Last Tuesday the Anchorage Assembly voted 9-2 to ban the use of plastic bags by retailers, making Anchorage the 23rd community in the state of Alaska to take practical action in protecting our environment and keeping our cities clean. The ban will be effective this upcoming March. Alternative paper bags will be available at checkout for 10-50 cents each. Personally, I recommend purchasing re-usable bags to be
Legislative Update September 11 Homer Chamber
Join me at the Homer Chamber Luncheon 12pm Tuesday Sept. 11 at the Best Western Bidarka for a legislative update.
Community Assistance Program
This program provides state funding for small community projects based on voter consensus at community meetings. District 31 area meetings are held within the communities that have applied for participation through the Kenai Peninsula Borough. In the past, the KPB usually organized and scheduled these meetings, however as of last year the communities are now required to organize and schedule their meetings.
SB 208 March as Sobriety Awareness Month is now law! SB 208, sponsored by Senator Berta Gardner, creates an opportunity to celebrate sobriety as a healthy lifestyle. Addiction costs the State of Alaska over $3 billion a year not to mention the toll it takes on families. I was proud to partner with Senator Gardner on this important issue and carry the House companion bill.
Anchorage – Legislation to extend a successful tax credit program was signed into law today during a ceremony on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. House Bill 233, sponsored by Representative Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage), passed the Alaska Legislature earlier this year with near unanimous support. The bill extends the Alaska Education Tax Credit Program through 2024 and adjusts the rate at which the credits are earned.
Please join me on Tuesday, September 11 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium for the Alaska State Forum on Public Safety. The forum will provide updates on the status of justice reinvestment in Alaska and examine Alaska’s crime trends and responses for those in the criminal justice system with substance abuse issues and behavioral health needs.
