HOUSE BILL NO. 257                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act requiring the Department of Natural Resources                                                                      
     to  make Cook  Inlet seismic  survey data  available to                                                                    
     certain persons; and providing for an effective date."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:02:58 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TREVOR  JEPSEN, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE  TOM MCKAY,  reminded                                                                    
members that HB 257 would  require the Department of Natural                                                                    
Resources (DNR) to distribute  state-owned seismic data from                                                                    
Cook  Inlet to  qualified persons  at no  charge. The  state                                                                    
currently made  very little revenue from  selling Cook Inlet                                                                    
seismic data  to the  private industry.  Over the  last five                                                                    
years, the state  made about $27 million  total from selling                                                                    
seismic data.  The goal of  the legislation was to  get more                                                                    
companies and industry professionals  to consider Cook Inlet                                                                    
seismic data and he argued  that distributing the data at no                                                                    
charge would achieve the goal.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:03:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster set  an amendment  deadline for  HB 257  of                                                                    
April 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB  275  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster reviewed  the  agenda  for the  afternoon's                                                                    
meeting.