02/03/2026 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION

          HB 216-TRANSFER OF RAILROAD LAND TO WHITTIER                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:03:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  CARRICK  announced that  the  first  order of  business                                                               
would be  HOUSE BILL NO. 216,  "An Act approving the  transfer of                                                               
land  owned by  the Alaska  Railroad Corporation  to the  City of                                                               
Whittier; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:03:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AYDEN  NICHOLS, Staff,  Representative Ky  Holland, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, on behalf of  Representative Holland, prime sponsor,                                                               
provided a  brief recap  of HB 216.   He said  that HB  216 would                                                               
give limited  and specific authorization for  the Alaska Railroad                                                               
Corporation (ARRC) to  transfer five parcels of land  to the City                                                               
of Whittier.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:04:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  NICHOLS,  in  response to  a  question  from  Representative                                                               
Nelson, that  40 percent  of Whittier's budget  is spent  on land                                                               
leases.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE G.  NELSON asked  for the  dollar amount  of these                                                               
leases and how long they have been ongoing.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:05:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JACKIE WILDE, City  Manager, City of Whittier,  clarified that 40                                                               
percent of  Whittier's gross revenues  have been spent  on master                                                               
lease lands, since 1998.  She  said that Whittier has spent about                                                               
$2 million on these leases.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:06:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  CARRICK  opened public  testimony  on  HB 216.    After                                                               
ascertaining that  no one  wished to  testify, she  closed public                                                               
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:07:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID  moved to report  HB 216 out of  committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
There being  no objection, HB 216  was reported out of  the House                                                               
Transportation Standing Committee.