JUNEAU – Legislation that will help bring affordable, high-speed internet to homes across Alaska just passed a major legislative hurdle. House Bill 363, introduced by Representative Bryce Edgmon, passed the Senate 16-2.
With 12 days left in the regular session, we’re quickly approaching May 18, which is the end of the 32nd legislature.
JUNEAU – The Alaska House helped strengthen public safety in rural Alaska today when it passed legislation that would update the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program. Senate Bill 81, which passed 34-2, implements seven recommendations that the bipartisan and bicameral VPSO Working Group made in their report, which was adopted on January 24, 2020.
Today marks day 105 of the legislative session. There’s still a lot of work to do, and with 16 days left before the 121 day constitutional limit, things will continue to pick up in the final weeks of the regular session.
JUNEAU – Alaskans across the state took a major step towards having affordable, high-speed internet in their homes. House Bill 363, introduced by Representative Bryce Edgmon, lays the groundwork to make Alaska eligible for the unprecedented level of federal funds available for broadband investment, while establishing a fund to create parity in internet costs between rural and urban Alaska.
In the final weeks of the legislative session, the Finance Committee has been busy moving legislation out of the committee and on to the House floor.
Last week, the House completed our work on the operating budget and passed it over to the Senate. This is a major milestone as the final month of the legislative session approaches.
JUNEAU – Rep. Andy Josephson saw his effort to protect the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) from the annual political battle to “sweep” the fund pass the House floor today on a vote of 23-9
More than thirty legislators and staff tested positive for COVID-19 in the Capitol this week. Because of this, floor sessions were cancelled, which means that amendments to the operating budget on the house floor were pushed forward until next week. My office and I have been following the CDC protocols and are doing our part to stay healthy and not contributing to the spread of the virus.
This week we mourned the passing of the Dean of the House, U.S. Congressman, Don Young. Representative Young spent almost fifty years representing Alaska. I can’t imagine Congress without him fighting for the state.
