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Dear Neighbors,
The midway point of the session passed last week, and the remaining two months will move very quickly. House Bills and Senate Bills are exchanged as they go through the bicameral legislative process. I will try to keep folks updated back home through social media and these e-newsletters. I am also hosting an upcoming Town Hall event in Fairbanks! If you have an immediate question, comment, or suggestion, you can always contact me directly at the office at 907.456.7423!
| | Affordability is Key and Also a Challenge. | | |
The war with Iran has caused ripple effects throughout the economy that Alaskans will feel acutely. First, oil prices on the market rise, then basic commodities like heating fuel and gasoline rise along with the entire energy sector. The cost of living will also continue to rise, including transportation, groceries and dining. This is a disappointing predicament, as the average cost of living had already increased due to the Trump Tariffs. While those tariffs have been struck down by the Supreme Court, Alaskans have not felt relief.
The rising cost of living for regular Alaskans has affected every facet of life here, which is why a stable, predictable state budget is so important for small businesses and families. The high cost of living has also contributed to the outmigration of Alaskans. People are leaving our state to find better housing, lower healthcare costs and more job opportunities. In the latest issue of the Department of Labor Economic Trends Magazine, it was reported that the birthrate has declined most precipitously in Alaska. Where we once had one of the highest average number of children per family in the 90’s-late 2000’s, we are no longer topping those charts.
My younger friends have told me they would have had more kids if not for the expenses incurred by larger families. This makes me sad, but it is an understandable part of family planning. If Alaska can control the costs of power, increase wages/pensions, provide for great schools, open lands for settlement and improve opportunity for anyone who wants to work, then Alaska can begin to grow as a state once again.
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An Omnibus Elections Bill, SB64, which is nearly 10 years in the making, is now ready for passage in the House. As you may know, it passed the Senate by a large margin, but was held up for a while and did not make it through to the floor. The House began debates on the bill early this year and has finally brought a version of the bill to the House floor that appears to have support.
Among other things, it will allow a voter to ‘cure’ their ballot from technical things that would otherwise invalidate their vote, will set statutory limits for how long a voter will remain on the voter rolls and incorporates security measures, ballot tracking and local secure boxes for dropping off ballots. I am thrilled to see this receive a final vote in time for the upcoming 2026 Election Cycle in November.
While Fairbanks and most other local governments have elections in the Fall, the Anchorage Municipal Election is Tuesday, April 7th. It matters who gets elected and your votes matter too.
There are 6 Assembly Seats on the ballot. In West Anchorage, voters will decide on Seat E in District 3. The candidates are Anna Brawley, who currently holds the seat and Brian Flynn. There are also two Anchorage School Board seats on the ballot, seats C and D. The Seat C candidates are Alexander Rosales and Rachel Blakeslee and the Seat D candidates are Sharon Gibbons, Dustin Darden, and Paul McDonogh. There are multiple non-partisan resources to learn about candidates:
· The League of Women Voters ballot review
· Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media Voter Guide
| Town Halls Because Your Participation Matters | |
As the legislative session intensifies, Interior Delegation members are doubling down on community accessibility. To ensure local voices are heard directly before policy decisions are finalized in Juneau, a series of public events has been scheduled throughout late March and early April.
On Saturday, March 28, Rep. Will Stapp (R-East Fairbanks/Fort Wainwright/Badger) will host a Town Hall at the Fairbanks Legislative Information Offices at 1292 Sadler Way from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. He will be joined by me, Rep. Mike Prax (R-North Pole) and Rep. Frank Tomaszewski (R-North East Fairbanks/Eielson).
The following Easter Weekend, there will be another Town Hall Meeting where I will be joined by Rep. Maxine Dibert (D-City of Fairbanks) and Rep. Ashley Carrick (D-West Fairbanks). That event will also be held at the Fairbanks Legislative Information Offices from 12:00 - 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 4.
I'll also be hosting Coffee with Kawasaki at the Alaska Coffee Roasting Company, where your cup of joe will be on me, on Monday, April 6, from 8:30 - 10:30 am, before I get back on a plane to head back to Juneau. These events are crucial to guide my decisions in the legislature. I look forward to seeing my constituents, answering your questions, and listening to your views on governance.
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I sponsored SJR30 which affirms state support for the military in Alaska and the use of Enhanced Use Lease agreements (EULs) and Joint-Use facilities. EUL’s are used when a military base leases underutilized land to private developers to develop, usually for housing. This is a win for the military as it provides convenient housing for service members and their families. It is also a win for the community as it will help lower the cost of housing off base. It also provides contractors and housing developers with high quality land to develop at no cost. A win/win/win situation altogether.
This is especially pertinent given the eventual influx of service members to the Fairbanks/North Pole area as Eielson Air Force Base prepares to host additional squadrons. We are also expecting a large influx at Fort Wainwright as the 11th Airborne Division grows. The resolution is an important tool that Alaska's military leadership can use to demonstrate to the Pentagon that EULs have state support.
SJR30 encourages taking advantage of these opportunities to increase efficiency, increase defense readiness and lower housing costs for all.
| Suicide Prevention and the 988 Careline | |
The springtime is when Alaskans gain sunlight and warmth. Ironically, it is also the time when there is a higher incidence of suicide. Alaska statistically has the highest rate of suicide in the United States, and there are several contributing factors for that statistic. Our unique weather and light schedule are a recipe for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). We also have one of the highest veteran populations in the U.S. As you may know, a veteran is twice as likely as a civilian to succumb to suicide. To continue, an Alaskan male native is nearly four times as likely as one in the lower-48 states to succumb to suicide. Fortunately, there has been an expansion of behavioral health crisis services in our state, including the implementation of the 988-Careline, which has saved countless lives.
988 launched on July 16, 2022, as the national number for a direct connection to compassionate care and support for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, who is at risk of suicide, or who is struggling with emotional distress. The Lifeline is free and confidential, with operators who treat callers with respect and listen without judgment. They added a specific hotline option for veterans and service members. The number is now just as common as 911.
Recently, federal financial support for the 988 number has decreased, and some states are struggling to keep up with funding challenges. I introduced SB196/HB138 with my colleagues Rep. Genevieve Mina (D-Anchorage) and Rep. Nellie Jimmie (D-Tooksook Bay). The bill would establish a common telephone/mobile surcharge to provide the 988-Careline with stable, predictable funding. It is modeled after the current 911 surcharge but is only $0.98 per line per month, which may provide up to $8 million a year for this and other behavioral health services.
SB196 will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, March 26, at 9:00 am. You can either call in to support the bill during the hearing by calling 844-586-9085, or you can send letters of support to senate.finance@akleg.gov.
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Today, the UA system is conducting a big fundraising push called UA Giving Day. Donations given during this event will join a statewide effort to unlock more than $520,000 in challenge and matching funds. Basically, if you have ever had a desire to give to the UA system, this is the time to do it because your dollar is worth more today than any other day. These funds support students in staying enrolled and completing their degrees. The money raised will also sustain the different colleges, university teams, groundbreaking research and community programs that ensure our university system is a serving the community as best it can.
Donations can be given to specific colleges, such as the UAF College of Engineering and Mines or the UAS School of Arts and Sciences. If you don't have a specific program you would like to donate to, you can always donate broadly to UA's statewide priorities. Donors can also be entered into a drawing for an Alaska Airlines voucher!
Follow this link to donate today and be a part of this momentous occasion. Alaska is fortunate to have a robust university system that promotes education, progress and community inclusion. In this era, when federal grants are more precarious than ever and the State is in a budget crisis, donations like yours are more important than ever to maintain the high-quality education and programs that university students have come to expect. We must maintain the quality of the UA system. Not only does it attract people to our state who stay for extended periods, but education is also the cornerstone of a great society. Please, donate today when your dollar will mean so much more!
| PFD Deadline Approaching – Donate Yours Today! | |
The PFD deadline is rapidly approaching on Tuesday, March 31! Every year my office receives pleas for a PFD because of a failure to apply and there is nothing my office can do. The PFD for many will go to help address the war-caused spike in heating, gasoline and other basics of life and I have consistently supported a full PFD. (Check Out My Video on the Full PFD) As Alaskans have forgone their PFD to major changes in oil taxes, the PFD has constantly shrunk and it now a very small part of the overall budget. While families may need the money, many local charities also rely on the PFD to bring services to those most in need.
Pick.Click.Give. allows Alaskans to donate a portion of their Permanent Fund Dividend to causes they care about statewide. So far this year over one million dollars has already been raised through Pick.ClickGive! Go to pfd.alaska.gov to add a pledge today!
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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. | | | | | |
