited to announce yet another opportunity to meet in town with the Fairbanks District legislators in the upcoming week. Check out and keep informed with another e-newsletter update from the Capitol in Juneau!

The first day of the 2nd Session of the 33rd Alaska Legislature began yesterday afternoon with some excitement. The 2nd Session is a new start to the end of the session in May and so all of the legislation and committee assignments start where they ended and the legislators get to review how the budget met expectations midway through the budget year.

I hope you enjoyed a safe and festive Christmas and a great start to the new year! With the Second Regular Session beginning on January 16, I am hopeful the House and Senate can come together, balance the budget the Governor has provided, set priorities like public education, health and safety and pass essential legislation to improve the economy and lower the price of energy.

Yesterday was the shortest day of the year and winter solstice. Today and every day after will be a little bit brighter! Christmas and then the New Year is almost upon us, which means the Legislative Offices will soon be closed in Fairbanks and then reopened in Juneau. I wanted to let you know of a few items before we fly south for the legislative session. Alaskans had a first peak at Governor Dunleavy’s budget last week leading to many questions surrounding items such as senior benefit funding. The holidays are a time for joy and happiness but also a time to watch for your neighbors and there is a future constituent town hall meeting and coffee chat coming your way!