HB 154-AK HOUSING FINANCE CORP: SUSTAIN ENERGY                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:21:27 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER  announced that  the only  order of business  would                                                              
be HB  154, "An  Act relating  to subsidiary  corporations  of the                                                              
Alaska Housing  Finance Corporation;  and establishing  the Alaska                                                              
energy independence fund."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
11:21:38 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 11:21 a.m. to 11:26 a.m.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:27:22 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK  moved Amendment  1, to HB 154,  Version B,                                                              
labeled, 33-GH1074\B.1, Dunmire, 4/12/23, which read as follows:                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 2:                                                                                                            
          Delete "and"                                                                                                        
          Following "fund":                                                                                                   
                Insert "; and providing for an effective                                                                      
     date"                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, following line 11:                                                                                                 
          Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                    
          "*Sec.6. This Act takes effect immediately under                                                                    
     AS 01.10.070(c)."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
11:27:35 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK  explained that the amendment  would change                                                              
the effective date to be immediate.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
11:28:20 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  RAUSCHER removed  his objection.   There  being no  further                                                              
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
11:28:29 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 11:28 a.m. to 11:29 a.m.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:29:25 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAUSCHER opened public testimony on HB 154.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
11:30:05 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHRIS  ROSE, Director,  Renewable  Alaska  Energy Project,  stated                                                              
that  the Renewable  Alaska  Energy  Project (REAP)  supports  the                                                              
proposed  legislation.   He  expressed the  belief  that it  would                                                              
open  new  opportunities  to  use   renewable  energy;  therefore,                                                              
Alaskans would  save money on energy.   He said that HB  154 would                                                              
improve  energy  efficiency  in  buildings.    He  explained  that                                                              
natural  gas  is  decreasing in  supply,  and  alternative  energy                                                              
sources would allow natural gas to be saved for heating.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
11:32:25 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ANNA  YANCY, representing  self,  testified  in opposition  to  HB                                                              
154.    She  argued that  the  proposed  legislation  would  allow                                                              
funding to nonprofit  and quasi-public entities.   She argued that                                                              
this language should be removed from the bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
11:34:47 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  RAUSCHER, after  ascertaining  there was  no  one else  who                                                              
wished to testify, closed public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:35:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCKAY  moved  to  report  HB 154,  Version  B,  as                                                              
amended,  out of  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                              
the accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
11:36:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  objected.  He  commented that the  bill would                                                              
cause  Alaska to become  more dependent  on federal  funding.   He                                                              
then removed  his objection.   There  being no further  objection,                                                              
CSHB  154(ENE)  was moved  from  the  House Special  Committee  on                                                              
Energy.