NEWS: Legislature Passes Gruenberg Pro-Business Bill

Bill ensures electronic fund transfers can continue without violating federal law

JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed legislation by Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) to ensure that Alaska businesses can continue to use electronic bank transfers without violating new federal law.

House Bill 37 Sponsor Statement: Child Care Centers in State Office Buildings

Link to the House Bill 37 sponsor statement from the office of Representative Beth Kerttula

BREAKING: Democrats Press Conference – Oil Tax Alternative

House and Senate Democrats to hold press conference today to introduce oil tax alternative

WHAT: Democratic legislators Press Conference to introduce their oil tax alternative
WHEN: 12:00 noon, Monday, February 11, 2013
WHERE: Butrovich Room, State Capitol

TELECONFERENCE: From Juneau: 463-5009
Outside Juneau: 855-463-5009

NEWS: Kawasaki Introduces Legislation to Create UA Medical and Law Schools

Bill encourages ‘Growing Our Own’ healthcare and law professionals

Fairbanks – Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) introduced legislation (HB 43) to create the UA School of Medicine and the UA School of Law at the two main area campuses in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Kawasaki said that the time to invest in education is now if we are to build the workforce that Alaska will need in the next 20 years. Kawasaki points to the continuing doctor shortages and the costs of healthcare and legal services.

NEWS: Kawasaki introduces legislation to lower energy costs with state royalty oil and gas

Bill would prioritize the sale of royalty oil to be used in state

JUNEAU – Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) pre-filed legislation (HB 38) to help lower in-state energy costs by giving priority to the sale of Alaska royalty oil and gas to be used for in-state energy production.

NEWS: Rep. Gruenberg Safety and Veterans Legislation Signed Into Law

New laws crack down on arsonists and help families of deceased veterans

Today, the governor signed two bills by Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) into law, protecting Alaskans from arsonists and helping families of deceased veterans in their time of loss.

Rep. Holmes’ Newsletter: Legislative Successes; Getting Kids Outdoors – Fighting Childhood Obesity

This month the Governor signed into law two bills I sponsored during the legislative session. These bills were aimed at two things at the core of my job as a representative: strengthening our economy and protecting Alaskans.

House Bill 269 will promote jobs here in Alaska. It updates our housing development laws to ensure that developments keep moving forward. HB 269 was widely supported by homeowners associations, banks and homebuilders in the state. Under the old law, if housing developments took too longer than anticipated to complete (a common occurrence given the recent real estate slowdown), they could be stopped entirely right in the middle of the project. The new law will help complete housing developments—that means jobs for Alaskans and a boost to our state’s economy.

NEWS: Rep. Holmes Bill to Bolster Alaska’s Housing Economy Now Law

“We need to take charge to guarantee Alaska’s housing market stays strong”

This afternoon, the governor signed HB 269, a bill by Representative Lindsey Holmes (D-Anchorage) that ensures housing projects in the state can keep moving forward.

Before this fix, an unintended glitch in state law could cause projects to stall out if their timeline ran a little too long. The obsolete provision was adopted in 1986 but has been updated nationally since 1994. HB 269 updates Alaska’s law to the national standard. The bill is widely supported by banks, trust companies, and homebuilders in Alaska.

Note from Rep. Gara: Guv Signs Our Bill to Protect Alaskans’ Fishing Stream Access!

Well good news doesn’t usually come in the hospital. But that’s where I am, and where I got the good news that the Governor signed my bill seeking to maintain and enhance the cherished right of Alaskans to access our fishing streams, so public access remains for this and the next generation.

Predictions are that surgery went well, but it will be a little bit before we know for sure. What we do know is all the cancer is gone – thanks for all the well wishes. That’s the good news. It will take a little time to find out if there are any side effects.

NEWS: Legislature Reinstates Texting While Driving Ban

Bi-partisan Bill Will Prevent Deadly Practice

Today, the Legislature passed bi-partisan legislation led by Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Representative Bill Thomas (R-Haines) to put Alaska’s strong anti-texting law back on the books. Last year, a number of judges questioned whether the existing law covers texting while driving.

“The Legislature intended to ban dangerous conduct like texting while driving. Rather than wait for appeals, we’re sending a clear message to the public, now, that texting, and typing on personal and computer devices can cause death and serious injury. In an average text you drive the length of a football field before paying attention to driving. We don’t want cars to be moving weapons,” said Rep. Gara.