Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-01-28 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0109 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Tuesday January 28, 2025 Eighth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 6:45 p.m. The roll showed seventeen members present. Senators Hoffman, Olson, Tobin were absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Jubilee Henderson, Senate Page. Senator Claman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Dear Lord, please guide us through both the trials and tribulations and the joys and discoveries which we encounter today. Help us to use our best judgement in our actions throughout this day, this week and this session. We thank You for the vast beauty and resources of our State. We thank You for the friends and family who support us while we serve as representatives of the people of this State. With Your help, may we do Your will today. Amen. Senator Dunbar led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0110 Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journal for the seventh legislative day, Senate Journal Supplement No. 1 and House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 1 be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Olson be excused from a call of the Senate today through January 31. Without objection, Senator Olson was excused. The presence of Senator Tobin was noted. Messages from the House The House of Representatives respectfully invites the Senate to a Joint Session of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska Legislature at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12 for the purpose of hearing Chief Justice Susan Carney's State of the Judiciary address in the House Chambers. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate accept the House invitation to meet in Joint Session. Without objection, it was so ordered. The Secretary was requested to notify the House. Communications The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas Carbon Storage Licensing and Leasing Program 2024 Annual Report in accordance with AS 38.05.735 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0111 University of Alaska Fairbanks Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Annual Report FY 2024 in accordance with AS 16.52.050 Notice of availability: Alaska Court System Statistical Report FY 2024 in accordance with AS 22.20.310 Standing Committee Reports SB 1 The Judiciary Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 1 "An Act relating to appropriations to the civil legal services fund." Signing do pass: Senator Claman, Chair; Senators Tobin, Stevens, Kiehl. Signing no recommendation: Senator Myers. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. SB 15 The Labor and Commerce Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 15 "An Act relating to the sale of alcohol; relating to the posting of warning signs for alcoholic beverages; and providing for an effective date." Signing do pass: Senator Bjorkman, Chair; Senators Merrick, Gray- Jackson, Yundt. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0112 Recess Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess to the Joint Session. Without objection, the Senate recessed at 6:51 p.m. After Recess Joint Session in the House Speaker Edgmon called the House to order and in accordance with Uniform Rule 51 turned the gavel over to President Stevens, who called the Joint Session to order at 7:01 p.m. The purpose of the Joint Session was to hear Governor Mike Dunleavy's State of the State address. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the roll call of the Senate be waived and all members be shown as present. Without objection, it was so ordered. Representative Kopp moved and asked unanimous consent the roll call of the House be waived and all members be shown as present. Without objection, it was so ordered. President Stevens appointed Senator Kawasaki and Representative Holland to escort Governor Mike Dunleavy to the Joint Session. The Senate Sergeant at Arms, Matt Simpson, announced the Honorable Mike Dunleavy's entrance to the House Chamber. Governor Dunleavy was escorted to the rostrum and welcomed by President Stevens and Speaker Edgmon. Governor Dunleavy delivered his address. This address appears in Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 2. Governor Dunleavy received a standing ovation. 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0113 Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Joint Session stand in adjournment. Without objection, President Stevens adjourned the Joint Session at 7:50 p.m. After Recess In the Senate The Senate reconvened at 7:54 p.m. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., January 29, 2025. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 7:54 p.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0114 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD. STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS Jan 28 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Overview: Division of Community & Regional Affairs, DCCED by Sandra Moller, Division Director, DCRA + Presentation: Alaska Municipal League by Nils Andreassen, Executive Director, AML **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Jan 29 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Presentation: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District update by Melissa Burnett, School Board President Luke Meinert, Superintendent Presentation: Education funding impact on Anchorage teachers by Corey Aist, President, Anchorage Education Association -- Public Testimony on the education funding crisis in Alaska -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0115 EDUCATION (continued) Jan 31 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + -- Public Testimony on the education funding crisis in Alaska -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- FINANCE Jan 28 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Overview: Continued: Office of Management and Budget FY26 Budget Overview Legislative Finance Division **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 29 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 30 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 31 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM -- MEETING CANCELED -- Overview: Continued: FY26 Budget Overview by Legislative Finance Division ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Jan 28 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 44 MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS + SB 45 MEDICAID MENTAL HEALTH PARITY -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0116 HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES (continued) Jan 30 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Medicaid 1115 Waiver Update by Emily Ricci, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services Betsy Wood, Deputy Director of the Office of Health Savings Tracy Dompeling, Director of the Division of Behavioral Health + SB 44 MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled -- Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Jan 29 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 31 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Jan 29 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Overview: Department of Labor and Workforce Development Apprenticeships (Directors Dirk Craft and Paloma Harbour) Overview/Budget (Commissioner Cathy Muñoz and Director Dan DeBartolo) **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 31 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0117 RESOURCES Jan 29 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Department of Natural Resources Carbon Capture Update by John Crowther - Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources Haley Paine - Deputy Director, Division of Oil and Gas Ryan Fitzpatrick - Commercial Section Chief, Divison of Oil and Gas Presentation: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Class VI Wells Update by Jessie Chmielowski - Commissioner, AOGCC Gregory Wilson - Commissioner, AOGCC Chris Wallace - Senior Petroleum Engineer, AOGCC Kayla Junke - Carbon Assistant, AOGCC **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 31 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Department of Natural Resources Leasing Issues Update by John Crowther - Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources Presentation: Department of Law Leasing Issues Update by Mary Gramling - Chief Assistant Attorney General, Department of Law **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Jan 28 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SJR 7 RES. TO MAINTAIN DENALI AS OFFICIAL NAME -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 31 ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM -- Invited & Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0118 STATE AFFAIRS (continued) Jan 30 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SB 64 ELECTIONS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 70 SCHOOL&ELECTION BDS; VOTING; ELECTIONS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Jan 28 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Overview: Dept. of Transportation and Public Facilities (continued from previous meeting) by Ryan Anderson, P.E., Commissioner **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 30 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- SPECIAL COMMITTEES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS Jan 30 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Presentation: Alaska Energy by Gwen Holdmann - Director, Alaska Center for Energy and Power **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0119 JOINT COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT Jan 29 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 8:00 AM + I. Call to Order II. Committee Organization: Election of Chair and Vice Chair III. Approval of the Agenda IV. Approval of Minutes a. December 2, 2024 b. December 23, 2024 V. Roles and Responsibilities: Division Support for the Committee a. Alexei Painter, Legislative Fiscal Analyst, Division of Legislative Finance b. Kris Curtis, Legislative Auditor, Division of Legislative Audit VI. Revision of LBAC Handbook a. Kris Curtis, Legislative Auditor VIII. Executive Session a. RFP 25-33-01 Compliance Audits of Select b. IRIS/Alder Contract Extension and Assignment Major Federal Programs IX. Top Audit Issues a. Kris Curtis, Legislative Auditor X. Adjourn **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0120 SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE ETHICS Jan 31 Friday Barnes 124 8:30 AM + 1. Approval of Agenda + 2. Approval of Minutes a. House Subcommittee February 16, 2024 b. House Subcommittee November 12, 2024 + 3. Public Comment + 4. Election of Committee Chairs for 2025-2026 a. Article 3 Ethics Committee Election Procedure + 5. Chair/Staff Report a. Public Member Committee Appointment Update b. Management Log Review c. Publications i. 2022 Public Decisions Booklet - AS 24.60.150(a)(2) ii. 2022 Advisory Opinion Booklet - AS 24.60.150(a)(2) iii. 2023 Standards of Conduct Handbook - AS 24.60.150(a)(3) 6. Executive Session + 7. 2025 Ethics Training Report + 8. Budget a. FY 2025-2026 Budget + 9. Other Business (Meeting will be teleconferenced) Anchorage Only: 563-9085 Juneau Only: 586-9085 Outside Anchorage or Juneau: 1-844-586-9085 Jan 31 Friday Barnes 124 12:00 PM SENATE SUBCOMMITEE MEETING + 1. Approval of Agenda + 2. Public Comment 3. Executive Session + 4. Public Session + 5. Other Business 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0121 TASK FORCE EVAL ALASKA SEAFOOD INDUSTRY Jan 29 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Review and Adoption of Final Report, with discussion of conceptual legislation recommended -- Teleconference Listen Only -- -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Jan 30 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Review and Adoption of Final Report, with discussion of conceptual legislation recommended -- Teleconference <Listen Only> -- -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- OTHER MEETINGS JOINT SESSION Jan 28 Tuesday House Chamber 7:00 PM + State of the State Address by Governor Mike Dunleavy Feb 12 Wednesday House Chamber 11:00 AM + State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Susan Carney Feb 20 Thursday House Chamber 11:00 AM + Annual Address by Nick Begich III, U.S. Representative Mar 18 Tuesday House Chamber 11:00 AM + Annual Address by Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator Mar 20 Thursday House Chamber 11:00 AM + Annual Address by Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator 2025-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0122 MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS Jan 29 Wednesday Davis 106 12:00 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: Alaska's Nonprofit Sector: Generating Economic Impact Laurie Wolf, CEO, The Foraker Group Sponsored by Senator Dunbar Jan 29 Wednesday Butrovich 205 12:01 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: School Choice Options for Alaska Leigh Sloan, Director of Alaska School Choice Dr. Jessica Parker Dr. Matthew Baxter Sponsored by Senator Hughes and Representative Underwood Feb 05 Wednesday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: Senior Services in Alaska Marge Stoneking, AARP Alaska Advocacy Director Marty Lange, Alaska Commission on Aging Executive Director Stephanie Wheeler, Alaska Long-term Care Ombudsman Marianne Mills, AGEnet President Sponsored by Senator Stevens Feb 19 Wednesday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: Covenant House Alaska Sponsored by Senator Tobin