02/09/2024 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

              HB 223-TAX & ROYALTY FOR CERTAIN GAS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY  announced that the  next order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 223, "An Act  relating to the production  tax and                                                               
royalty  rates on  certain gas;  and providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:09:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY opened public testimony on HB 223.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
[A public testifier  attempted to testify but could  not be heard                                                               
clearly.]                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:11:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MEARS noted  a  forthcoming committee  substitute                                                               
(CS) to HB 223 and requested that public testimony remain open.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:11:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY accommodated Representative Mears' request.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:11:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 1:11 p.m. to 1:12 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:12:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY  confirmed that public  testimony would be  held open                                                               
until the CS to HB 223 was before the committee.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[HB 223 was held over and taken back up later in the meeting.]                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
              HB 223-TAX & ROYALTY FOR CERTAIN GAS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:20:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCKAY announced  that the final order of  business would be                                                               
a return  to HB 223, "An  Act relating to the  production tax and                                                               
royalty  rates on  certain gas;  and providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:20:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNN  WILLIS,  representing self,  shared  what  he described  as                                                               
quotes  from  history  that  describe  "what  is  going  on"  and                                                               
mentioned  Yogi  Bera and  Albert  Einstein.   He  expressed  his                                                               
feelings  on  extortion,  and  he  said  this  was  just  another                                                               
political mirage to buy more time.   He opined that space heating                                                               
should be  the priority rather  than natural  gas.  He  asked for                                                               
the military  to be included in  the committee's plans.   He read                                                               
from Article  8, Section 2  of the Alaska State  Constitution and                                                               
concluded  by suggesting  a public  utility  approach to  heating                                                               
Southcentral Alaska.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:25:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MCKAY announced  that  public testimony  on  HB 233  would                                                               
remain open until the committee substitute was introduced.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
[HB 223 was held over.]