February 15, 2022
Alaskan Friends and Neighbors,
Hopefully you are still feeling Valentine vibes leftover from yesterday which remind you that you are valued by those in your sphere. You may not realize it, but I consider you – even if I don’t know you personally – in my sphere. The work here in Juneau impacts you, and I don’t take that lightly. On this post heart-day, please know that I value you as an individual and as an Alaskan!
Since last week, we’ve been plugging away. Before I mention the work in the Capitol building, I want to first mention that The Night to Shine event at the fairgrounds in Palmer this past weekend was a big success. The drive-through prom event was to give members of the disabled community an opportunity to experience a formal event where they were celebrated as the kings and queens of the evening. I was not able to attend unfortunately, but as I said in my video to the attendees, “The crowns on your hearts are more beautiful than the crowns on your heads!”
A number of people made visits to our office this past week in Juneau including the Mat-Su Borough School District Superintendent Traini and Fish & Game Commissioner Vincent-Lang. I had time with Bethany Marcum with the Alaska Policy Forum as well as had a productive phone meeting with Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries and Mat-Su Borough Manager Mike Brown to discuss a local option in regard to certain farm structures* that would be helpful to our agricultural and food security efforts. *This option is based on the first bill I sponsored passed by the legislature, allowing a local tax exemption if approved by the voters for certain farm structures.
Speaking of Alaska Grown initiatives, we had a ‘Lunch and Learn’ discussing ideas on steps Alaska can consider taking to increase food security. Several members of the Alaska Farm Bureau met with me afterward; in addition, Division of Agriculture Director, David Schade updated me on his work as well. To top it off, I had the honor of meeting with the Future Farmers of America teacher at Palmer High School, Cody Beus, who is working with our youth and potential ag producers down the road.
Today we will hear from Gwen Holdmann about micro nuclear reactors (MNRs) in our Community and Regional Affairs Committee at 3:30 PM (you can watch at akl.tv), and then again this evening at 6:00 PM on Facebook Live on my senator page. Due to advancements and newer technologies, MNRs are not the nuclear devices of yesteryear. They are safe and environmentally friendly. The use of new methods, such as passive cooling, ensure that a disaster like Three Mile Island or Fukushima won’t happen. The fuel is solely purposed for making power. Finally, the reactors can easily and safely be refueled or decommissioned without environmental risk. MNRs are an option for more affordable energy which some communities in Alaska are considering.
We passed a bill this past week in the Senate that re-writes and updates Title 4, the alcohol statutes. The limits on the number of licenses for a particular area have been overly restrictive and problematic for an area like ours that is growing. The initial bill proposal made the problem worse until I was able to successfully amend the bill when it was in the Judiciary Committee. The resulting changes are better than the status quo as well as better than the original bill proposed. Fortunately those changes were not stripped out in a subsequent committee or on the floor. The bill awaits hearings in the House.
SB111, the important education bill, is still on my radar, and our entire office is watching it closely. We all want to ensure that our children have the best shot at an excellent education. A child who learns to read and master the objectives at each grade level is prepared for options after high school that lead to a productive life. Education is a game changer, and as a policymaker, I believe it is past time that we hold the school districts accountable for the more than $1 billion pf public dollars we spend on K-12 education.
Speaking of schools, I got a pleasant surprise when the Wasilla Boys’ Basketball team came to visit! I was able to meet briefly with them and their coach. We posed for a picture on the steps of the Capitol and discussed my bill, SB140 Girls in Girls Sports. The team faced off against the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears and the Thunder Mountain Falcons this past weekend. So glad for these students that life is returning to normal as far as their sports schedule.
Yesterday, our SB41 Healthcare Right to Shop Act was heard in Senate Labor and Commerce. As SB111 is a game changer for students; so is SB41 for healthcare consumers. You can read about it in the bill update.
So much more I could discuss with you, but the one thing I must include and emphasize by making it my final point is the fact that this Saturday, you are invited to our Mat-Su Delegation Town Hall at 1:00 PM (see location information in flyer below)!.This is your opportunity to engage and be heard by six House members and three Senate members!
Working on your behalf,
The Wasilla Men’s Basketball Team visited Juneau this week. Go, Warriors!
The public testimony opportunity below may interest you! Do you like the idea of a 25/75 split of the draw from the Permanent Fund, 25% for PFDs and 75% to pay for government?
Title 4 Rewrite
Alcohol statutes as they relate to economic growth in our area
This week the Alaska Senate considered and unanimously passed Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senator Micciche. Senate Bill 9 modernizes the Alaska state laws regarding alcohol and streamlines these statutes so the Alcohol Beverage Control Board can operate more efficiently as they regulate the alcoholic beverage industry. By streamlining and clearly defining parameters for operating and controlling the manufacturing, consumption and dispensing of alcohol, the board can ensure that the industry is promoting public safety and health while also creating a climate for the industry to continue to develop and grow.
I voted for the bill, but I and my colleagues had to make some changes in order to earn additional yes vote for the bill. When Senate Bill 9 came to the Senate Judiciary Committee, I had a number of concerns.
The biggest concern was the population controls within the bill. I appreciate the long hours and tireless efforts of the bill sponsor and stakeholders in crafting the legislation, but it missed the mark in a few key areas.
First, there was strong concern from our district and area that the bill was too restrictive and curtailed economic growth by removing opportunities. In Wasilla for example, there would have been no licenses available for new restaurants, as the maximum number in the original bill were too restrictive. This was a poison pill. So, my staff and I worked on and were able to pass an amendment that allowed jurisdictions to petition to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board for additional licenses above the thresholds established in the bill. This allows the population stipulations to remain in place, which works for most communities, but also provides opportunities for communities experiencing growth.
Although full local control for populations such as what we have in the core area (at over 100,000) would have made greater sense, there were unfortunately not enough votes for this change. The amended bill as it passed the Senate, however, is better than the current status quo and better than the original bill.
Secondly, we worked and were able to pass an amendment which allowed beverage servers to take their training courses online rather than attending an in-person class. This makes things incredibly convenient for servers who have families and work long hours, often at night and sometimes as a second job. I was very happy this passed and was supported by my colleagues.
Lastly, I was able to pass an amendment that allowed beverage sales at the fairgrounds in Palmer not only during the fair itself, but also at private events throughout the year.
These amendments proposed and passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee were retained in the Senate Finance Committee version of the bill and passed unanimously by the Senate. We will keep our eye on the bill as it continues through the legislative process and it is my hope that the House will respect the changes that we made.
On Thursday, February 10, my office hosted a Lunch & Learn focused on food production in Alaska. Working with the Alaska Farmland Trust, we heard presentations from five different innovative farms across Alaska that are leading the way in enhancing Alaska’s food security. You can watch the event by clicking the image above!
Above is one of the videos shown during the Lunch & Learn in which a number of farmers from the Fairbanks area address food security and their eagerness to increase food production in Alaska.
In order to achieve this, we need some critical infrastructure advances, such as rail connections and new roads, to provide these willing and ready farmers with the means to access rich soils and get their food to market.
Another critical opportunity that infrastructure advances would allow is exporting Alaska-grown products both to other states and other countries. Targeting roughly 30% export of agriculture and food product is an essential move to grow our economy and Alaskan grown food to the shelves of our supermarkets.
Exports bring outside dollars into our state’s economy, providing large-scale farmers with a more consistent demand stream and the profits they need to scale to a point where they can meet the demand of Alaskan stores and supermarkets.
Smaller remote farms also play an important role in bringing food security to our state. The vast variety of microclimates in our diverse state enables farmers to specialize in a specific niche product suitable to the particular microclimate of their region.
Paula and Mike from Eagle Song Peony Farm discussed how their microclimate in the remote bush of the Susitna River Valley has enabled their farm to reinvent itself as a provider leading producer of peonies in North America.
Building bridges and relationships with other local service providers has enabled their farm to cultivate consistent demand and a reliable supply chain for their product nationwide.
Paula and Mike’s video shown during the Lunch & Learn event can be viewed by clicking the image above.
Manufacturing: Is it a viable option to help diversify our economy in Alaska?
A visit by Governor Dunleavy to celebrate manufacturing in Alaska focused on the Mat-Su last week and you can read about it here. I’d like to highlight the relatively untapped manufacturing sector as a viable one for our state. It’s often not included in the discussion when we talk about economic diversification. It should be.
Alaskan manufacturing is one of the many industries that we need to promote in order to obtain economic stability for our state. So much of the economic conversation in Alaska focuses on the oil industry, so I wanted to update you on the state of the often overlooked manufacturing industry.
A common misconception is that manufacturing in Alaska is costly and impractical due to the remote location of our State and the supply chain steps to get here. Contrary to this belief, manufacturers who choose to operate out of Alaska report advantages such as low property costs, lower tax burdens imposed by the government, and ideal supply chain positioning with direct shipping routes from material suppliers abroad. The Mat-Su Valley, in particular, offers convenient access to the Port of Alaska, existing utility infrastructure capable of powering manufacturing plants, and low cost of entry to new businesses.
As you know, the Mat-Su Borough has the fastest growing local economy in the state. Part of this is due to the manufacturers who choose to open up shop in our area. As we look to diversify our economic base in the Mat-Su, we must continue to invite manufacturers to relocate or open up shop in the Mat-Su. Already, many companies are choosing to do just that.
Airframes Alaska is an aviation and outdoor equipment company with manufacturing facilities in Fairbanks and Palmer. They employ more than eighty individuals, many of whom hail from the Mat-Su Valley. Airframes Alaska sells their products worldwide, bringing international dollars into to the Alaskan economy. They are renowned for development of the Artic Oven Tent used by many extreme climate adventurers and the Alaskan Bushwheel, a tube-free bush plane tire that provides necessary energy absorption and prop clearance to bush pilots.
When Airframes Alaska LLC was looking to expand its operation out of Chugiak, the company needed a cost-effective location with substantial space to meet its manufacturing needs. Marketing Director Ryan Kedzie shared that, “Palmer made the most sense for us because it offered the land and workspace that Airframes Alaska needed while allowing us to maintain our established workforce from the Mat-Su.”
Some of the challenges faced by companies like Airframes Alaska LLC are certification-based. The timeframe of getting a product to market is often limited by a rigorous testing process to meet safety and regulatory standards. Mr. Kedzie noted that “partnering with local vendors to execute or polish projects is one of the many factors that contribute to the success of Airframes Alaska.”
Additionally, Mr. Kedzie praises the talented workforce Alaska Airframes has found in Alaska, particularly in the Mat-Su, for helping them get products to the finish line.
A vital component for the growth of the economy of the Mat-Su lies in the success of local manufacturers. Industry leaders such as Airframes Alaska who have chosen to capitalize on local resources, partner with local vendors, and rely on their own ingenuity demonstrate the potential of Alaskan businesses to cooperate, innovate, and succeed.
Another Palmer-based manufacturer, Triverus, develops and manufactures high-efficiency cleaning and recovery technology ranging from proprietary cleaning vehicles to integrated systems compatible with Bobcats and Mark Trucks. Triverus technology is sold in the airfield, municipal, and military markets nationwide, strengthening the Alaska economy by bringing outside dollars into our state.
Paula Smith, CFO at Triverus, shared, “Palmer thought ahead to setting up a commercial zone. The city’s lower property costs and already available utility infrastructure suitable to manufacturing facilities are among the benefits to young businesses.” Furthermore, Ms. Smith suspects that Palmer and the Mat-Su Valley offer an attractive living location for potential team members looking to leave Anchorage in search of economical housing and a lower cost of living.
Like many Alaskan businesses, Triverus has faced challenges with shipping its products and sourcing materials for production.
“Triverus has overcome these obstacles by establishing a market price early, providing quality customer service, buying materials in bulk, and relying on Alaskan creativity,” according to Ms. Smith.
For Triverus, the Mat-Su has turned out to be an ideal location for manufacturing with easy access to the Port of Alaska, direct barge routes from their material suppliers, shorter flights to customers and partners abroad, and a rapidly growing economy favorable to manufacturing. Ms. Smith mentioned that through qualities unique to our area, “Triverus has proved to the outside that Alaska is a good location for manufacturing.”
Innovators like Triverus shatter common misconceptions and reveal the potential for sustainable manufacturing growth in Alaska by utilizing the unique resources Alaska has to offer.
As I believe innovative manufacturing has great potential in Alaska. I’ll close out this discussion by posting below part of a press release about the event last week:
Alaska State Sen. Shelley Hughes, who represents District F, including Palmer, sees the value of the economic diversity created by Alaska manufacturing. “I appreciate the Governor highlighting manufacturing as an important step toward greater economic diversification in Alaska. The goal of opening up opportunities and expanding our economy to include new – and to strengthen existing – sectors has been a goal of mine during my time in the legislature. I believe this is the next step in growing our local and state economies through innovative approaches. I am encouraged and excited for what the future holds,” Sen. Hughes said.
I was excited to meet with agriculture leaders such as Future Farmers of America high school advisor and Palmer High teacher, Cody Beus, during food security week last week. The FFA is requesting this year that their program be part of the Division of Agriculture rather than part of the University of Alaska. I agree that this would be a good fit!
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.
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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. |
For additional information,
contact my staff:
Buddy Whitt- Chief of Staff
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Senate Rules Committee
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Majority Leadership
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Senate Floor Session
Buddy.Whitt@akleg.gov
907-465-5025
Daniel Phelps – Legislative Aide
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Senate Judiciary Committee
-Committee Aide for Community and Regional Affairs
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
Diane Bryant – Legislative Aide
-Senator Hughes’ Aide for Education Committee
Diane.Bryant@akleg.gov
907-465-1173
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 181 – Identification of Contractor in Ads – This bill aims to reduce advertising costs to contractors and streamline the advertisement process by modernizing the way in which contractors report their licensure and contact information in advertisements. Since 1968, contractors have been required to list their name, mailing address, address of the contractor’s principal place of business, and contractor registration number in all advertising. Although simple, this requirement can incur a great expense for contractors, particularly those looking to advertise in print, radio, or television where each additional word or line increases the cost. Furthermore, many contractors in our state maintain several business licenses specific to each service they provide. This requires the contractor to list multiple registration numbers within the same advertisement. Senate Bill 181 amends the current statute by adding a section that allows contractors to provide an internet website or landing page that contains the identification requirements for contractor advertisements in place of those same requirements. Additionally, this bill requires contractors to specify that the internet website or landing page provided contains the information required under the statute. This bill will be heard for the first time in the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee today, Tuesday, February 15th at 3:30 pm with an opportunity for public testimony.
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.
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, and we are hopeful that the committee will hear the bill in the near future. Please stay tuned for more details on this constitutional amendment proposal.
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 is currently in the possession of the Senate Finance Committee.
SB 140 – An Act relating to school athletics, recreation, athletic teams, and sports. The goal of SB 140 is simply 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. We plan to request a hearing soon in the Senate Education Committee.
Senator Hughes and Buddy Whitt, Chief of Staff present Senate Bill 41 before the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on February 14th. Click the photo above to watch!
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!
WATCH YESTERDAY’S FACEBOOK LIVE HERE:
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.
