Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This weekend, I hope to see you at the Anchorage Delegation Townhall meeting on Saturday, March 14, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium. Bring your questions, comments, and ideas.

Today, the Senate unanimously passed the supplemental budget to pay the remainder of the current fiscal year’s bills, totaling $374 million. This paid for disaster relief, fire suppression, federal highway matching dollars, and replenishing the higher education investment fund. The house will take up the final version of the bill tomorrow.

Chester Park Provision Passes the Senate

This week, the Senate passed SB 104, relating to the transfer of titles on vehicles and property following someone's death. I worked with the bill sponsor and Senate Finance Committee to include language that would fix an issue brought to my attention by constituents of Chester Park Senior Housing in Muldoon, a 142-unit common interest community cooperative.

An owner of a common interest community (CIC) buys a stock share to determine residency in the building. Typically, traditional homeowners can automatically transfer their property to beneficiaries through a transfer on death deed, but a CIC is not included under the list of eligible property for this kind of transfer. This created a grey area in law about whether a CIC owner would be transferred without undergoing the probate process.

To fix this, I worked with Chester Park residents to include a definition of CICs as property within SB 104. This would give peace of mind to homeowners and grieving families.

SB 104 passed the Senate 20-0 on Monday and heads to the House for consideration. I am working with House members to ensure they understand this language and help it become law.

This is a great example of why constituents are so essential to the public process. Thanks to the Chester Park residents who brought this to my attention. If you have a concern or issue, please feel free to call me anytime.

Neighborhood Survey Results

My annual neighborhood survey recently concluded and we are tallying the results. Here are a few initial highlights:

• How should Alaska address the Cook Inlet gas shortage? The vast majority of respondents want the state to combine investment in renewable energy sources with enforcing Cook Inlet leaseholders to produce gas.
• Nearly half of all respondents identified a natural gas pipeline as a top priority.
• Nearly 80% of respondents believe restoring defined benefits (pensions) is the best way to recruit and retain teachers and public employees.
• About 70% of respondents said they support increasing funding for neighborhood schools.
• Nearly 90% support closing the loophole that allows a single oil company (Hilcorp) to avoid paying taxes to the state of Alaska that other companies pay.
• More than 75% of respondents support the current open primary and rank choice voting election system.

I plan to mail more detailed results in the weeks ahead.

Community Councils

Russian Jack Community Council's next meeting is tonight, Wednesday, March 11, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, in person at the Village Rec Building (4430 Reka Dr) and Zoom. Learn more here.

Northeast Community Council's next meeting is Thursday, March 19, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, in person at Creekside Park Elementary Gym (7500 E. 6th Ave) and Zoom. Learn more here.

Scenic Foothills Community Council's next meeting is Thursday, May 7, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, in person at Congregation Beth Sholom (7525 E. Northern Lights) and Zoom. Learn more here.

Please feel free to drop me a line via email, Facebook, or phone (465-2435). The Legislative Information Office has staff available to the public during session, but do reach out to us to schedule a meeting if you find yourself in Juneau through May. Keep an eye out for more townhall opportunities in the district.

Warmly,