HB 26-STATEWIDE PUBLIC & COMMUNITY TRANSIT PLAN  8:09:50 AM CO-CHAIR MEARS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 26, "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; and relating to a statewide public and community transit plan." 8:10:20 AM REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE MINA, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, gave a recap of HB 26. She said the bill seeks to modernize the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities' (DOT&PF) duties to reflect the needs of Alaskans by broadening their study of transportation options and improving their public engagement process to specifically focus on public transit. It would help the department be more multi-modal in their planning efforts. 8:11:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND asked whether there had been further discussion about the Alaska Marine Highway System's (AMHS) infrastructure and its connection to the bill. REPRESENTATIVE MINA reminded the committee that AMHS is in a different section of statute; nonetheless, she acknowledged its importance to the state. She deferred the question to Mr. Hope. 8:12:52 AM GERRY HOPE, Government Relations Director, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, shared his understanding that AMHS is included, as the bill makes reference to state highways, vessels, docks, and floats, for example [in paragraph (7)], and "public, tribal, and community transit programs" [in paragraph (1)]. He said the bill would give tribal and public transit operators a seat at the table. 8:15:51 AM CO-CHAIR MEARS opened public testimony on HB 26. 8:16:29 AM KIM CHAMPNEY, Executive Director, Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities, testified in support of HB 26. She said the bill would enhance statewide transportation planning and provide an innovative transportation solution for people with disabilities to increase their independence and allow human service providers to focus on more complex needs. She added that expanded independence would sustain the system with a more effective use of resources. She shared a personal anecdote. 8:19:04 AM MILLIE RYAN, President, Alaska Mobility Coalition, testified in support for HB 26. She reminded the committee that driving is a privilege that's often taken for granted. She expressed excitement for the planning aspect of the bill, which would make better use of available resources, and advocated for the inclusion of community transportation and transit in the planning process. 8:20:29 AM PATRICK REINHART, Executive Director, Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education, testified in support HB 26. He said many of the people he works with are dependent on others for rides, and the bill would prompt the state to consider different modes of transportation. 8:21:32 AM MR. HOPE reiterated his support for the bill. 8:22:02 AM MICHELE GIRAULT, Executive Director, Hope Community Resources; Board President, Key Coalition, testified in support of HB 26. She said access to transportation was named as one of the top three barriers for people with disabilities. She expressed support for anything that innovates transportation and expands access to jobs, community, friends, and family, and provides access to transportation as the population ages. 8:22:58 AM BRIDGER REED-LEWIS, representing self, testified in support of HB 26. He shared that as someone with a disability, he is unable to drive and had to move to Anchorage for access to paratransit services. He advocated for the expansion of these services and spoke to the efficacy of the U-Pass program. He suggested amending the bill to offer two roundtrip rides to stores for those on food stamps and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). CO-CHAIR MEARS closed public testimony on HB 26. 8:26:03 AM CO-CHAIR MEARS closed public testimony on HB 26 and announced that the bill was held over.