March 8, 2022
Alaskan Friends and Neighbors,
This past week we quietly passed by day 45, the midpoint of the statutory 90-day session of the second session of the Thirty-Second Alaska State Legislature, but all eyes are elsewhere in the world, and rightly so. Our hearts are with the people of Ukraine who are suffering due to Putin’s brutal invasion of their nation. This week many members of the legislature from all parties joined several Ukrainian-Americans on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol in prayer and reflection. I hope that these small acts of solidarity are helpful and bring comfort to those whose brave families are struggling in the face of war to preserve their sovereignty.
As we watch in shock and horror at the chaos that is occurring because of one man’s evil ambitions, I hope that you will join me in praying for those involved, for strength for the Ukrainian people and for wisdom for those in authority to make good decisions to safeguard human life and bring these horrors to a resolution as soon as possible. It was an honor to lead the prayer with those gathered on the Capitol steps, and it would be an honor to continue to pray throughout the coming days with you.
I am also mindful of lessons that we have learned about Putin and what we may be able to do as lawmakers to protect ourselves from him and any other bad actors that may come along. With that in mind, I want to point out that House Bill 3 sponsored by Representative DeLena Johnson, which I wrote about in last week’s newsletter, will be before the Senate for consideration today on the Senate floor.
As you may recall, House Bill 3 is incredibly relevant to our current situation as it allows the Governor, in the event of a significant or statewide cyber attack against the state or any subdivision of the state, to declare a disaster emergency. Doing so allows a swift response and access to funding so that we can recover from an attack as soon as possible. I look forward to carrying this bill on the Senate floor and getting it passed.
Watching the news, I am shocked at the strategy Putin and his military is employing. Nothing was more troubling last week than the Russian military instigating a firefight at the site of the world’s largest nuclear reactor. Common sense would dictate this type of action to be unconscionable, and yet here we are.
The future of nuclear power has been discussed in the legislature this year with the Governor’s introduction of Senate Bill 177 relating to the micronuclear reactors. I mention this because you may be wondering what, if any, similar danger would be posed by microreactors if they existed in our state. The short answer is there is no similar danger. Large and old legacy plants are dangerous. Small, multi-layered compact and contained (connex-sized) microreactors with multiple safety protections do not have the potential to wreak devastation like the legacy plants. SB177 will be discussed this afternoon at 3:30pm in a hearing in the committee I chair, Community and Regional Affairs. You can tune in and watch here.
This past week, the first hearing for my Senate Bill 140, The Even Playing Field Act was held. You can read more about it and watch the committee hearing below. Each day it seems there is another example in the news nationally of a male-bodied athlete competing with females in sports with an unfair advantage. This is an issue that parents, students, and coaches have asked to be addressed statutorily in Alaska so girls and women here won’t face this discrimination and can continue to compete on a fair and even playing field. SB140 ensures the gains won in the passage of Title IX in the 1970’s are not eroded.
Be sure to check out last night’s Facebook Live if you missed joining us. We had a great discussion about happenings here in our state’s capital. We livestream each Monday at 6:00 PM here and your questions and comments, along with an update, are always front and center. Hope you can join us in the future!
Working on your behalf,
Gathering on the Capitol steps to rally in support of the Ukrainian people with Rep. Story, Sen. Revak, and other Alaskans.
Praying with the crowd gathered in front of the Capitol on Friday.
Signing a card in support of the brave Ukrainians fighting to preserve their homeland.
Viktor Tkachenko, who moved to Alaska from Ukraine last year, speaks in support of his country and their courageous efforts to push back against Putin.
Update from Senate Health and Social Services
This last week in Health and Social Services has been extremely busy! We have had a number of bills that evoked passionate responses from Alaskans. I appreciate those of you who took the time to write me or call in to testify regardless of whether you were for or against a particular bill. I work for you and look forward to hearing your voice on these matters.
The first bill we heard was SB156 on March 1. Senator Reinbold’s bill aims to prevent discrimination based on a person’s Covid-19 vaccination status. This bill has received a tremendous amount of support in the form of emails and phone calls. Many Alaskans adamantly want their medical choices to remain private and do not agree that any type of Covid vaccination passport should be required to access spaces or jobs.
We also heard SB 192 and SB 175 on March 3.
Senator Kawasaki’s bill (SB 192) extends the board of midwives and creates a licensing path for midwives in Alaska. Just like your feelings about the Covid-19 vaccination, the decisions about where and how you have your children are intensely personal. The option of a midwife is very important to many Alaskans. Senator Kawasaki’s bill would require a licensed midwife to have health-care level basic life support skills and neonatal CPR certifications along with midwife training. I support this bill so that this option for birthing in Alaska can continue.
SB175 was introduced by Senator Wilson and pertains to telehealth, another option for Alaskans. As we all saw with the Covid-19 pandemic, everything from school to work migrated to an online format. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and teleworking became our ‘new normal’ and healthcare delivery was no exception. The bill will make a number of changes allowed through the suspension of certain regulations during the pandemic permanent. You may continue to access to your doctor or other provider via the internet or over the phone. As with my stance of a smaller government, this bill does not require you to use telehealth but makes it an option.
We have several other bill hearings in the Senate Heath and Social Services Committee as well, including HCR 10 (today at 1:30pm) with an opportunity for public testimony. This legislation proclaims February as American Heart Month. SB 124 (also today at 1:30pm) deals with admission and detention in a mental health facility. Additional hearings on SB 175 and SB 192 are scheduled for this Thursday at 1:30pm.
Feel free to call in and provide testimony on these bills by calling the following numbers before the hearing:
Juneau: (907)586-9085
Anchorage: (907)563-9085
Everywhere Else: (844) 586-9085
On Thursday, March 3, I attended a special joint Senate and House Education meeting for an update from the Alaska State School Board.
Last Thursday, I presented Senate Bill 140 The Even Playing Field Act along with my staff, Daniel Phelps, before the Senate Education Committee. Please be sure to read the article below to better understand that this bill is to ensure the gains won in the passage of Title IX in the 1970’s are not eroded. It is to ensure that ALL athletes have a fair opportunity and that discrimination based on male or female body type does not occur.
Update on Senate Bill 140
The Even Playing Field Act, Senate Bill 140, was heard for the first time in Senate Education on Thursday last week. This bill seeks to ensure a fair and balanced playing field in women’s sports and athletic programs. The state of women’s athletics stands at risk of regression due to the increasing number of male-bodied athletes competing in the women’s category.
In some cases, male-bodied athletes whose school does not offer a male team for their sport of choice are assigned to the women’s team. Similarly, male-bodied athletes who identify with a gender other than their assignment at birth are placed on women’s teams to compete.
Although inclusion and equal access is the intent behind the placement of these male-bodied athletes on women’s teams, their inclusion effectively discriminates against female body athletes who then face an unfair disadvantage and consequently lack an even playing field. Girls and women must continue to have a category of sport where they have a chance at victory. Unless we address this policy issue in Alaska, these chances will erode over time.
I say we do it now before it becomes seriously problematic in Alaska and robs girls and women from athletic opportunities, championships, and scholarships. Thank you to the parents, students, and coaches who have brought this request to me for a statutory solution.
In Senate Education, we heard testimony from several important voices on this issue and I wanted to pass along some of the highlights.
Former Team USA track athlete and current track coach, Cynthia Monteleone, testified on the importance of protecting the mental health of female athletes when it comes to competing in women’s sports. She noted the anxiety and defeat that many of the young girls she coaches experience when they step up to the line to compete against a male-bodied athlete knowing that they cannot win. The objective physical advantages of male-bodied athletes lead girls to question their own abilities and to doubt whether their hard work to improve in their sport of choice is worth it if they have no chance of victory.
Alary Kidwell offered her perspective as a transwoman on women’s sports. She noted that as transwomen seek acceptance and inclusion in society, it is important to consider how they are treating biological females. Utilizing their competitive advantage via their male-bodied attributes to dominate women often leads to tension and anger between biological females and trans females. Women’s sports need a solution that includes and provides equal access to both groups without disadvantaging one for the benefit of the other.
Gatorade player of the year in Alaska track and field, Tanner (Ealum) Hart shared her experience as a female athlete in Alaska who competed against male-bodied athletes. Tanner emphasized that allowing biological males to compete in women’s athletics forces a disadvantage upon women. She also pointed out the decades of precedent using a binary male/female determinant in athletics has preserved competition up until the present day diversions from the rule.
Former well-known Alaskan coach, Larry Whitmore, pointed out the disparity between the puberty and early development process of biological males and females. To place biological males and biological females on the same team or in competition with one another ignores the reality that their maturing processes are unique and different. Equal rights and protection of the law are not the same as equal physical ability and to mistake this point only disadvantages biological females.
Representative Barbara Ehardt of the Idaho State Legislature called in to testify; she worked to pass similar legislation in her state. Title IX enabled Rep. Ehardt to compete in Division 1 basketball and coach at the Division 1 level for 15 years despite the fact that she was told girls do not play sports prior to the passage of Title IX in her childhood. Rep Ehardt challenged the common narrative that school athletics is about community and inclusivity by pointing out that sports first begins with competition and winning.
In the world of athletics, coaches are in it to lead their team to victory. If biological males are allowed to continue to compete in women’s sports, it will not be long until every coach begins actively recruiting male-bodied athletes to play on their teams in order to remain competitive with other schools doing likewise. Furthermore, due to limited rosters, awards, and scholarships, every male-bodied athlete that is allowed to compete in women’s sport takes away an opportunity from a biological female, the intended beneficiary in lieu of Title IX.
We also heard testimony from two legal and policy experts on TItle IX and women’s sports issues, one from Independent Women’s Law Center and one for Alliance Defending Freedom.
Matt Sharp, senior legal counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, testified on his experience in legal disputes on this issue across the nation. He recognized that the 9th District Court, which has jurisdiction over Alaska, determined that redressing past discrimination against women in athletics and promoting equality of opportunity between the sexes was a legitimate and important government interest. For legislation to treat one group of people differently than another, a compelling governmental interest must be served and the absence of a less restrictive means to advance that interest must exist. In accordance with Title IX and the percent of the courts, SB 140’s goal of preserving an even playing field for women and girls provides a compelling governmental interest without a less restrictive alternative and therefore, meets the legal standard necessary.
Jennifer Braceras, legal counsel and director of the Independent Women’s Law Center, noted that this policy is not targeted at transgender athletes. It is to ensure any male-bodied athlete doesn’t rob a spot intended for a female. Across the country, many athletic programs roster male players on female teams where there is not a similar male option such as in field hockey and volleyball. This practice takes opportunity away from women and thereby discriminates against women based on their sex. The policy of SB 140 is about fairness and equal opportunity for women not about banning transgender athletes.
By the way, as part of my opening remarks, I made it very clear that this bill is about ensuring athletic opportunities for ALL and that I am not transphobic and in fact, value every person, including transgender individuals. I want them to have a fair and truly competitive playing field just like I want that for women and girls. Any accusations to the contrary are unfounded.
SB 140 continues to move forward and is scheduled for public testimony this Saturday, March 12 at 10:00 AM. See below for instructions on how to testify either in writing or by calling in to the hearing.
On Thursday, March 3, we heard Senate Bill 156 Prohibit Covid-19 Vaccine Discrimination sponsored by Senator Reinbold in the Senate Health & Social Services Committee.
Time after committee with local Juneau residents, many of whom testified in support of SB156. It’s great to have the Capitol building open and to see smiling faces once again!
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOU TO WEIGH IN THIS WEEK
Public Testimony
Below is list of bills scheduled to be heard in various committees this week. If you’d like to provide public testimony, plug the bill number (for example “HB 133”) into the search bar here to learn the date and time. Scroll down toward the bottom of this newsletter to find the public testimony call-in phone numbers.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK
Below is a sampling. Click here to see the full list.
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As the volume of daily contacts reaching out to my office has exponentially increased over time, my staff stands by, ready to assist you. If you desire follow-up, feedback, a response to a question, etc., it’s always best to call the office. Below are direct phone numbers for my aides, or you can call the general number at 907-465-3743. |
Time for cookies! It’s clear our office has decisive preferences when it comes to Thin Mints and Do-Si-Dos. We enjoyed a visit by one of the members of a local Girl Scout troop, and, yes, we purchased a few boxes. Keep your eyes peeled for local Girl Scouts in District F if you have a sweet tooth!
For additional information,
contact my staff:
Buddy Whitt- Chief of Staff
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Senate Judiciary Committee
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Senate Education Committee
Buddy.Whitt@akleg.gov
907-465-5025
Daniel Phelps – Legislative Aide
-Committee Aide for Community and Regional Affairs
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Alaska Grown Caucus
Daniel.Phelps@akleg.gov
907-465-1172
Brent Bartlett – Legislative Aide
– Senator Hughes’ Aide for Health and Social Services Committee
Brent.Bartlett@akleg.gov
907-465-3743
Serving You in These Roles
Current Senate Committees:
- Community & Regional Affairs Committee, Chair
- Health & Social Services Committee, Vice-Chair
- Rules Committee, Member
- Judiciary Committee, Member
- Education Committee, Member
- Legislative Council Committee, Alternate
Finance Subcommittee Assignments:
- Senate Transportation & Public Facilities (Fin Sub), Member
- Senate Administration (Fin Sub), Member
- Senate Judiciary (Fin Sub), Member
Other Appointments:
- State Agriculture & Rural Leaders, Alaska Delegate
- Mat-Su Legislative Delegation, Member
- National Conference of State Legislatures – State Coordinator
- National Conference of State Legislatures – Law, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Member
- National Conference of State Legislatures – Task Force on Cybersecurity, Member
- Council of State Governments – Transportation Committee, Member
- Council of State Governments West – Canada Relations Committee, Member
For information on bills I’m co‑sponsoring
click here.
For information on all bills filed during this session,
click here.
Passed Legislation
(Bills that are finished with the legislative process)
SB 27 – Industrial Hemp Program; Manufacturing- Many of you are aware that in 2018 I sponsored and the legislature passed SB6 allowing for the legalized growth and production of Industrial Hemp as an agricultural product in the Alaska. In late 2018 the US Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill which made additional changes to the federal statutes regarding the production of industrial hemp. SB 27 makes a few small changes in Alaska statute in order to conform to those federal changes.
The bill was passed unanimously in the Senate and almost unanimously in the House (Representatives Eastman and Kurka were opposed to this bill). This summer the Governor signed the bill at the Alaska State Fair, and just a few weeks ago the United States Department of Agriculture approved the Alaska Industrial Hemp Plan so that Alaska can now grow, manufacture, and sell hemp and hemp products across jurisdictions. This is a great win for Alaska.
Legislation Update
(Shelley’s bills filed with your best interest in mind)
SB 41 – Health Insurance Info; Incentive Program. Also known as the Alaska Health Care Consumers Right to Shop Act. The bill is currently in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. A second hearing on the bill was held recently and we are hopeful for a third hearing which we expect will include some slight revisions. After a refresher about what the bill did (since the bill had not been before the committee for nearly a year) members were supportive. The bill was held to allow an adjustment. We hope the bill will be heard again soon and moved out. The next committee of referral is the Senate Finance Committee. This bill will loosen up free-market principles to operate like they should in our healthcare market in Alaska. Providing an easy way for consumers to price compare through an online tool and offering an incentive via cashback for shared savings if the consumer chooses a provider who charges less than the average charge, this bill help reintroduce competition into a sector of our economy where it is now fairly non-existent. When it comes to healthcare, Alaska is not only the highest cost state in the nation, it is the highest cost location on the globe. This stifles economic growth in other sectors, overburdens Alaskan families and individuals, is taking dollars allocated to education away from instruction in our schools, and increases costs for local and state governments.
SB 42 – Virtual and Early Education, Reading- The “Education Transformation Act” (now merged into Senate Education Committee SB 111) establishes proven reading instruction in our schools with the goal that children will learn to read well by third grade. It also establishes an online platform with a menu of classes and video samples in order to open up a larger variety of course offerings and teaching expertise to students statewide. Lastly, it provides for optional pre-K with a strong reading preparation component. The bill is awaiting a third hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Certain items in the bill were recently misunderstood and misrepresented by a few members of the House majority in a newspaper opinion piece. Several of us are working to set the record straight so that the legislation can move forward and young Alaskan students can benefit from schools being held accountable to teach children to read.
SB 43 – Elections, Voting, Campaign Finance- “An Act relating to campaign finance and initiatives; relating to elections and voting; and relating to unlawful interference with voting”. SB 43 is about improving transparency and accountability in Alaska’s campaign finance laws as well as securing the integrity of Alaska’s election process. We were able to move the bill from the Senate State Affairs Committee to the Judiciary Committee but will not be requesting a hearing because the key pieces of the bill were incorporated into SB39, an election integrity bill by Senator Shower which awaits a hearing in Senate Finance.
SB 102 – Extending the Alaska membership in the Compact to advocate for an Article V Constitutional Convention for the purposes of advancing an amendment to the United States Constitution requiring a balanced budget. Alaska’s membership in this compact is set to expire this year, but with the passage of Senate Bill 102, Alaska would remain a member in the compact until 2031. The bill has been in the possession of the Senate Finance Committee since early April 2021 but has not been scheduled. Former Lt Governor Mead Treadwell is a big advocate for this legislation and is visiting with key members of the legislature, hoping to win support for the bill to move.
SB 140 – An Act relating to school athletics, recreation, athletic teams, and sports. The goal of SB 140 is to maintain the rights women fought for and gained in obtaining Title IX status in 1972. Before Title IX, 1 in 27 girls played sports. Today that number is 2 in 5. An excellent hearing was held last week with tremendous expert testimony. The Senate Education Committee will be taking public testimony on SB 140 this Saturday, March 12 at 10:00 AM.
SB181 – Identification of Contractor in Ads – This bill amends the current statute to allow contractors to provide an internet website or landing page that contains their licensure and identification requirements rather than listing the details in the advertisement. This bill was moved out of the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee two weeks ago and awaits a hearing in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee which we hope will be soon.
SB 197 – Senate Bill 197 is my bill to allow Alaskans to enter Direct Health Care Agreements with Doctors. Direct Health Care Agreement concepts are not new and have been adopted as a regular medical practice in 32 states with pending legislation in 12 other including Alaska. Direct Health Care agreements allow a patient to enter into an agreement for service with their healthcare provider for one annual fee and cover a myriad of preventative and regular healthcare without involving your medical insurance. These agreements remove some of the financial barriers patients encounter in accessing routine primary care, including preventive, wellness, and chronic care services. The bill has one committee of referral and we expect a hearing in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee soon.
SB 217 – Current law allows concealed carry on school campuses in Alaska but only with the permission of the school superintendent. There are currently no other caveats beyond that. One of the reasons that school superintendents around the state do not allow the carrying of concealed weapons is due to the lack of guidance from the state on what criteria should be established to allow concealed carry on school grounds. Senate Bill 217 clarifies the requirements for concealed carry on school grounds so that superintendents have the guidance necessary to ensure that those who are granted the right to carry have the training necessary to conduct themselves responsibly.
SJR 4 – Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to abortion. This bill will allow for the question of abortion to be decided through legislation or voter initiative. The bill was heard and passed out of the Senate Health and Social Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee is currently in the Senate Finance Committee. We are hopeful that the committee will hear the bill in the near future.
Join Shelley on Facebook Live each week to ask questions and give input.
We typically broadcast Mondays at 6:00 pm, but watch for a notification on Facebook as the day/time is subject to change.
Be sure to “like” the “Senator Shelley Hughes” Facebook page www.facebook.com/AKShelleyHughes
so you’ll get a heads-up each time we air!
HAVE A FEDERAL ISSUE???
Contact Alaska’s US Senators and Congressman
Lisa Murkowski – Senator
Anchorage: 907-271-3735
Mat-Su: 907-376-7665
Dan Sullivan – Senator
Anchorage: 907-271-5915
Mat-Su: 357-9956
Don Young – Congressman
Anchorage: 907-271-5978
TIPS TO STAY IN THE LOOP
More important than ever!
TIP #1: The Alaska State Legislature web site is the place to track bills, locate and contact your legislators (session), and access committee information. Questions? Try the help wizard or call 1-800-478-4648.
TIP #2: SMS Bill Tracking! Once you know what bill(s) you want to monitor, here’s a convenient way to track what’s happening. Text any bill number (ex: SB1) to 559-245-2529 to enroll in text alerts for that particular piece of legislation. You’ll receive an enrollment confirmation as well as instructions on how to unsubscribe.
TIP #3: How to Get in Touch with Shelley! Give our office a call at (907)465-3743 or 800-565-3743 or send an email to Sen.Shelley.Hughes@akleg.gov. If you need assistance, want a response, or need other follow-up, please call rather than email.
Buddy Whitt- Chief of Staff
-Senator’s Aide for Senate Rules Committee
-Senator’s Aide for Majority Leadership
-Senator’s Aide for Senate Floor Session
Buddy.Whitt@akleg.gov
907-465-5025
Daniel Phelps – Legislative Aide
-Committee Aide for Community and Regional Affairs
-Senator’s Aide for Senate Judiciary Committee
Daniel.Phelps@akleg.gov
907-465-1172
Brent Bartlett – Legislative Aide
-Senator’s Aide for Health and Social Services Committee
Brent.Bartlett@akleg.gov
907-465-3743
Diane Bryant – Legislative Aide
-Senator’s Aide for Education Committee
Diane.Bryant@akleg.gov
907-465-1173
Juneau Office
Alaska State Capitol Rm 30
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-465-3743
800-565-3743
Mat-Su Office (closed while in Juneau)
600 E. Railroad Avenue
Wasilla, Alaska 99654
907-376-3725
Best regards,
Copyright © *2022* *Office of Senator Shelley Hughes*, All rights reserved.
