Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/07/2025 05:15 PM Senate LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
MAY 7, 2025
5:15 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sara Hannan, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Louise Stutes
Senator Matt Claman
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Jesse Kiehl
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Donna Mears (alternate)
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Löki Tobin(alternate)
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
AGENDA
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
SPEAKER REGISTER
Jessica Geary, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs
Agency (LAA)
JC Kestel, Procurement Officer, LAA
Shay Wilson, Chief Information Officer, LAA
I. CALL TO ORDER
5:17:19 PM
CHAIR HANNAN called the Legislative Council meeting to
order at 5:17pm on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Room 532
(Senate Finance) of the State Capitol. Present at the call
were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,
Stutes, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl,
Stevens.
Ten members present.
Senator Claman joined the meeting at 5:26pm.
II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
5:18:57 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council approve the agenda as presented.
The motion passed without objection.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. March 31, 2025, Minutes
5:19:20 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council approve the minutes dated March 31,
2025, as presented.
The minutes were approved without objection.
IV. SANCTIONING OF CHARITABLE EVENTS
a. Sham JamMay 10, 2025
5:19:54 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council ratify the Chair's sanctioning of the
following charitable event per AS 24.60.080(a)(2)(B):
Sham JamMay 10, 2025.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and
stated the 501(c)(3) status of the beneficiary of Sham
Jam has been verified. The beneficiary is Southeast
Alaska Gay & Lesbian Association.
There was no discussion. Chair Hannan removed her
objection, and the sanctioning of the charitable event
was ratified.
V. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. RFQAlaska State Legislature Telephone System
Equipment
b. Telephone System Services
c. Capitol Parking Lot Design, Engineering, and
Construction Administration Services
CHAIR HANNAN stated that Legislative Council would go
into Executive Session to discuss several procurement
items.
5:21:31 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council go into
Executive Session under Uniform Rule 22(b)(1), discussion
of matters, the immediate knowledge of which would
adversely affect the finances of a government unit and
22(b)(3), discussion of a matter that may, by law, be
required to be confidential. The following people may
remain in the room or on-line for the Executive Session:
Jessica Geary, Santé Lesh, Shay Wilson, Tim Powers, Serge
Lesh, JC Kestel, Ernest Daigle, Emily Nauman, any
legislators not on Legislative Council, and any staff of
Legislative Council members.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked for clarification on the
justification for Executive Session, noting the documents
appeared final and would be made public, and inquired what
elements in the documents could adversely affect State
finances or otherwise necessitate going into Executive
Session.
JESSICA GEARY, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA) Executive
Director, explained that the procurements include vendor
bid information, and to prevent public disclosure before a
contract is awarded, the matter is handled in Executive
Session.
5:23:14 PM
Council went into Executive session.
6:11:56 PM
Council came out of Executive Session.
Roll was taken to establish a quorum. Present at the call
were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,
Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,
Kiehl, Stevens.
Eleven members present.
a. RFQ 683Alaska State Legislature Telephone System
Equipment
6:13:08 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve
the award of RFQ 683 for telephone system equipment to
Synergy Telecom Inc., in an amount not to exceed
$110,070.71.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and
asked Legislative Affairs Chief Information Officer Shay
Wilson and Procurement Officer JC Kestel to speak to this
item.
JC KESTEL, Procurement Officer, LAA, stated that the Agency
issued RFQ 683 on April 4, 2025, to solicit proposals from
potential contractors to provide new telephone equipment
for the Legislature.
The RFQ was published on the States online public notices
and distributed to several vendors throughout the state.
There were eight bids received in response to the RFQ, and
the low bidder for this project is Synergy Telecom Inc., at
a total price of $110,070.71. After evaluation of the bids,
LAA recommends the award to Synergy Telecom Incorporated.
CHAIR HANNAN, noting there were no further questions,
removed her objection and asked for a roll call vote.
6:14:40 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,
Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,
Kiehl, Stevens
NAYS: none
The motion passed 11-0.
b. Telephone System Services
CHAIR HANNAN stated that the Telephone System Services
agenda item does not have a motion, but that Shay Wilson
and JC Kestel will provide a brief update.
SHAY WILSON, Chief Information Officer, LAA, stated that
the Legislature's phone system is currently provided
through the Executive Branch at an annual cost of $217,000.
In 2020, SOA began transitioning to Microsoft Teams for
phone service and since the Legislature operates a separate
Microsoft environment, it can no longer rely on the Office
of Information Technology (OIT) to support its phone
services. The Division of Technology and Information (DTI)
identified a preferred provider with projected costs of
$94,000 annually. The Juneau conversion is planned for this
fall, with Anchorage and Fairbanks to follow in 2026. As
this utility is exempt under Section 020 of the Procurement
Procedures, no Legislative Council action or motion is
required.
c. Capitol Parking Lot Design, Engineering, and
Construction Administration Services
6:17:04 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve a
contract award to PND Engineers, Inc., in an amount not to
exceed $75,000.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and
asked Facilities Manager Serge Lesh and Procurement Officer
JC Kestel to provide a brief explanation of this item.
JC KESTEL, LAA Procurement Officer, stated the Agency
solicited proposals from qualified engineering firms
throughout the state to provide design, engineering, and
construction administration services to the Agency for a
revitalization of the Capitol parking garage and bid-ready
construction documents and construction administration
during any construction.
Five firms initially expressed interest in the project,
however only two submitted proposals-the lowest proposal
from PND Engineers for $71,500, and another proposal from
Hollatz Engineering Inc., for $113,950. Both proposals were
reviewed thoroughly to make sure they met the Agency's
requirements. The Agency recommends the award to PND
Engineers Inc., in the amount of $71,500. Serge Lesh, LAA
Facilities Manager, is also available to answer any
questions.
CHAIR HANNAN, seeing no further questions or discussion,
removed her objection and asked for a roll call vote.
6:18:46 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,
Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,
Kiehl, Stevens
NAYS: none
The motion passed 11-0.
VI. Committee Business
a. FY26 Computer Hardware Refresh
6:19:58 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve
the FY26 computer hardware refresh expenditure of $228,084.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and
asked Shay Wilson to speak to this item.
SHAY WILSON, Chief Information Officer, LAA, stated that
members have a memo outlining the FY26 annual hardware
refresh, which replaces outdated technology across the
Legislature and requires Council approval each year. This
year's $228,084 proposal, to be paid from existing capital
funds, reflects price increases due to international
tariffs and includes replacement of a PC model incompatible
with Windows 11. The request also includes the Ombudsman,
Office of Victims' Rights, and Legislative Finance,
agencies that had been previously excluded from annual
requests. Without this funding, DTI would be unable to
replace aging equipment, which would impact legislative
productivity. The IT Subcommittee reviewed the proposal and
recommends approval.
CHAIR HANNAN, seeing no further questions or discussion,
removed her objection and asked for a roll call vote.
6:22:00 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,
Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,
Kiehl, Stevens
NAYS: none
The motion passed 11-0.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the
Legislative Council meeting was adjourned at 6:22pm.
6:22:56 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative Council Meeting Agenda May 7, 2025.pdf |
JLEC 5/7/2025 5:15:00 PM |