Senator.Jesse.Bjorkman@akleg.gov

(907) 283-7996

Hello!

It was great to see so many engaged community members attend my town hall events over the weekend! We had a packed house of about 80 people at the Moose Pass Sportsman’s Club. Most people there advocated for increased education funding to support local schools. By a show of hands, folks in the room definitively showed that they supported reinstating an education head tax. About 20 folks joined us at both the Nikiski and Soldotna events to talk about education, roads, the state budget, AKLNG, elections, grand juries, and much more. If you couldn’t make it to a townhall, please contact us with your thoughts and ideas. You can write to sen.jesse.bjorkman@akleg.gov or call 907-283-7996.

This week, my Senate Transportation Committee will continue our hearing on winter road maintenance. This will include a discussion on deteriorating pavement seams and potholes as well as plowing and the elimination of road brine use on Kenai Peninsula roads.

Education discussions will continue this week. The Senate Education Committee will continue to hear the Governor’s omnibus education bill today at 3:30pm. Senate Bill 82 proposed by the Governor would require districts to pay for transportation for students who want to attend schools outside of their normal attendance area. Also, open enrollment language in the bill would be done on a first come, first serve basis. This language eliminates lottery systems used by charter schools and potentially results in students from another attendance area to displacing local students who live closer to that neighborhood school. Public testimony will be taken on this item during today's hearing. I'm aware that is very short notice, so please email Senate.Education@akleg.gov with your testimony about education if you're not able to phone in.

I’m thankful my first bill, SB 79 – sponsored by my Senate Labor & Commerce committee – unanimously passed the Senate last week. This bill makes it easier for employees to avoid check cashing fees when they don’t have a bank account.

The Alaska Trucking Association was in Juneau last week, meeting with legislators to talk about the importance of their industry to Alaskans and our economy. The trucking industry is crucial to getting products and materials to Alaskans. Even folks in in off-road communities rely on trucks to get their goods to the plane or barge that brings them in. The Senate Transportation Committee, which I Chair, was interested to hear the ways that we can support the trucking industry.

I had a visit last week from two Kenai Peninsula residents who attend the University of Alaska. Sean Wise is from Nikiski and is pursuing a degree in Wildlife Conservation and Biology at UAF, and Tina Hamlin is pursuing a degree in Human Services and Children’s Behavioral Health at Kenai River College. I am thankful that Kenai Peninsula students have the option to stay in state to get degrees that will allow them to work in their chosen industries.

Job growth is contributing to a strong Alaska economy, but the shortage of workers is a persistent problem. The Dept. of Labor can help Alaska employers enroll in the SkillBridge program and capture the attention of great workers who are transitioning out of military service. Read more in the February edition of Trends Magazine.

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Senator Jesse Bjorkman | State Capitol Room 3, Juneau, AK 99801-1182