Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 46^th Alaska Folk Fest  is online this year. What a wonderful gift to have musicians share the joy of music. Juneau has hosted this event for years at Centennial Hall, I'm disappointed it won't be in-person this year, but with technology more people can join in. The event starts Monday, April 5, 2021.

A highlight at the Capitol this week, my mariculture bill passed the House 40-0! The idea for this bill began when I was contacted by a person in our district who shared some barriers facing aquatic farms. Now the bill goes to the Senate. More information below.

Please enjoy your time with family and friends this weekend and enjoy celebrating your faith traditions. Happy Easter!

Legislative Happenings This Week

• Opportunity to Testify on the Operating Budget- Next week the House Finance Committee will take public testimony on the operating and mental health budgets. The House Finance Subcommittees restored funding for Alaska Legal services, behavioral health grant programs, the ferry system, and the Division of Motor Vehicle offices. If you have comments on this or any other items, please let the House Finance Committee know as they will decide whether to keep these items in the House budget. Juneau’s slot is Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 2:00-3:30 pm. Call 586-9085 if you have a Juneau prefix, 907-563-9085 if you have an Anchorage prefix, or 844-586-9085 for all other prefixes. Or send written testimony to house.finance@akleg.gov.
• Education Committee Highlights - The House Education Committee considered two bills of importance this week, confronting the often-unaddressed needs of students’ mental and emotional health.  During this pandemic it has become even more apparent to provide a learning environment that helps students build resilience and skills to overcome setbacks. These discussions will continue in the weeks ahead. The committee also heard testimony from the Governor's nominations to the Alaska Board of Education, Professional Teachers Practices Commissions and the Board of Regents. Congratulations to Dale Anderson on his nomination. This upcoming week we will be looking at Career Technical education in our state.
• House Ways & Means Begins Work - I was honored to be selected to serve on the newly created House Ways and Means Committee. This week the Committee received good background information on the states’ finances from the Legislative Finance Division, the governor’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Department of Revenue, and the Permanent Fund Corporation. I look forward to more information and solutions to the fiscal issue facing our state and all Alaskans. The Committees three charges are: 
  • Consider methods to control state spending;
  • Identify ways in which state government programs may be made more efficient; and
  • Propose new measures to raise additional revenue.
• HB 115 Passes the House 40-0! Thanks to my colleagues in the House for unanimously passing HB115 this past Wednesday. I sponsored this bill to reduce bureaucracy on aquatic farmers, who are part of a growing and vibrant industry. Also, thanks to the mariculture businesses for bringing this fix to my attention. Now it’s on to the Senate! Please see House Coalition Press Release.
• SJR 9 passed the House urging federal officials to grant an exemption to a federal law that requires cruise ships to stop at a foreign port. Of course robust plans and CDC requirements for cruises to operate safely and protect the health of visitors, crew, and residents statewide need to be in place prior to sailing. Please see House Coalition Press Release.
• House Bill 63 will be heard in State Affairs next week on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 3:00pm. The legislation would replace an existing marine transportation advisory board with a new management and operations board required to draft regular short- and long-range plans for the fleet. The members would be required to have marine business experience and the legislature would appoint four of the nine members. This is an effort to stabilize and sustain the Alaska Marine Highway System. Call 586-9085. Or send written testimony to House.State.Affairs@akleg.gov
• House Bill 80 will be heard in House Finance next week on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 9:00am. This bill reinstates a Hatchery Facility Account Surcharge. Surcharges will support maintenance and operations at Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC) which enhances sport, commercial and person use salmon fisheries in the Juneau area. Call 586-9085. Or send written testimony to house.finance@akleg.gov.
• Appointments to Boards and Commissions - Each legislative session, the Speaker of the House and governor appoint legislators to boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. It is an honor to represent Alaska and the legislature on these organizations. This year, I was appointed to the following:
  • Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE)
  • Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory Council
  • Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education

Community Opportunities and Events - Local highlights and other good things happening in town (you can click on the link below to news item you are interested in, or just read as you scroll through): 

Easter Egg Hunt Contest

Saturday, April 3 from 10am to 2pm, Overstreet Park
Free and fun for the whole family. 
Come to the park and locate the 12 hidden eggs. Note them on your Easter Egg Contest form. Find 6 or more and mail it in to possibly win a beautiful giant chocolate Easter egg filled with a surprise created by Sweet Song Chocolates.