Juneau – Thursday night’s announcement that Art Chance will not be joining the administration of Governor Michael J. Dunleavy has prompted members of the Alaska House Coalition to release the following statements. Art Chance was slated to join the Department of Administration as a senior policy advisor.
Juneau – After listening to Governor Michael J. Dunleavy’s first State of the State Address, members of the Alaska House Coalition released the following statements…
Anchorage – Law enforcement agencies, health care providers, and Fred Meyer stores across Alaska are teaming up to collect unused prescription drugs on Saturday as part of the 15th National Drug Take Back Day. Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) is urging Alaskans to prevent the abuse and theft of prescription drugs by properly disposing of them at authorized collection sites.
Anchorage – Today, legislation was signed into law naming September 11 as Patriot Day and June 27 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day in Alaska. Senate Bill 152, sponsored by Senator Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), was initially only focused on recognizing Patriot Day but through the legislative process, the bill was amended to include language sponsored by Rep. Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) establishing a Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Day in Alaska.
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.
Ketchikan – Earlier this week, Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed a bill into law to help the valuable geoduck, sea cucumber, and sea urchin fisheries in Southeast Alaska. House Bill 354 updates the protocol used by the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association to charge an assessment to its members. The old assessment method that required a vote by a majority of all permit holders to authorize an assessment change was difficult to achieve because many permit holders no longer participate because their permits are nontransferable. HB 354 changes the threshold to change assessments to a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of permit holders participating in the election.
Ketchikan – Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation into law on Monday adding the Race to Alaska to the list of events eligible for a “race classic” game of chance permit. House Bill 18 will allow the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce to offer a “race classic” contest based on people guessing the winning time of the 750-mile Race to Alaska, which is a human-powered boat race from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska. Similar “classics” are offered by the Chamber’s of Commerce in Juneau, Fairbanks, Kenai, Seward, Petersburg, Delta, and Big Lake.
Ketchikan – Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation into law today to help participants in Alaska’s growing mariculture industry get access to capital. Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) sponsored House Bill 76 after learning that many of the small businesses in Alaska’s mariculture industry were having trouble securing financing for improvement projects through private lending institutions. HB 76 changes the Alaska Mariculture Revolving Loan Fund to allow up to 40 percent of the fund to be used for loans to help pay for shellfish and sea…..
