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Dear Neighbors,
The Legislature will approach the half-way mark, day 60, on Friday of this week. For now, we remain on schedule to conclude on time on May 20th, but that can change with the rise in oil prices due to the war in Iran. In fact, the recent debate in the State House has been whether to balance the budget on the war-driven oil prices or to conservatively use the state savings account or Constitutional Budget Reserve fund. As you know, oil prices can rise or fall and ‘hope’ is not a sound budget principle.
Other issues facing the legislature include the multitude of personal bills and priorities. Every lawmaker introduces bills based on their home district, suggestions from constituents or from a personal experience. Once these bills are introduced, they become the discretion of the Legislature, the House, the Senate and the Governor. In this issue, I will talk about some of the bills that are moving quickly through the legislative process and a little about my upcoming town hall meetings.
| A Budget Delayed Jeopardizes Summer Construction | |
A ‘fast-track’ Supplemental Budget just passed the Senate. It contains items that are hugely important to the Interior, including DOT funding to meet the match to unlock hundreds of millions in highway funds, added funds to enhance Senior Benefits, forest fire funds, disaster funds for the Western Alaska Typhoon and finally funding to replace Higher Education Investment Fund dollars to ensure high school students have access to the Performance Scholarship.
After negotiations between 11 Republicans and 9 Democrats, the entire Senate voted in favor of the bill and supporting the matching funding from savings.
However, the House of Representatives now has possession of the budget bill that is needed by Governor Dunleavy, so there is enough to pay for the remainder of the year's budget. This is where the problem occurs. In order to tap the Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund, the House needs to obtain 30 of 40 votes, but House Republicans have denied the latest motions instead pinning their HOPES on higher oil prices and a recent Revenue Forecast. I’ll talk about it a little later. The problem seems to be at an impasse, which would prevent the DOT from unlocking highway funds for projects during the summer. Many in the construction industry are asking for this to be done so that there will be assurances met by this legislature.
HERE is a great Alaska Beacon article about the inaction in the State House.
| What is in a Budget Forecast? | |
The war in Iran has caused problems rippling to Alaska with the high costs of utilities, gasoline and heating oil during an equally challenging winter. The high oil futures mean that everything will continue to cost more and a prolonged war in Iran is not what we need to keep America strong-especially while domestic issues at home have been chaotic under President Trump.
Oil is just one part of the Alaska budget but still represents 13% of the budget and an even larger part of undesignated revenue which is funding that can be used for any purpose. With oil prices above the $100 mark, the Department of Revenue is now anticipating the total revenue to increase by more than $500M more than the prior forecast from this December.
However, the one thing that is almost always factual is that the actual revenue will not be the forecasted revenue! A conservative budget should be predicated on price and production volatility, and instead the Legislature should base a budget on current revenues and savings rather than using money that we HOPE to expect.
| Are You an Alaska ‘Resident’? | |
House Bill 93 is currently receiving attention from the Senate Resources Committee. The bill would change who is eligible to acquire a resident hunting and fishing license. The bill by Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) addresses an issue in Southeast where people have kept their residency for purposes of voting or property rights, but live out of the state the majority of the year. These residents are then allowed to take part in local fisheries that are open during the summer exclusively for the local area residents, take large allotments and then fly back to the state that they reside in most of the year. HB93 would make ‘resident’ hunting/fishing/trapping licenses available to only those who would otherwise qualify for a Permanent Fund Dividend. The term ‘resident’ is actually qualified in nearly 40-50 different ways in different parts of statute and regulation.
So called ‘snow birds’ who are out of Alaska more than inside Alaska may find themselves unable to obtain a ‘resident’ license if this bill were to pass. The bountiful living resources of Alaska including our fish and wildlife are incredibly important to the Alaskan economy and the lives of her residents. It is necessary to ensure that Alaskans have access to their constitutionally guaranteed natural resources, while simultaneously doing everything necessary to conserve the resources so that future generations of Alaskans. My colleagues will ensure this bill protects both the rights of Alaskans to access their resources and that those who depend most on the fish and game of Alaska are the ones who have primary access.
| My Personal Bills on the Move | |
SB104 – The legislation continues the work of the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act that was passed by the 28th Legislature in 2014. While that piece of legislation created the concept of a Transfer on Death Deed for real property, SSB104 extends the concept for boats, vehicles, and manufactured homes licensed by the DMV. A Transfer on Death Deed is a non-testamentary document that allows the transfer of property without going through the costly probate process. SB104 has passed the Senate Floor and is waiting for a hearing in the House Transportation Committee. This bill was brought to us from senior citizens and family attorneys who would quickly be able to dispatch probate cases.
SB237 – To obtain a new Social Security Card one would have to either travel to a Social Security Office in Fairbanks, Anchorage or Juneau, or you would have to mail in your sensitive personal identification documents in the mail to those locations to apply for a new card. In the digital age, there is an easier way to apply for a new Social Security card online, but to do so, Alaska law must be changed to allow that process. SB237 enacts only the necessary changes to make this occur. No other personal or private information would be submitted to any organization outside of the federal government and the data would not be retained through this law. This bill is currently waiting for a second hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee and a similar bill is sponsored by Rep. Nellie Jimmie (D-Tooksuk Bay)
SB193 – Allows licensed Naturopathic Doctors to obtain a temporary license endorsement through a written agreement with a supervising physician. The endorsement prohibits the prescription of controlled substances, chemotherapy drugs, antipsychotic drugs, radioactive substances, and performing invasive surgeries but would allow them to practice to the level of their extensive training. The legislation requires all licensed Alaska naturopaths to complete sixty hours of continuing education every two years, including twenty hours focused on pharmacotherapy. As the need for healthcare continues to rise, all medical professionals should be able to practice to their knowledge and training without technical loopholes. The bill is waiting for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee and a similar bill is sponsored by Rep. Mike Prax (R-North Pole).
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Preserving Our Past, Investing in Our Future: SB110
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In Alaska, our rich cultural tapestry and scientific legacy deserve a home that can withstand the test of time. This session, I stood before the Senate Education Committee to advocate for SB110, a piece of legislation that recognizes museums not just as buildings, but as essential educational and economic infrastructure.
Tania Clucas, Executive Director of the Morris Thompson Center. Spoke on the merits of the bill during the hearing in Senate Education and she said,
"Museums and libraries are the repositories of our history. They maintain the cultural and scientific record of who we are."
Currently, Alaska statute (AS 14.56.355) provides a structured grant framework for our libraries. SB110 seeks to bridge the gap by creating a similar matching grant program specifically for museum construction and major expansion. For too long, our cultural institutions have lacked a predictable, structured capital framework. Without it, many of our state’s most precious artifacts remain tucked away in storage, waiting for facilities that meet modern preservation standards.
Museums are far more than quiet halls of relics; they are powerhouses for the Alaskan economy and our school systems. According to a 2023 survey by the American Alliance of Museums, Alaskan museums contributed $114 million to our economy. For every $1 received in government funding, nonprofit cultural organizations return more than $5 in tax revenue. Last year alone, these institutions served over 22,000 K-12 students, acting as extended classrooms for our youth.
As we move out of the Education Committee to the Finance Committee, it is imperative that we prioritize a fiscally responsible model. SB110 offers a pathway to revitalize our 100+ museums and cultural centers while remaining mindful of the state's costs. More than half of our museums anticipate major capital projects in the next five years, they aren't looking for a handout but a matching partnership.
| 988 and the Needs for Suicide Prevention | |
This Thursday, I’ll be joining a group of young Alaskans and the Alaska Suicide Prevention Council to advocate for the passage of SB196, a bill I’m sponsoring in the legislature and scheduled for its second hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Friday, March 20 at 1:30 pm. This bill would impose a $ 0.98 surcharge on wireless and wireline phones with a billing address in Alaska. The money generated from this surcharge would fund the 988 number and the other Behavioral Health Crisis systems Alaska has in place to ensure the mental health of our citizens.
Alaska has some of the highest suicide rates in the nation for both teens and adults, and is above the average rate of suicide for the rest of the nation. This is why we must invest in the systems already in place to mitigate these tragic statistics. SB196 is projected to raise $6-8 million annually and would provide consistent funding to our Behavioral Health Crisis systems. This is dependable funding as opposed to uncertain appropriations from the legislature and would ensure stability for the 988 program. Use of the 988 number has steadily increased since its inception on July 16, 2022. Even while funding has been steadily uncertain.
This surcharge is similar to the one already in place for the 911 number. Take a look at your phone bill, and you will find the Fairbanks North Star Borough charges $1.00 per month to fund 911. Our state makes this important investment for public safety, but it's time to make the same investment in our state’s mental health. Especially considering that there are times when 911 is called to handle a situation, but calling 988 would have been the better option.
Dennis Lasley, the Vice President of the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association, in written testimony, wrote,
“The vast majority of mental health crisis calls that come through our dispatch center do not require law enforcement response. And yet, because of a lack of resources and sustainable funding, police officers are often the default.”
By funding our Behavioral Health Crisis systems, including the 988 number, the state would take the burden off of our emergency responders to respond to mental health incidents that they are not best suited to handle. This would free up their time and resources to respond to situations in which they are both more effective and better prepared to handle.
I am proud to sponsor this bill that will have a discernible impact on the lives of Alaskans. Behavioral Health is often ignored. SB196 is a step towards ensuring that those who suffer from a behavioral health condition are not ignored but have the resources available to get through their crisis with their dignity and freedom intact. If you would like to testify in support of SB196, please call into the legislature, 844-586-9085, during the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Friday, March 20, at 1:30 pm.
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Town Hall Meetings To Be Announced!
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From time to time, legislators make it home for a long weekend to meet with constituents and bring information directly to the public. Next Saturday, I will be in town to co-host one such meeting with Rep. Will Stapp (R-E Fairbanks). It will be held from 1-3pm on March 28th at the Fairbanks Legislative Information Offices at 1292 Sadler Way #308. More information will come out next week as the schedule becomes for firm.
In addition, Easter Weekend will be a long weekend for legislators to come home once again to be with family. The weekend will begin on Friday, April 3 with Open Office Hours at my legislative offices in Fairbanks for anyone who would like to visit. On Saturday, April 4 from 12-2pm, I will be co-hosting another Town Hall Meeting with Rep. Maxine Dibert (D-City of Fairbanks) and Rep. Ashley Carrick (D-W Fairbanks). It will also be held at the Fairbanks Legislative Information Office at 1292 Sadler Way #308. Further information will come in the following week.
Town Hall Meetings are a good way to hear from constituents and an important part of the public process since we are in session in Juneau during these 120 days. I look forward to seeing all of you back home!
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Legislative Teleconference Phone Numbers
All other Callers
(844) 586 - 9085
From JNU 586- 9085
From ANC 563 - 9085
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My Staff and I are Here for You
As always, I will continue to keep you updated on what I’m working on in Juneau throughout the session. If you have any questions about anything going on in the Capitol or at home, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email – as always, my staff and I are working for you. We will assist you with the issues important to you and your family.
| | Working Hard for Fairbanks Families, | | |
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Senator
Serving the City of Fairbanks, Ft. Wainwright & Badger Road
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As your Senator, I am here to listen and help. Contact me anytime. | | | | | |
