Fairbanks: Coming Home, EOs, What Happens to Education? Testimony & More!

March 7, 2024

Dear Neighbors,

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! A major topic in Juneau has been education and the vote to increase state support to schools which has been on the desk of the Governor for a week. Two of my bills have been moving through the process including a bill to support the Alaska Commission on Aging and one to create a new, highway maintenance permit for heavy truck and trailer weight. Also, a big Joint Session of the Legislature will happen on March 12^th to take up Executive Orders of the Governor which could eliminate some peer professional boards and limit public participation in parks and recreation. Read beyond for more information about the current happenings in the halls of the Capitol!

Coming Home for a Brief Visit

While the Anchorage Caucus is happening this week at the Capitol will be quiet, I will return to Fairbanks for the weekend, March 8-10, to host several events/open meeting times:

Coffee chat at McCafferty’s Coffee Shop on March 8^th from 10AM to 12PM.

Coffee chat at Little Owl Café (3^rd Ave. location) on March 8^th from 2 to 3:30PM.

Town Hall with Representatives Maxine Dibert and Ashley Carrick at the Fairbanks LIO on March 9^th from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Please join me and my colleagues at these events so we can discuss these important subjects further.

Coffee chat at Alaska Coffee Roasting Co. on March 10^th from 9-11AM.

In addition, I will make myself available to the public at other times based on my schedule. To schedule an appointment while in town, contact the office at 907.456.7423 today!

A Planned Joint Session

Governor Dunleavy introduced a dozen Executive Orders to eliminate peer licensing boards like the ones for Barbers, Midwives and Massage Therapists. Or to limit Alaskan participation in areas like Wood Tikchik State Park or the Chilkat Eagle Preserve. Boards and Commissions allow for greater community involvement and access to your government. There are many concerns I’ve heard from professionals who would be affected by these Executive Orders. While I understand the intent of the Governor (creating efficiencies by condensing these boards) it is more important that issues come through the regular process of legislation rather than strict commandment from the executive branch. A Joint Session with the entire House of Representatives and the Senate to vote for/against EO's is scheduled for March 12^th at 10:30am and will be livestreamed here.

What Will Happen to Our Schools?

When a bill gets passed, the Governor has 2 weeks to decide whether to sign, veto or let it become law without a signature. SB 140 is due back from the Governor on 3/14/24 which means his time to decide is running out. Governor Dunleavy mentioned he may veto the bill if other education legislation did not pass within this 2-week timeframe. As of now, the Senate Education Committee has held hearings on some of the legislation that was taken out of SB 140 but the House Education Committee has yet to meet in the last few weeks. Please contact your state legislator and ask them two things. First, ask them whether they will override a veto of the bill. Second, ask them whether they will override a veto of the budget item, which may occur in June. Teachers, kids, parents and our school boards are depending on the security of future state support for education.

The Commission on Aging Stumps for Seniors

My bill, SB 189, which would extend the termination of the Alaska Commission on Aging until 2032, was just heard in Senate Finance this Thursday. The Commission is in charge of drawing up the State Plan for Senior Services, as well as providing statistics on the senior population with their yearly Senior Snapshot. Without it, the state would miss out on approximately $5.5 million each year set aside to help our greatest and most vulnerable community members. Considering Alaska has the fastest aging population in the state, it is important that we keep this program up-and-running. I am thankful and proud to be a part in passing this bill on behalf of Alaska’s elders. You can watch the hearing here.

Public Testimony on Heavy Weight Vehicle Bill

I introduced SB 218 after several months of discussion during the summer with neighbors around town. The bill will establish a highway maintenance permit system for a truck and trailer combination with a weight of 140,000 pounds or more. To obtain a permit for a vehicle to exceed the weight, the requestor must pay a fee issued by the Alaska State Department of Transportation. The purpose of these fees would be to offset the cost of routine road and bridge maintenance, snow removal and replacement. During a time when the budget for maintenance has been declining, our roads have received significant damage. Larger, heavier trucks have a greater impact on road surfaces than a typical mom in a mini-van and should therefore pay a larger price for a vehicle registration or permit. In working with the DOT, the Alaska Truckers Association and several motor carriers, it is clear that the bill needs some work. For instance, the weight limit may be too restrictive for food or fuel and may result in higher prices to consumers based largely on distance from a market.

Public testimony and a first hearing will be held in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, March 12^th at 1:30pm. The Legislative Information Office (LIO) locations are listed here. If you are unable to get to an LIO in person, you can call:

In Juneau: call 907-586-9085

In Anchorage: call 907-563-9085

Everywhere else: call 844-586-9085

You may also submit public testimony for or against the bill to my office at sen.scott.kawasaki@akleg.gov. It will be shared with members of the committee to make it a better bill moving forward.

My Staff and I are Here for You

As always, I and my staff are are still working for you. Feel free to contact my office and we will assist you with issues important to you and your family.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,