Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

January 25, 2020

Tools to Stay Informed

This legislative session will be busy as we work to address the state’s ongoing financial challenges and other issues. We will strive to keep you informed as we move forward. For weekly updates on legislation and constituent issues, you can check out past e-newsletters on my website. As always, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email me at Rep.Matt.Claman@akleg.gov.

Below are some additional resources for staying up-to-date and engaged:

Keep Track of Bills – Interested in tracking bills through the legislative process? You can follow along on BASIS: http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Home/BillsandLaws. Just type in a bill number in the search bar (ex: HB1) at the top of the page.

Bill Tracking Management Facility (BTMF) – Track the status of bills as they pass through the legislative process. BTMF will display the status of bills you are interested in and can also send you email updates as the bill's status changes. BTMF is a free service and only requires you to set up an account
SMS Bill Tracking – Text a bill number (ex: HB1) to 559-245-2529 to enroll in text alerts. You will receive an enrollment confirmation and instructions on how to stop receiving the alerts.

Watch Committee Meetings – Most committee hearings are broadcast on Gavel Alaska at www.360north.org or through the Live Now tab on the BASIS home page. House and Senate floor sessions are also available on Gavel Alaska.

Access Budget Materials – The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget website has helpful tools and presentations relating to the budget.

Use Your Legislative Information Office (LIO) – LIOs are a great local resource. The staff at the LIO can help you: research bills and issues, navigate the state computer system, and participate in hearings by providing public testimony.

Chat with Legislative Information Staff – Monday-Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM you will find a new chat interface in the lower right corner of AKLeg.gov. The LIO staff can help answer questions about finding things on the website, answer questions relating to tracking legislation and help you get in touch with your legislator. Let us know how we can help you!

Visit the Anchorage LIO – The LIO is on the 1st floor of the Wells Fargo Building at 1500 W. Benson Blvd., on the corner of Minnesota and Benson. Parking permits are not needed to park in our lot for Legislative business. You can reach the LIO by phone (907-269-0111) or email: LIO.Anchorage@akleg.gov.

Meet Our Staff

This year, we welcome back one returning staffer to our office and two new staffers:

Lizzie Kubitz

David Clark

Sophie Jonas

Lizzie is our Chief of Staff and this is her fifth session with the Legislature. She is a graduate of West Anchorage High School and received degrees in Politics and American Studies from Willamette University.

David joins us this year from Southcentral Foundation. An Anchorage local, David is a graduate of East Anchorage High School and received a degree in Sociology from University of Alaska Anchorage.

Sophie joins us from Partners for Progress. Originally from Colorado, she graduated from Georgetown with a degree in Justice and Peace Studies and made the move to Alaska.

When you call, write, or email my office, Lizzie, David and Sophie will be available and happy to assist you.

Thanks for Attending Our Pre-Session Constituent Meeting

Thank you to all who attended our Pre-Session Constituent Meeting at the Anchorage LIO earlier this month. It’s always a pleasure to hear what’s on the minds of my friends and neighbors, and I look forward to working on your behalf in Juneau during the 2020 legislative session. Please contact our office if you have any other suggestions or concerns.

K-12 Mental Health Education Bill

This month, my office filed House Bill 181, legislation that expands existing health education guidelines to include mental health curriculum in all K-12 health classrooms. The goal is to make sure students learn vital information about mental health symptoms, resources, and treatment.

For more information, click here, or click on the story below:

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

MHATS Storytelling Show

MHATS (Mental Health Advocacy Through Storytelling) is a group of youth who share true and personal stories centered around mental health. Come out for heart-pounding, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming stories, and to support a cause that affects us all.

When: Saturday, January 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Where: Heart of the City, 411 W 4th Ave.

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.