Dear Friends,

I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying summer. It's hard to believe another legislative session has come to a close. I want to take a moment to reflect on the past few months in session with a focus on the interim.

The session concluded on May 15th after many long days and late nights working to address the various issues and bills before us. Those final weeks are always a flurry of activity as interested parties make last pushes to advance their priorities. One of the most contentious debates revolved around proposed changes to our state's budget.

Now it's time for a well-deserved break. The summer months allow me time to get out in the community and connect directly with constituents. I look forward to attending local celebrations and other events within the district.

Before closing, I also want to take a moment to recognize June as Pride Month. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, a watershed moment in the fight for LGBTQ rights. We have come a long way in embracing diversity and promoting tolerance, but there is still progress yet to be made to ensure full equality and justice for all. I hope many of you can participate in some of the local Pride celebrations this month or find other ways to show your support. 

Wishing you all a wonderful summer filled with family, fun, and relaxation. Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of help in any way. I look forward to seeing you at Costco, Home Depot, in my office, and within the community attending events!

My office is always open during the interim and I am there most days to welcome you and listen to your concerns.
Juneteenth

I'm happy to share that one of the bills passed on the final day of session was Senate Bill 22, which establishes Juneteenth as a state paid holiday! I initially introduced this bill in 2021 during the second session of the 32nd Legislature and again last year at the start of the 33rd Legislature.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved African Americans were now free - over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had officially outlawed slavery in the Confederate states in 1863, it could not be enforced in many places until after the end of the Civil War in April 1865. 

Juneteenth marks the date when the last enslaved people in America were informed that they were free. In many ways, it served as America's "second Independence Day" - a day that celebrated freedom and independence for all. Just as we celebrate our nation's independence from Britain on July 4th, Juneteenth gives us an opportunity to celebrate the independence and freedom of African Americans after centuries of slavery. 

Designating Juneteenth as a state holiday is an important acknowledgment of this pivotal moment in history and the continued progress towards equality. I hope residents across the state will take time to observe and honor the significance of Juneteenth. There is also a great Juneteenth celebration happening the weekend of Juneteenth in downtown Anchorage. You can find more details about the event on Facebook or Eventbrite. I hope to see many of you there as we celebrate freedom and our shared history!
My Bill Updates

In addition to Senate Bill 22, the following pieces of legislation passed:
Senate Resolution 3: I'm also pleased to share that Senate Resolution 3, which I introduced this session, was passed. This resolution recognized that kidney disease remains a significant public health crisis, especially in underserved communities. 

Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million adults in the United States, a number that continues to grow each year. What's more alarming is that nearly half of Americans are unaware they have kidney disease due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages. Left unmanaged, kidney disease can lead to kidney failure which requires life-changing dialysis treatment or an organ transplant to survive. It is also associated with an increased risk of heart disease and premature death. 

The impact of chronic kidney disease on both individuals and our healthcare system is immense. It accounts for billions in Medicare spending each year. By passing this resolution, we brought greater awareness to this serious condition and the disproportionate burden it places on low-income and minority communities. I hope that through early detection efforts and ensuring access to care, we can begin to reduce prevalent rates of kidney disease and its complications. The health of our population depends on addressing chronic diseases like this that threaten both quality and length of life. I was proud to champion this resolution and urge continued focus on kidney health.


Senate Bill 206: establishes the Alaska State Workers' Rehabilitation and Stay at Work, Return-to-Work (SAW/RTW) program. This voluntary initiative provides injured workers with the support needed to return to their jobs or modified positions with the same employer. It creates a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor position within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development which will coordinate between employees, employers, and physicians to maintain workforce engagement and productivity. During the last week of the legislative session, the Alaska Legislature passed Senate Bill 147 which encompasses my bill.
The Capital Budget

After the House passed the Operating Budget and the Senate passed the Capital Budget a few weeks ago, each body then created their own version of the respective budgets. The Senate version of the Operating Budget, including the PFD and education funding, was initially rejected by the House creating the need for a Conference Committee consisting of three members of each body to work out a compromise. The budget was approved by both bodies! The Governor now has the budget and can line-item veto.

Senate districts received a little more thank $3 million to fund community-based projects. In total, the capital budget was $5.5 million from the Unrestricted General Fund (UGF). This year’s capital budget largely focused on school maintenance, roads, renewable energy investments and housing projects. I was honored to use my share of discretionary funds for the following projects which encompass projects within both House Districts 13 and 14 which make up my Senate District G.

  • $330,000 for the Midtown Park Chalet project near the speed skating track at Cuddy Park
  • $1,000,000 to complete the Northern Lights Sound Barrier project from Rogers Park Elementary to Drake.
  • $2 million for 76th Avenue Surface - Taku Lake to Old Seward Highway project.
The Operating Budget

The budget passed on time and under-budget with a $100 million surplus.

The budget included $1,360 plus $295 Energy Relief payment for a total of $1,655 per eligible Alaskan for the PFD. The Governor and his team will now take time to thoroughly review the budget and consider line-item vetoes and has until June 7th. The fiscal year begins on July 1.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to my office at:

Besse Odom
Chief of Staff
907-269-0155


Deirdre Goins
Legislative Aide
907-269-0174


Jeff Stepp
Legislative Council Aide
907-465-4068


I’m Senator Elvi, always.....
"Listening and Representing Your Interests!”