Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The regular session that began in January adjourned on May 20. However, the governor called the legislature into a Special Session the next day to consider legislation to help build a gasline. Read on for more highlights.

Regular Session Highlights

I am pleased to say this regular session was a productive one. Two bipartisan coalitions shared many values, including workforce development, quality education, supporting state infrastructure, healthy families, and much more. We worked together to pass approximately 100 bills and resolutions that improve our laws, create opportunities, and send important messages to federal agencies. Below are just a few highlights, including legislation I passed.

• SB 21: My bill to establish Work & Save passed the legislature with bipartisan support, 48-12 in total. This bill helps Alaskan businesses provide their employees with the ability to save for retirement by creating a state-facilitated IRA program, similarly established in 16 other states.
• SB 187: My bill to prohibit artificial food dyes from being served in school-provided meals passed the legislature 59-0. I have long believed we need to do more to make sure all Alaskan kids are provided with safe, nutritious meals. This is one more step in the right direction.
• HB 28: This bill strengthens public education and correspondence programs. It creates a three-year pilot program to help teachers in hard-to-fill roles in Alaska repay their student loans; authorizes a one-time energy cost relief payment to school districts; 10 percent increase in state per-pupil transportation funding; and adds reporting requirements for Alaska’s correspondence study programs. This bill passed the legislature 51-9.
• HB 78: This bill would have restored defined benefits to Alaska’s police officers, firemen, teachers, and public employees. The bill passed both bodies with bipartisan support, but was vetoed by the governor and the override was unsuccessful. However, the Senate was able to add a provision to HB 14 in the last hours of session to improve workers' compensation for peace officers and firefighters. The Senate also added a provision to HB 302 to increase the weekly benefit of Unemployment Insurance. More work must continue to improve our state's ability to recruit a strong workforce.
• HB 239: This bill was a major bill to improve public safety. It included provisions raising the age of consent from 16 to 18, banning AI-generated child sexual abuse material, and increasing penalties for drivers who fail to stop and assist when they cause an injury. This bill passed 59-1.
• SB 178: This bill expands access to the state's Infant Learning Program for children with developmental delays, which will generate long-term savings for state programs. This bill passed 59-1.
• HB 48: This bill improves access for low-income Alaskans to civil legal services. This bill became law on May 21.
• Additional highlights will soon be available on our Senate Majority website.

I am so grateful to my team pictured below. With the help of David, Tatum, Maxine, Mercedes, and our awesome intern Phoebe, we had a successful session in service to East Anchorage and the state.

Second Special Session Begins

Even though the industry has said they do not need legislative approval to start construction, the governor called the legislature into a special session on gasline legislation on May 21. As a member of the Senate Resources Committee, I participated in more than 50 committee meetings on gasline issues alone, 36 specifically on the bill the governor introduced, SB 280. The Senate Resources Committee passed this bill to the Senate Finance Committee to consider. Our version includes the ability for Alaska to capture maximum benefit for the use of our state resources, including at least $400 million in revenue, requiring Alaska hire, creating Community Impact Funds, and adding transparency and oversight. We also created a gas price cap of $12 per unit in Phase 1 and $5 per unit in Phase 2. Without these provisions, the governor's plan would actually cost $23 per unit.

I will be closely watching the two Finance Committees conduct their work and ensure the provisions the Senate Resources Committee put in place remain. This special session must conclude no later than June 19.

JBER Fence Update

I recently sent a letter to neighbors living along the boundary where JBER proposed to build a 6-mile fence of impassable razor wire. As a member of the Joint Armed Services Committee (JASC, pictured above), I was able to ask questions of JBER leadership about this. In discussion with the commander, I was informed the base does not yet have funding for this project and no final plans have been made.

However, community input is essential to this process. That's how I helped prevent a similar proposal as a member of the Northeast Community Council more than 20 years ago. Through May 30, please join me in submitting public comment at the email address below:

673CES.CEIEC.EnvPlanning@us.af.mil.

Community Events

Community Councils will not be meeting again until August and September. Below are some upcoming events in our community:

Russian Jack Springs Park Cleanup will be held on Saturday, May 23, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Click here for the Facebook event from the Russian Jack Community Council. It is my privilege to sponsor pizza for those able to attend.

Also on Saturday, May 23, from 2:00 to 5:00, Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School students are hosting a benefit to support the current band program, which may be lost next year without community support. Please consider attending or donating.

On Monday, May 25, please take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while in service to the nation. Memorial Day Ceremonies will take place on the Delaney Park Strip downtown starting at 9:30 AM and on JBER at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery at 12 Noon.

Please feel free to drop me a line via email, Facebook, or phone (465-2435). Please reach out if you need any assistance navigating the state agencies. I'm always happy to help.

Warmly,