Last Week

It's a beautiful day in Juneau, the sun is supposed to be shining all week for what may be our last week of session for 2023. The Alaska Constitution limits the legislative session to 120 days, which means just two days remain until the end of the regular legislative session on May 17th at midnight. We have yet to pass this year's operating, capital, and mental health budget so you are going to see a lot of activity happening between now and then between the House and Senate. Senate Finance rolled the capitol budget and supplemental budgets into the operating budget and passed that from the committee on Saturday. The budget now heads to the Senate Floor, where amendments will be debated before it can be passed out to the House Floor.

Once the budget is back before the House Floor there are a number of different scenarios that could take place, the simplest of them being that the House concurs with the Senate's change to the budget. This move would require 21 votes in the 40-member body. If that vote fails, we expect Governor Dunleavy to call the Legislature into a 30-day special session in order to finish work on the budget. Tune into Gavel Alaska to watch what is happening live.

Representative Story, Senator Tobin, Representative Dibert, Dr. Lisa Skiles Parady,

Matt Moser, Lon Garrison, and Senator Bjorkman pictured here after SB52 advanced out of Senate Finance to the full Senate with a BSA increase of $680.

Senate Advances SB52

On Thursday, the Senate passed SB 52, which would increase the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by $680, as well as additional funding for pupil transportation and increased funding for districts operating residential schools. The BSA increase would be the largest in Alaska's history, providing $174.8 million to Alaska's struggling public school education system. This funding is critically needed to address the rising costs and shortage of teachers statewide.

SB 52 will now make its way through the House, starting with the Finance Committee. Increasing education funding has been and will remain one of my top priorities!

Rep. Story, Rep. Dibert and Rep. McCormick

Senator Tobin and Rep. Dibert

MMIWG Rally

May 5th is National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. This is a day we remember the many lives shattered or lost, and commit to working with Native communities to find justice, keep families safe, and help them heal. Many times you will see a person with a red handprint over their mouth. It has become the symbol of a growing movement to protect our indigenous sisters and brothers. Native people are now rising up to be a voice for the voiceless- for those missing and murdered loved ones from our communities.

Tlingit and Haida's Violence Against Women Taskforce put together a rally on the capitol steps, and I was honored to speak at the event along with Juneau legislators and elders, and leaders in the community. There was talk about the grim statistics, but also reflecting on the positive work towards safe communities for our indigenous community members. For example, the Department of Public Safety now has two dedicated investigators working both active and cold cases within the MMIP Team.

In our own community of Fairbanks, we currently have five missing indigenous persons Lorraine Ginnis, Willis Derendoff, Doren Sanford, Debbie Nicture, and Frank Minano. Please go to TCC's Missing Persons page read more about these missing Fairbanksians or submit anonymous tips.

Lori Pickett, Rep. Galvin, Rep. Dibert, and Rep. Carrik.

Rep. Dibert and staffer Sarah Evans

The Tlingit and Haida Dancers and Drummers on the capital steps.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which has been observed in the US since 1949. During this month we come together to fight the stigma, provide support to one another, educate the public and advocate for the millions of people affected by mental illness. This year's theme is More Than Enough. We need to remind ourselves and the people around us that we are worthy of love, acceptance, and support, and that we are more than enough!

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is promoting weekly activities to enhance our emotional and physical spaces. I've found the activities helpful during these stressful final days of the session. Once you complete the activity you can fill out a survey each week for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.

Representative Dibert filing her two latest piece of legislation, HB 188 and HJR 15 at the Clerk's Office, both have been read across the floor and await committee hearings.

Legislative Update

This week, the resolution I dropped, HJR 15, "Urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reinstate an expanded child tax credit," was read across the House Floor. It urges the United States Congress to reinstate the very popular program that helped lift 1000s of Alaskan children and families out of poverty. There is uncontestable data that demonstrates how thousands of Alaska children and families were raised out of poverty vis-a-vis the expanded Child Tax Credit that provided as much as $3600 in tax relief to low and middle-income families. This proposed legislation is now my third piece of legislation for which I am the primary sponsor. As you know, I also sponsor HB 147, "An Act relating to teacher certificates for retired teachers" as well as HB 188, "An Act relating to animal adoption and foster care records," which aims to protect the anonymity of Alaskans who adopt or foster animals and to protect such residents from being harassed. This legislation is one of the legislative priorities identified by the FNSB Assembly and Mayor. I look forward to carrying and moving both these bills in early 2024. If you have thoughts on these bills, or any others, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Quick reminder, any bill that does not pass both bodies by Wednesday at midnight will be set aside until the second session of the 33rd Legislature, which beings in mid-January 2024.

My Legislative Bill Sponsorship Update

I am currently sponsoring the following bills:

Prime Sponsorship:

HB 147 RETIRED TEACHER CERTIFICATE

HB 188 ANIMAL ADOPTION RECORDS

HJR 15 RESTORE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT

Cosponsored Bills:

HB 17 CONTRACEPTIVES COVERAGE:INSURE;MED ASSIST

HB 26 OFFICIAL LANG; COUNCIL FOR AK NATIVE LANGUAGES

HB 28 ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS

HB 44 CULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

HB 46 CHILD CARE PROVIDER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

HB 56 CONTROLLED SUB. DATA: EXEMPT ANIMALS

HB 65 INCREASE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION

HB 78 AK COMMUNITY HEALTH AIDE APPRECIATION DAY

HB 89 DAY CARE ASSIST./CHILD CARE GRANT PROGRAM

HB 93 LUMBER GRADING PROGRAM

HB 99 DISCRIMINATION: GENDER ID.;SEXUAL ORIENT

HB 136 REJECT COMPENSATION

HB 157 PROCLAIM JUNETEENTH DAY A HOLIDAY

HB 163 FAFSA RAFFLE

HB 167 MINORS IN FACILITIES OUTSIDE AK

HB 196 FOOD STAMP PROGRAM ELIGIBILTY

HCR 1 JOINT TASK FORCE: LABOR, RETENTION, TRAIN

HCR 2 AMEND UNIFORM RULES: ABSTAIN FROM VOTING

HJR 4 HONORING THE ALASKA-KOREA RELATIONSHIP

HJR 9 CONST AM: PERMANENT FUND; POMV;EARNINGS

HJR 10 NAT'L PARK SERVICE; HUNTING IN PRESERVES

HJR 11 ADDRESS AIR POLLUTION IN FAIRBANK

SB 87 LUMBER GRADING PROGRAM

SJR 10 MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT

Rep. Dibert with her daughter Cheyenne and locals Freda Westman and her daughter (staff to Rep. Hannan) Hunter Meachum

Happy belated Mother's Day

I wanted to wish a Happy belated Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. I was lucky enough to spend some time with my daughter Cheyenne, who is also working in the capitol for Senator Click Bishop. Juneau graced us with a beautiful day of sun and smiling faces. I hope all you mamas out there were spoiled by your families, I know you deserve it!