Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This is my last electronic newsletter update for the summer due to limitations during a legislator's election cycle. I am currently in Juneau for the special session regarding the gasline - the last day is Friday, June 19. I will not be able to send you another newsletter update about how this special session concludes, but I can give you a sense of what's going on right now.

Regardless, my Anchorage office is open regular business hours and you can always contact me by email, phone, social media, or stopping by the LIO at 1500 W. Benson. My staff and I are happy to help.

Chatting with labor leaders in the public lounge at the Capitol.

Gasline Special Session Update

As the special session called by Gov. Dunleavy nears its Friday deadline, the Legislature has been focused on HB 381, a bill that would significantly cut taxes on the proposed Alaska LNG pipeline. The bill would replace the current 2% statewide oil and gas property tax on pipeline infrastructure with a much smaller volumetric tax on gas throughput — an 80-90% reduction in tax liability for the project. Since I last wrote, the House passed HB 381 by a vote of 34-5 on June 12. HB 381 continues to be deliberated in the Senate Finance Committee. I am working with House and Senate colleagues to make this a strong bill that would prioritize our constitutional duty to maximize the benefit of our state's natural resources.

While I support a viable path to bringing North Slope gas to market, I don't believe we should hand the oil and gas industry an overgenerous or prolonged tax break at the direct expense of the state and municipalities. According to a new report, the Municipality of Anchorage alone could lose up to $173 million in prospective property tax revenue under this proposal — money that funds local schools, services, and infrastructure. Alaskans deserve a fair return on our resources, not a deal that shifts the financial burden onto our communities while the benefits flow elsewhere.

I'll continue to push for a structure that gives this project a genuine chance to succeed without selling Alaska short. Keep an eye on the headlines.

Governor Considering Dozens of Bills

I passed two personal bills this session that are now being considered by the governor. I'm grateful for the broad bipartisan support of these bills that will make meaningful difference in Alaskans' lives.

• SB 21: Establishing the Alaska Work & Save Program. If it becomes law, any qualified worker who is not offered a private retirement program through their employer may be enrolled in an automatic individual retirement account (IRA) program. It allows Alaskans to save for a dignified retirement, and reduce the strain on government assistance programs in the future. The Senate approved the bill 17-3 and the House 31-9.
• SB 187: This bill requires school lunch programs to remove petroleum-based food dyes from the meals served in school. There is an abundance of evidence telling us these food dyes lead to adverse health effects that disproportionately affect children. The Senate and House passed the bill unanimously.

Including my two bills above, there are 2 dozen bills due back from the governor late tomorrow night, June 18. The legislature sent these bills to the governor in order to have time to consider overrides, if necessary, while we are still in this special session. If we need to hold a joint session, it would take place on Friday, June 19.

The legislature transmitted dozens more bills that are due back from the governor ahead of the July 4 holiday. For a complete list of all bills awaiting action by the governor, click here.

Here is a detailed list of this year's highlights for the Alaska Senate Majority. A full list of all bills passed by the 34th Legislature is found here.

Feel free to contact me anytime if my staff or I can help provide any updates on legislation or budget items of interest to you.

Outside the Capitol with Rep. Eischeid and my intern, Phoebe, to celebrate the passage of SB 187, which removes food dyes from school lunches.

Community Events

Community Councils will not be meeting again until August and September. Follow your local community council schedule here.

Below are some upcoming events in our community:

The Juneteenth citywide celebration will take place on the Delaney Park Strip this Saturday, June 20, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. There will be a parade, food, concerts and more for all ages. Read more online here.

Also on Saturday, June 20, from noon to 5:00pm, the annual Solstice celebration will take place on 4th Ave, between E & G Streets. Read more here.

The Anchorage Pride Parade will take place on the Delaney Park Strip next Saturday, June 27 starting at 11:30am. Read more here.

This year marks our nation's 250th birthday. Festivities start on Friday, July 3, and happen all weekend long. Read more here.

Please feel free to drop me a line via email, Facebook, or phone (269-0120). Please reach out if you need any assistance navigating the state agencies. I'm always happy to help.

Warmly,