Greetings, Alaskan Friends and Neighbors:
If you are anything like me, you are waiting for this winter to finally end and for spring to arrive, but the snow and the ice and the chill seem to be unusually stubborn and persistent this year. Similarly, it seems many legislators are holding onto the false narrative that Alaska is still under a state of disaster and are pressing for the passage of House Bill 76 to reinstate a disaster emergency declaration. Please bear in mind that Alaska has not been under a disaster declaration emergency since February 15. The Senate Finance Committee will take up HB 76 this week, and I look forward to thoughtful and reasoned discussion regarding an effective way forward.
As you may recall, I pointed out earlier in the session on the record that Alaska was transitioning into the recovery phase and on the road back to a state of normalcy. Others picked up on this language – why? Because our case counts were declining. Because Alaska had the best vaccination rate per capita. A number of legislators prefer (like I do) to provide the administration with only the specific tools needed to complete the task rather than extending a full-blown disaster declaration and giving the governor much broader powers than necessary. The question now is, have the recovery trends continued or reversed? It is fair to ask what the data and science actually say about where we are currently in the state’s fight against COVID.
- The number of new cases in the state have plateaued. We have seen no spikes in case counts in the last 30 days. We are at an average of 175 new cases per day (down from over 700 per day at the height of the pandemic).
- While tragically there have been 3 COVID related fatalities in the last 30 days, this is down from the peak of 98 in the month of December for a total of 310 since the pandemic began. We are among the three states with the lowest death rate. Alaska’s rate is 41 per 100,000 compared to New York and New Jersey with rates of 260 and 280 respectively per 100,000.
- 467,079 vaccination doses have been given in Alaska. According to HB76, Alaska has the highest vaccination rate of all 50 states. In the last 30 days, the number of Alaskans who have chosen to become fully vaccinated has gone from 17.3% to 27.6%, 5.7% higher than the national average of 21.9%. 34.2% of all Alaskans have had at least one vaccine dose and we are on track to have about 40% of our state vaccinated by the end of April.
Keep in mind again, that all this is being accomplished WITHOUT a disaster declaration in place. So the question is, are we truly in a health disaster and do we really need a health disaster declaration? My answer is a resounding no; we are not, and we do not. It is my belief that if we revert to such a mode, we will send a negative message, both in-state and out-of-state, that things are getting worse when they are. This negative message would in turn have a harmful impact on our fragile economy. Thousands of Alaskans have already lost jobs (29,000 from October 2019 to October 2020), businesses, and livelihoods. We are in danger of losing even more if we continue to believe otherwise.
Alaska Statute 26.23.900(2)(E) states:
A “disaster” means the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, loss of life or property, or shortage of food, water, or fuel resulting from (E) an outbreak of disease or a credible threat of an imminent outbreak that the commissioner of health and social services or a designee of the commissioner of health and social services certifies to the governor has a high probability of occurring in the near future.
Neither the Commissioner or a designee with the Department of Health and Social Services have made any certification at this time, which by law is a requirement for a disaster emergency to be in effect.
What we need and what I have advocated for, is a bill that allows the Governor the tools needed to continue the good fight against COVID and for economic recovery. Things like telemedicine and telehealth capability; COVID liability waivers for businesses, licensees and employees; expanded procurement and distribution ability; and the ability to carry forward unused school funds into direct classroom instruction.
We need to focus now on our economy and work together to heal our state.
I will be watching closely as the Senate Finance Committee considers HB 76. It is my hope that we can present a bill to the Governor for his signature that is narrow in scope to complete the task at hand so we can return to normal.
Before I “close this opener”, please take note that work in the legislature will be busy this week with debate and action on policy bills. Thursday, my Community & Regional Affairs Committee will hold its long awaited hearing on the status of broadband in Alaska to understand where the gaps exist. Click here to see the meeting agenda. We are excited to host Space X / Starlink as well as OneWeb with Dataport / Microcom to discuss low earth orbit satellites as part of the solution for Alaska. My SJR4, which is a constitutional amendment to protect human life regarding the unborn, will be heard in Senate Judiciary at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Public testimony will occur. Public testimony on the Governor’s appointments to the Board of Fish will be taken Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Senate Resources.
You’ll also want to be sure to read the article about the encouraging prospects for my bill, SB 41 The Healthcare Consumer’s Right to Shop Act, based on developments at the national level as well as interest here in the Senate. Let me know if the incentive outlined in the article would motivate you to shop if the bill were to pass. I would truly like to know!
As you browse this update, please be sure to scan the reminder bullets below! I am here for you and count on your input on issues to assist in the decision-making process.
- Be sure to catch my weekly Facebook Live : #Telling_it_like_it_is Monday at 6:00pm on my senator page (time/day subject to change – watch for notices). Hear what is happening in Juneau and weigh in and ask questions. “Like” and “follow” my page so you will receive a reminder notification.
- Sign up for handy (but only occasional) text notifications about your favorite bill (or your least favorite!). As easily as it is to enroll, you can disenroll. Scroll way down to “Tips to Stay in the Loop” at the bottom of this newsletter for details.
- Mark your calendar for Friday at 1:30 p.m. if you are interested in testifying on SJR4, my prolife constitutional amendment, before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here to see the meeting agenda. See the flyer below for details.
- If you are interested in the management of our fisheries and balance for the user groups, be sure to testify before the Senate Resources Committee at 3:30 p.m. on Friday regarding the Board of Fisheries appointees. See who they are here. Scroll down to see the flyer with the call-in information.
I hope that this message finds you and your loved ones doing well.
Working on your behalf,
Let Your Voice Be Heard!!!
Quotes from Constituents and Alaskans
Comments: The Good, the Bad, AND the Ugly
The finance committee hasn’t listened for five years! So why would they listen now? – Terry
Cut the bloated budget by 15 to 20% in all areas. We are spending way too much. Stop the spending spree now! Honor the law and pay out the statute directed PFD. The Governor’s budget was a great place to start. Reduce state spending. Submit a small sales tax which is tied to an equal reduction in spending across the board! This should be a dollar-for-dollar reduction. – William
Our unborn babies deserve to live!! Thank you for speaking up for them. – Katie
The Legislature – this session – MUST pass legislation to restore the integrity of our voting process. To me, that means cleaning up the voter registration lists, requiring in-person identification, making absentee ballots verifiable, eliminating mail-in ballots, prohibiting ballot harvesting, and getting rid of programmable voting machines. Of all the many important issues you have there to deal with, if our broken voting system is not fixed, then all your other efforts will be for naught. Period. – Gary
As your constituent, I’m asking that you advocate for a Vaccine Bill of Rights in our state, as modeled after the resolution proposed by America’s Frontline Doctors. The right of the people to decide for themselves whether or not to get vaccinated must be protected against any proposed [government] mandates. – Kim
Yesterday, in Senate Judiciary Committee, we passed an amended version of SB 9 Alcoholic Beverage Control; Alcohol Reg by Senate President Micciche. The committee made a number of changes that will give municipalities greater flexibility, important in our growing area. To watch the hearing and public testimony click here.
Unrelated but perhaps of interest to you: discussions are underway to adjust the covid policies in the Capitol which I believe are stricter than anywhere else in the state. I did not know that mask removal was an option in this photo, but it sure is good to see some full faces and smiles.
There’s something awfully fishy about this upcoming meeting! Seriously though, if you care about the management of our fisheries (and putting fish in your freezer), balance on the board is key.
Assessing the Present and Looking to the Future:
Where are the broadband gaps in Alaska?
It is well known that in many parts of the state, internet access is scarce at best.
In regions such as the unorganized regions, the internet can be extremely limited, slow, and prohibitive in terms of cost. In order for these regions to grow and organize to have greater autonomy, an economic base is fundamental. Could better broadband infrastructure and access provide such an opportunity? As the chair of the Community & Regional Affairs Committee, I believe it is incumbent upon our members to explore this potential.
As internet has become more readily available in other parts of the state, we have seen its benefits in education, healthcare and commerce. Improved broadband in areas of Alaska where it is weak could bring these same benefits.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also shown the importance of internet for the ongoing operations of both schools and business, as well as the overall functioning of society.
Our youth are more reliant than ever on internet for their education, social interaction, and access to the world. Individuals across the state relied on thousands of telehealth appointments for physical and mental health care. Families shopped online more than ever to avoid in-person visits to stores. Workers telecommuted and performed their duties outside their normal place of business. Life continued on, much due to access to broadband.
So, if we were able to successfully march forward during tough times because of the Internet, how much more can we accomplish if during good times the entire state has a strong broadband connection?
To answer this and other questions on the importance of broadband to Alaska, the Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee will be conducting a hearing on April 15th, regarding internet broadband access in Alaska, with a special focus on rural Alaska.
Alaska certainly faces unique challenges to keep up with the rest of the developed world. Vast distances separate communities, with land in between controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Bureau of Land Management, or the USDA Forest Service (making permitting and compliance with federal regulations a challenge). Additionally, many Alaska communities are only accessible by boat or plane, with no roads in or out.
These facts, combined with mountainous terrain and permafrost, harsh winter weather, relatively low business demand in certain areas, and limited daylight hours half the year, are all are challenges not only to the initial deployment of services, including laying of fiber-optic cable, but to the ongoing operation and maintenance as well as to the costs.
Because of these challenges, interest has increased in Low Earth Orbit satellites or “LEOS” for short. LEO satellites along with non-geostationary (NGSO) satellites are intended to provide significantly faster, lower-latency backhaul connectivity to areas of Alaska that remain unserved by terrestrial broadband.
Among the major companies working to deploy these revolutionary new systems in Alaska are OneWeb/ Pacific Dataport’s Aurora Project (with local partner Microcom), SpaceX with its “Starlink” system, and Amazon with its “Project Kuiper”. We have invited these three companies to provide testimony to our Community & Regional Affairs Committee and are excited to hear about their progress and what they may have to offer Alaskans in the near future.
We have also invited the Alaska Telecom Association, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and the Denali Commission to provide updates on the current status and gaps in service in Alaska.
To learn more about “LEOS” and pricing for internet in rural Alaska, click here. For more information on the Senate Community & Regional Affairs broadband hearing, click here.
It was a pleasure to meet with Bethany Marcum and Tim Barto from the Alaska Policy Forum. My staff Lisa Hart and I discussed with them potential improvements for SB 41 along with potential support they can provide for the bill. Read the article below for more information on SB 41.
Hope in Sight: SB 41
The Right to Shop Act
Reducing Healthcare Costs in Alaska
Alaska’s healthcare costs are the highest in the nation – in fact, on the globe – and continue to rise. Through free market principles, SB 41 will bend the cost curve down over time to help relieve the disproportionate burden of healthcare costs on family budgets, seniors on fixed incomes and employers providing insurance coverage to their employees.
Senate Bill 41 will provide Alaskans with the information they need to plan financially for their healthcare decisions. The bill adds a mechanism so insurance companies will provide an incentive – a shared savings check – to policyholders who choose a provider who charges below the average. Employers providing insurance coverage for employees will also be eligible for some of the shared savings as will the insurers. This approach will help bring down the high cost of healthcare in Alaska by encouraging consumers to shop and providers to compete for Alaska’s healthcare dollars.
Here’s how it would work. The difference in the covered expenses between the average cost provider and the lower cost provider is the amount that would be shared between the consumer, the employer (if employer-provided insurance), and the insurer.
Let’s say you need an outpatient surgery. If the average covered expenses are $10,000, and you choose a provider so the covered expenses total $8500, the $1500 difference would be shared between you, your employer, and the insurer – each receiving 1/3 of the savings or $500. If you purchase your insurance directly, and it is not provided by an employer, your shared savings check would be $750. Would this motivate you to shop? I’m hearing from many of you that it would!
Why is hope in sight regarding SB 41? When I first began working on this bill a few years ago, we were asking insurers to develop an online price comparison tool for Alaskans for this healthcare shopping to work – a special accommodation just for our state. Now insurers, based on federal law, are required to provide such a tool in all states by 2022.
The Trump administration released the Transparency in Coverage rule in Oct 2020 requiring most group health plans, and health insurance issuers in both the group and individual market to disclose price and cost-sharing information to participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees. These requirements are being finalized to give consumers real-time, personalized access to cost-sharing information, including an estimate of their cost-sharing liability, through an internet based self-service tool, essentially an online price comparison tool. These tools are being developed now with an expected launch date of January 2022.
As a result of the Transparency in Coverage rule, the time is ripe. SB 41 is among the most innovative approaches as a result of the incentive provision and is expected to reduce costs more effectively than other efforts because of this.
The Healthcare Consumer’s Right to Shop Act will empower Alaskans with the tools needed to make healthcare choices that fit their needs and work for their budgets while introducing a bit of competition into the healthcare market in Alaska to help nudge down the costs over time.
On April, 8th, as Vice-Chair of the Senate Health & Social Services Committee, I filled in for Chair David Wilson who was away on state business.
During that meeting we heard SB 38 Naturopaths: Licensing; Practice by Senator Kawasaki. We also moved out SB 26 Repeal Certificate of Need Program by Senator Wilson and SB 99 Juveniles: Justice, Facilities, Treatment by Senator Begich.
Public Testimony Opportunities
This Week
Click links for dates and times. Click here (or if your email program doesn’t recognize anchor links, scroll down to final section of this newsletter) for information on how to receive text updates when action is taken on a bill of interest to you. The texts are occasional, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Tuesday, April 13th
(H) Community & Regional Affairs 8:30am
HB 137 Motor Vehicle Offices *Invited & Public Testimony*
(S) State Affairs Committee 3:30pm
SB 23 Initiative Severability *Public Testimony*
SB 77 Use of Internet for Charitable Gaming *Public Testimony*
SB 118 Committee on Nullification of Federal Laws *Invited & Public Testimony*
SB 120 Admin. Regulation Review Committee *Invited & Public Testimony*
Wednesday, April 14th
(S) Judiciary Committee 1:30pm
SB 122 Victim Definition *Invited & Public Testimony*
Thursday, April 15th
(H) Community & Regional Affairs Committee 3:30pm
HB 58 Contraceptives Coverage: Insure; Med Assist *Invited & Public Testimony*
HB 105 Detention of Minors *Invited & Public Testimony*
Friday, April 16th
(H) Education 8:00am
HB 60 Public Schools: Mental Health Education *Invited & Public Testimony*
(H) Labor & Commerce 8:00am
HB 145 Expand Pharmacist Authority *Public Testimony*
HB 149 Child Care Provider Collective Bargaining *Public Testimony*
(S) Judiciary 1:30pm
SJR 4 Const. Am: Abortion/Funding *Invited & Public Testimony*
IMPORTANT – Please note that additional bills not shown here are scheduled for committee hearings in the House and Senate. This list only contains bills which include opportunities for public testimony this week. Click here to see the full listing.
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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. Below you will find a full list of my bills along with a listing of the contact info and committee/bill assignments for each staff member. Please reach out to them anytime. |
For additional information,
contact my staff:
Buddy Whitt- Chief of Staff
-Senator’s Aide for Senate Rules Committee
-Senator’s Aide for Majority Leadership
Legislation: SB 27
Buddy.Whitt@akleg.gov
907-465-5025
Lisa Hart- Legislative Aide
-Senator’s Aide for Senate Judiciary Committee
Legislation: SB 41, SJR 4
Lisa.Hart@akleg.gov
907-465-1172
Dawson Mann- Legislative Aide
-Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee Aide
-Senator’s Aide for Senate Education Committee
Legislation: SB 42
Dawson.Mann@akleg.gov
907-465-1173
Riley Nye- Legislative Intern
-Senator’s Aide for Senate Health & Social Services Committee
Legislation: SB 43
Riley.Nye@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)
Stay tuned. As bills pass, they will be listed here.
Legislation Update
(Shelley’s bills filed with your best interest in mind)
The latest UPDATES are highlighted in yellow.
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. This bill was referred to the Senate Labor and Commerce and Resources Committees. On Monday March, 8th, aide Buddy Whitt and Sen. Hughes presented SB 27 in a hearing before Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. On March, 15, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee moved SB 27 out of committee and on to its next committee of referral: the Senate Resources Committee. Chief of Staff Buddy Whitt submitted a hearing request last week to the Senator Resources Chair, Sen. Josh Revak. On Friday, April 9th SB 27 was passed out from Senate Resources Committee and sent to its next committee of referral Senate Finance.
SB 41 – Health Insurance Info; Incentive Program. Also known as the Alaska Health Care Consumers Right to Shop Act. The goal of this piece of legislation is to bring down the cost of healthcare over time by instituting full cost transparency and an incentive to shop for healthcare services that are below the average cost. This bill was referred to the Senate Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. Senator Hughes has met with the Director of the Alaska Division of Insurance, Lori Wing-Heier, to discuss possible improvements to the legislation. Meetings with major insurers (who operate in Alaska) and with Wing-Heier, Hughes and staff have taken place the last couple of weeks. We are working with Ms. Wing-Heir on language to improve the bill and look forward to requesting a hearing in Senate Labor & Commerce Committee once we have the new language. On Wednesday, April 7th, aide Lisa Hart and Sen. Hughes presented SB 41 in a hearing before the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee. Work is underway to make changes to the language in the bill to make it less burdensome to providers, yet still effective for consumers.
SB 42 – Virtual and Early Education, Reading- The “Education Transformation Act” (now merged into Senated Education Committee SB 111) enables districts to open up slots in classrooms to students in other locations and from other districts via two-way videoconferencing or other distance learning methods via internet. A menu of classes and teachers with video samples would open up a larger variety of course offerings and teaching expertise to students statewide. The bill also requires the state to adjust PRAXIS scores for teacher certification periodically. Districts would be required to post the ratio of administrators to classroom teachers to students each year. Districts could roll forward savings for the next year (up to an amount equal to 15% of current year’s expenditures) without impacting the amount of state funds to be received the next year. High school students could receive course credit for activities outside of school hours that districts determine meet the education or physical activity of a course. The bill establishes a “Read by 9” policy to ensure improved proficiency of students in reading by third grade. It also establishes cooperative agreements are expanded to include efficiency partnerships between districts and businesses, non-profits, and local governments. When between districts, the cooperative agreement is to include at least one rural school district. SB 42 also includes language focused on increasing the number of National Board Certified teachers in Alaska. On Monday February, 15th, aide Dawson Mann and Sen. Hughes presented SB 42 in a hearing before Senate Education Committee. Sen. Hughes then engaged in a discussion with the Education Chair, Senator Roger Holland, regarding the possibility of his using much of the language from SB42 to draft a Senate Education Committee bill. Sen. Hughes believes the importance and scope of SB42 make it an appropriate bill for sponsorship by a committee that serves the entire senate, rather than just by one legislator. The Current Education Committee bill SB 111 also know as the Alaska Academic Improvement and Modernization Act (AIM) is largely based on the contents of SB 42. A committee substitute for SB 111 will be taken up this week that makes a number of changes recommended by the committee.
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. This bill was referred to the Senate State Affairs and Judiciary Committees. SB 43 received its first hearing February 2 in the State Affairs Committee. The working draft of a committee substitute was adopted to narrow this bill to the subject of campaign financing related to ballot initiatives. The chair explained he planned to merge the section on ballot harvesting with another bill. The bill received its second hearing on February 16, 2021. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was moved out. SB 43 was given a referral to the Senate Finance Committee due to an added fiscal note on February 22. Stakeholder groups have contacted Senator Hughes’ office regarding the legislation and their input is under consideration. This bill is on hold unless or until we are able to address a few issues.
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. Each and every time that the legislature has passed legislation attempting to regulate in even the smallest and simplest manner the practice of abortion in the state, the courts in Alaska have stepped in to call any such provisions unconstitutional. Interestingly, the same provisions exist in many other states, including in states considered very progressive The passage of SJR 4 in the legislature and majority approval by Alaska voters will make it possible for the people to have a voice and express their will as it relates to abortion in our state. This bill was referred to the Senate Health & Social Services, Judiciary, and Finance Committees. The first hearing for SJR 4 was held March 16 before the Senate Health & Social Services Committee and public testimony was taken. On March 24, SJR 4 was passed from Senate Health & Social Services Committee on to its next committee of referral: the Senate Judiciary Committee. SJR 4 will have it’s first hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee this Friday at 1:30 p.m. and will be open for public testimony.
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. I introduced this legislation on March 10 and requested a hearing before the State Affairs Committee. On Thursday, March 25th, my Chief of Staff Buddy Whitt and Intern Riley Nye did a wonderful job presenting SB 102 before the Senate State Affairs Committee. On Friday, April 9th. SB 102 was passed out from Senate State Affairs and sent to its next committee of referral: Senate Finance.
Catch our latest #Telling_it_like_it_is Facebook Live video from Juneau. Capitol Series #10 aired April 13th, 2021. Questions and comments from live viewers are always part of our format.
By the way, this is Riley’s last week as our legislative intern, and we are so grateful to have had him assisting with work on behalf of District F. He has been a true asset, and we will miss him when he leaves. We wish him all the best as he considers law school im the 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!
– Let Your Voice Be Heard –
– Participate in Public Testimony –
Public testimony is available for every bill heard in a committee. Follow bills you have interest in on the Alaska State Legislature Page. To testify, go to your local Legislative Information Office (LIO) which you can find here. If you are unable to testify, written testimony can also be submitted by sending an email to the committee.
Public testimony times on bills
that might interest you:
Find it here!
Public Testimony OFF NET Numbers
Anchorage: 907-563-9085
Juneau: 907-586-9085
Everywhere else: 844-586-9085
For budget bills and Permanent Fund bills, please arrive 15 minutes early for sign-in process, and please arrive 15 minutes prior to the end of the allotted time or testimony may close early. Public testimony may be limited to two minutes per person, so it’s best to prepare concise comments.
Remotely-operated cameras broadcast the Senate floor session. Typically the floor sessions are held Monday and Wednesday at 11:00am and Friday at 10:30am. Check the schedule and view the sessions here. 360 North (Gavel to Gavel television) broadcasts the House and Senate floor sessions statewide as well as some of the committee hearings.
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.
Buddy Whitt – Chief of Staff
Buddy.Whitt@akleg.gov
Lisa Hart – Legislative Aide
Lisa.Hart@akleg.gov
Dawson Mann – Legislative Aide
Dawson.Mann@akleg.gov
Riley Nye – Legislative Aide/Intern
Riley.Nye@akleg.gov
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
Legislative Assignments
Senator Shelley Hughes
Senate Majority Leader
Committee Assignments
- Community & Regional Affairs Committee, Chair
- Health & Social Services Committee, Vice-Chair
- Rules Committee, Member
- Judiciary Committee, Member
- Education Committee, Member
- World Trade 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
State of Alaska COVID-19 Coronavirus Information (Click Here)
State of Alaska COVID-19 Health Orders (Click Here)
State of Alaska COVID-19 Vaccine Information (Click Here)
Best regards,
Copyright © *2021* *Office of Senator Shelley Hughes*, All rights reserved.
