February 17, 2023

Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Fellow Fairbanksans,

We are proud to bring you the fifth edition of the Carrick Capitol Connection! With the budget process fully underway, and with folks from all over Alaska coming to the capitol city, it has been a busy time down here in Juneau. In addition, I am excited that my bills are being heard in committee and are beginning to move through the process. Yesterday the Senate companion to HB 8, my bill to define E-Bikes in statute, was heard in Senate Transportation. I have two other bill hearings coming up, one for House Bill 17 TOMORROW (Saturday) at 3:00 p.m., and HB 9 (regarding adding a faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents) on Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. Continue reading for more information about these bills and what else has been going on down in Juneau.

Join me for the Inaugural Carrick Constituent Coffee

I am excited to come home this weekend and spend time with the best constituents in Alaska! I will be hosting my first two Carrick Constituent Coffees this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Swing by and discuss issues facing you and your family. Here’s where you can find me:

Lulu’s Bread and Bagels

Saturday, February 18^th from 1pm-3pm

Sunday, February 19^th from 11am-1pm

If these times do not work with you, please reach out to my office. If my schedule permits, my staff will schedule a time for you and me to meet other than the times listed above. Keep an eye out for future Carrick Constituent Coffee hours.

Representative Carrick with the attendees of the Early Education Retreat hosted by the non-partisan Hunt Institute last Saturday. It was great to see so many colleagues from both sides of the aisle eager to learn more about the importance of early education. Learn more about the Hunt Institute here.

Department of Environmental Conservation

Finance Subcommittee – Air Quality Issues

As discussed in my previous Carrick Capitol Connection, the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to impose unrealistic and unattainable air quality standards for PM2.5 on the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Due to the significant financial impact and as part of the budget process, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Finance Subcommittee will be discussing these impending regulations. I look forward to hearing more from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation about the cost of these regulations and how the State of Alaska is going to support us in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

These regulations will have a drastic impact on our community so I highly advise you to submit public comment; the form will be open until March 13th. You can submit a public comment online here. It was announced on Tuesday that there will be a public hearing on these regulations on March 7th from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the UAF Wood Center. This will be a great opportunity to make your voice heard, and I encourage folks to attend with their questions and concerns.

Representative Carrick meeting with the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce during their legislative fly-in.

Local Transportation Projects

I recently met folks from the Department of Transportation’s Northern Region to discuss the upcoming road construction projects in our district starting this summer. On the agenda for this year are upgrades to College Road, Airport Way West, and Rosie Creek Road, as well as to roads at the Fairbanks International Airport. As we get closer to construction season, I will be sure to update you about the upcoming road construction and how it will affect you and your neighborhood. For now, more information on these projects can be found on the Department of Transportation Facilities Northern Region page.

Supporting Contraceptive Care

House Bill 17 that would require mandatory insurance coverage when providers prescribe a 12-month supply of contraceptive prescriptions at one time in consultation with their patients will be heard this week again before the House Health and Social Services Committee on Saturday, February 18th at 3pm in Davis Room 106. There will be an opportunity for public testimony. If you would like to testify, instructions for testifying telephonically are available here. Also please feel free to send letters of support to my office, or reach out to me with any comments and questions you may have.

E-Bikes Legislation

As discussed in the inaugural Carrick Capitol Connection, House Bill 8 would define E-Bikes in statute, resolving legal ambiguity. This is a bill that Representative Wool and I worked on together for 4 years, and one that has passed the House and gotten to the Senate Floor in the two previous Legislatures, but still has not passed. To help get this bill passed, I am working with my fellow Fairbanksan Senator Scott Kawasaki to finally pass this bill. Senator Kawasaki has introduced Senate Bill 62, which is the Senate companion to my House Bill 8. SB 62 will be heard in the Senate Transportation Committee this week on February 16th at 1:30pm in the Butrovich Room 205. I look forward to working with Senator Kawasaki to finally get this bill across the finish line!

Representative Carrick meeting with members from IBEW Local 1547 during the AFL-CIO legislative fly-in.

Faculty Regent Bill Update

Another bill that Rep Wool and I worked on for a number of years is House Bill 9.This bill would add a faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Adding a faculty regent to the board would provide greater representation to this group and create a more inclusive space for dialogue as the Board of Regents deliberates the future of the University. This bill will have its first hearing in the House Education Committee on Monday (February 20^th) at 8:00 a.m. I look forward to talking about this issue that I am passionate about, and which creates greater stakeholder representation for our university system.

Board of Regents Public Testimony

In other news related to the Board of Regents, the Board will be taking public testimony at its next full board meeting on Tuesday, February 21st from 4pm-5pm. With five new members of the board, this is a great opportunity to make your voice heard. To testify, call 1-888‑886-7786 or email ua-bor@alaska.edu (written testimony is accepted at any time). You can watch Board of Regents meetings live online and you can access meeting documents online too.

State of the University Address

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney will be giving her third State of the University address on February 21st at noon. Her speech will take place at the weekly Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce business luncheon. This luncheon will take place at the Westmark Hotel, Gold Room down on Noble and 10th. You can register to watch her speech in person for five dollars online, or you can watch online for free.

My Staff and I are Here for You!

If you have any questions about our state’s operating budget, legislation, or any other issues affecting District 35, please let us know. Do not hesitate to reach out to me and my office regarding any topics of interest or concern. We are happy to help however we can! It’s time to pull up my sleeves and dive in, and it’s exciting to hear from all of you.

All in for Alaska,

Representative Ashley Carrick

House District 35 -- West Fairbanks

Contact your Congressional Delegation

Congresswoman Mary Peltola

153 Cannon HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: (202) 225-5765

Website:

Peltola.Hous e.Gov

Senator Lisa Murkowski

Fairbanks Office:

250 Cushman Ave, Suite 2D

Fairbanks, AK 99701

Phone: (907) 456-0233

Fax: (877) 857-0322

Website: Murkowski.Senate.Gov

Senator Dan Sullivan

Fairbanks Office:

101 12th Ave., Ste. 328

Fairbanks, AK 99701

Phone: (907) 456-0261

Fax: (907) 451-7290

Website: Sullivan.Senate.Gov

Contact Rep. Carrick

Rep. Ashley Carrick

Alaska State Capitol

Juneau, AK 99801

Phone: 907-465-4976

Rep.Ashley.Carrick@akleg.gov

Follow Rep. Carrick's Social Media

Facebook: @RepCarrick

Instagram: @RepCarrick

Twitter: @RepCarrick

YouTube: @RepCarrick

Contact Rep Carrick's Staff

Stuart Relay -- Chief of Staff

stuart.relay@akleg.gov

Cherie Bowman -- Legislative Aide

cherie.bowman@akleg.gov

Contact the Fairbanks Legislative Information Office

1292 Sadler Way Ste 308

Fairbanks, AK 99701

Office: 907-452-4448

Fax: 907-456-3346

LIO.Fairbanks@akleg.gov

Contact the Governor's Fairbanks Office

675 7th Ave, Ste. H5

Fairbanks, AK 99701-4596

907-451-2920

gov.alaska.gov

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

letters@newsminer.com

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You are limited to one letter every 14 days, it cannot be longer than 350 words and it must include your full name (no abbreviations). The News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer.

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Online: akl.tv