Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

05/12/2024 02:00 PM Senate FINANCE

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 66 CONTROLLED SUB;HOMICIDE;CRIMES;SENTENCING TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS CSHB 66(FIN) Out of Committee
+= HB 50 CARBON STORAGE TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS CSHB 50(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 217 INTEGRATED TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= HB 122 RAILROAD CORP. FINANCING TELECONFERENCED
Moved SCS CSHB 122(FIN) Out of Committee
+= HB 148 AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+= HB 111 EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HARD OF HEARING TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit Will Be Set> --
+= HB 347 PROPERTY ASSESSMENT TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit Will Be Set> --
+= HB 129 VOTER REGISTRATION TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+= HB 202 OPIOID OVERDOSE DRUGS IN SCHOOLS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit Will Be Set> --
SENATE BILL NO. 217                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to the taxation  of independent power                                                                    
     producers; and increasing  the efficiency of integrated                                                                    
     transmission system charges and  use for the benefit of                                                                    
     ratepayers."                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  noted that the committee  would continue with                                                                    
the amendment process for bill version D of SB 217.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:53:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 4 (copy on file).                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:53:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER,  STAFF, SENATOR DONNY  OLSON, explained  that the                                                                    
amendment was technical in nature  and did not substantively                                                                    
change the bill.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:54:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There being no further OBJECTION Amendment 4 was ADOPTED.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 5 (copy on file).                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  explained amendment  5. He noted  that the                                                                    
change would remove the disincentives  under PCE for smaller                                                                    
municipalities to incur debt  for renewable energy projects.                                                                    
The  amendment  gave direction  to  AEA  to provide  a  more                                                                    
affordable  interest  rate  for  a  power  project  loan  if                                                                    
warranted.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:55:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GARY HENNIGH,  CITY ADMINISTRATOR,  CITY OF KING  COVE, KING                                                                    
COVE, ALASKA  (via teleconference), said that  the amendment                                                                    
would result in  the annual savings of  $40,000 annually for                                                                    
King  Cove, which  would then  be parlayed  into residential                                                                    
rate  reductions. He  added that  the amendment  would lower                                                                    
kilowatt costs for resident of King Cove.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:56:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked  Mr. Hennigh  to  elaborate  on  an                                                                    
instance  where  a community  that  used  PCE had  installed                                                                    
renewable energy  infrastructure and it had  not resulted in                                                                    
any savings for the community.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hennigh  explained that  in 2018,  a second  hydro plant                                                                    
was brough  online in King  Cove, which had resulted  in the                                                                    
community not receiving  a PCE subsidy. He said  that in the                                                                    
process of the annual reporting,  credit had not added up to                                                                    
the $300,000  of fuel taken  out of  the equation by  use of                                                                    
hydropower,  which  disqualified  King   Cove  for  the  PCE                                                                    
credit.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson removed his OBJECTION to Amendment 5.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There being no further OBJECTION Amendment 5 was ADOPTED.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:58:01 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:59:40 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson announced  that Amendment  6 (copy  on file)                                                                    
would not be offered.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson MOVED Amendment 7 (copy on file).                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:59:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper spoke to Amendment 7, which dealt with the tax                                                                        
status of independent power producers.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson removed his OBJECTION to Amendment 7. There                                                                      
being no further OBJECTION Amendment 7 was ADOPTED.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop moved Amendment 8 (copy on file).                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:00:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop explained that Amendment 8 would ensure that                                                                     
the Regulatory  Commission of Alaska had  the best qualified                                                                    
staff to make the best decisions for ratepayers in Alaska.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:01:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson removed his OBJECTION to Amendment 8. There                                                                      
being no further OBJECTION Amendment 8 was ADOPTED.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SB 217 was heard and HELD in Committee for further                                                                              
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:01:45 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:02:37 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:02:47 PM                                                                                                                    
RECESS TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:00:18 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 50 Amendment Packet 051224.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 50
HB 50 DOR TAX 051224.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 50
HB 50 DNR DOG 051124.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 50
HB 66 Legal Memo 24-274boo accompanied HB66 T.4.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 66
HB 66 CS in SFin summary of changes vT 5.10.24.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 66
HB 66(FIN)-work draft version T.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 66
HB 66 Amendment Packet 051224.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 66
HB 122 CS version R in SFin summary of changes 5-12-24.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 122
HB 122(FIN)-work draft version R.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 122
SB 217 Amendment Packet 051224.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
SB 217
HB 66 Legal Memo 24-274boo accompanied HB66 T.4.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 66
HB 50 DNR DGGS 051224.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 50
HB 66 DPS AST 051224.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 66
HB 347 CS version T in SFin summary of changes 5-9-24.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 347
HB 347(FIN)-work draft version T.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 347
HB148-version Y CS in SFin summary of changes 5-11-24.docx SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 148
HB148(FIN)-work draft version Y acadeca no inflation.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 148
HB 129(FIN)-work draft version D.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 129
HB 129 CS version D in SFin summary of changes 5-11-24.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 129
HB 111 Sectional Analysis version B.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 111
HB 111 Sponsor Statement version B.1 4.29.2024.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 111
HB 111 Explanation of Changes Version S to Version U 05.10.2024.pdf SFIN 5/12/2024 2:00:00 PM
HB 111