Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
02/04/2025 02:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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Presentation: 2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE February 4, 2025 2:24 p.m. DRAFT MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Ashley Carrick, Co-Chair Representative Ted Eischeid, Co-Chair Representative Genevieve Mina Representative Louise Stutes Representative Elexie Moore MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Kevin McCabe Representative Cathy Tilton COMMITTEE CALENDAR PRESENTATION: 2025 CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK AND ECONOMIC IMPACT - HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER ALICIA AMBERG, Executive Director Associated General Contractors of Alaska Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Co-offered the 2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact presentation. MARCUS TRIVETTE, Co-Chair Associated General Contractors of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Steering Committee Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Co-offered the 2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact presentation. JEFF MILLER, Co-Chair Associated General Contractors of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Steering Committee Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Co-offered the 2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact presentation. ACTION NARRATIVE 2:24:31 PM CO-CHAIR TED EISCHEID called the House Transportation Standing Committee meeting to order at 2:24 p.m. Representatives Moore, Mina, Carrick, and Eischeid were present at the call to order. Representative Stutes arrived as the meeting was in progress. ^PRESENTATION: 2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact PRESENTATION: 2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact 2:26:00 PM CO-CHAIR EISCHEID announced that the only order of business would be the 2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact presentation. 2:27:01 PM ALICIA AMBERG, Executive Director, Associated General Contractors of Alaska, began the PowerPoint presentation [hard copy included in committee file], titled "AGC of Alaska," on slide 2 and stated that Associated General Contractors of Alaska (AGC) is the largest commercial construction trade association in the state. To slide 3, she explained that AGC has partnered with Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) to develop realistic regulation, legislation, and standards. She moved to slide 4 and provided statistics indicating the significance of construction within Alaska's economy. To slide 5, she stated the appropriated funding is $200 million lower than the previous year, which impacts construction jobs in Alaska. 2:34:50 PM MARCUS TRIVETTE, Co-Chair, Associated General Contractors of Alaska, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Steering Committee, picked up the presentation on slide 6 and stated that workforce development is a top priority for AGC. He said that AGC has been tracking Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) development and was repeatedly assured by DOT&PF that the plan would be approved without negative impact. Funding for projects would need to be $1.3 billion to maintain the construction industry, but AGC estimates less than $700 million in funding, which will cause workers to leave the state. 2:37:56 PM JEFF MILLER, Co-Chair, Associated General Contractors of Alaska, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Steering Committee, moved to slide 7, which displayed a chart of construction employment in Alaska from 2014 to 2023 with employment returning to pre-recession levels. He stated that new apprentices struggled to find work in the 2024 construction season which reflects the downturn in the industry. 2:39:49 PM MS. AMBERG clarified on slide 8 that the statistics from the presentation came from the Economic Benefits and Construction Spending Forecast Reports. 2:40:38 PM MS. AMBERG, in response to a question from Representative Stutes, stated that the STIP has had a significant impact on the downturn in the construction industry. MR. TRIVETTE, in response to questions from various committee members, stated the current downturn in the construction industry is the first one seen since the recession. He calculated that every $300 million less in funding is roughly one thousand fewer construction jobs. MR. MILLER, in response to a question from Co-Chair Carrick, stated that apprentices who are unable to find employment leave the state. MR. TRIVETTE, in response to a question from Representative Carrick, stated that leveraging state funds to make up for decreased bids would help prevent an exodus of construction employees. 2:48:00 PM MS. AMBERG, in response to questions from various committee members, provided her understanding that other states are not having similar issues with their STIPs. She stated that the Office of the Governor had responded to a request for a meeting but had not scheduled a time yet. 2:52:32 PM ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:52 p.m.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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20250204 AGC HTRA Committee.pdf |
HTRA 2/4/2025 2:00:00 PM |
2025 Construction Outlook and Economic Impact |
20250127 AGC and AGEC Memo to Governor Regarding DOT Highway and Airport Construction Program.pdf |
HTRA 2/4/2025 2:00:00 PM |
20250127 AGC and ACEC Memo to Governor Dunleavy |