Fairbanks: Session 1 Done! Bill updates, Budget and Wrap Up

May 23, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

After a nine hour special the House and Senate reached a final agreement—and final passage—on the state’s operating, capital, and mental health budgets. As the green up begins in Fairbanks my mother and I are looking forward to seeing our neighbors and friends enjoying all the Interior has to offer. In this report I will give highlights of what the budgets includes for the Interior and update the status of bills that will make Alaska a better place to live and grow. I also would like to extend a special thank you to those who have written, called, and testified during this session. Thank you for your involvement.

The Budget

On Wednesday, May 17th, the Senate passed House Bill 39 which encompasses both the operating and capital budgets. However, after the bill was transmitted to the House, it failed to pass before the body adjourned. Because a budget failed to pass by the constitutional session limit of 121 days, the Governor immediately called the Legislature into a 30-day special session. That special session started Thursday, May 18th at 10 a.m. Throughout the day, both the Senate and House Leadership met to work out a plan to avoid spending 30 days in special session and the possibility of a government shutdown. Both bodies worked together for hours and agreed on a plan. Below are some of the highlights of the budget.

Balanced budget with a small surplus, assuming oil prices remain stable at $73 a barrel

Not drawing from our savings (Assuring $2.4 billion in CBR currently).

A $1,304 Permanent Fund dividend, and potential energy assistance if oil prices rise dramatically

$174 million increase in education funding which is the largest increase in the history and represents a one-time increase of $680 per student.

$7.5 million was added to fund higher wages for childcare workers, with the goal of stabilizing and augmenting daycare availability across the state.

$7.5 million was added for increased reimbursement to home and community-based waiver services to keep those who need assistance out of more costly institutions.

$3 million to demolish the Polaris Building

$7.1 million to establish the Interior Veterans cemetery

$13.6 million for UAF Deferred Maintenance

$10 million for UAF Drone Research

‘Omnibus’ Elections Update

I appreciate the hard work Senator Mike Showers, Representative Sarah Vance, Representative Laddie Shaw, Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom and I have put in this year to bring this bill to life. Unfortunately, it was returned to the Senate Rules Committee as the operating budget took center stage.

While I am disappointed the bill did not pass this year, it gives us more time to fine tune this legislation during the interim and pass it early next session.

This legislation is important because:

It allows the Division of Elections to count absentee ballots starting at least seven days before Election Day and beginning to release vote tallies at 8:00 PM on Election Day.

Tightens and clarifies residency requirements for voting to clean up voter rolls.

Adds a signature verification system and requiring the Division of Elections to ‘cure ballots’ for signature discrepancies or other technical mistakes.

Prepays postage for mail in ballots and allowing a verifiable date sent, such as a USPS bar, rather than the postmark date, to serve as the date on which the voter voted.

Makes explicit what happens when someone votes twice and enforces criminal offenses for intentionally voting more than once.

Personal legislation on the move

There were a lot of bills up for consideration over the last few days of session but here are some of the important ones which were discussed in the final days of session and some of which will head to Governor Dunleavy for his approval or veto.

There are a lot of bills that are still in various committees. They may not pass this year but I believe it is important to highlight them so next year these bills can garner more public support and eventually pass.

The LGBTQ Non-Discrimination bill has had many different variations run through the legislature and failed to pass. This year my bill SB 108 was another version that wasn’t able to make it through. This gives both my office and Representative Jennie Armstrong’s office more time to work on the bill and address comments and concerns from other legislators as well as the public.

HB 8, carried by my house colleague Representative Ashley Carrick and me was passed and is on its way to Governor Dunleavy’s desk. I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped with HB 8 and our Senate counterpart SB 62.

HB 78, establishing September 10th as Community Health Aide Appreciation Day in Alaska was carried by Representative CJ McCormick and me, passed and is headed to Governor Dunleavy’s desk.

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,