Greetings and Salutations Friends, Neighbors, and Alaskans!
The first session and first special session of the 33rd legislature have finally come to an end! After 122 days, the legislature passed a budget after much debate, conjecture, and degeneration of process. I voted no on the budget this year for both the process and the utter disregard for the future. Last year’s budget was portrayed as irresponsibly too high. This year’s budget was almost equal on the capital side and actually higher in agency operations. The Majority is touting it's balanced budget, but our increasing operating spending in a time of dropping oil prices and a stagnant stock market is leading us to a time soon when the entire PFD can be taken and still not be able to balance the budget. To pass this year’s budget while ignoring economic reality is extremely short-sighted.
The process was even worse. The Senate completely ignored the House’s input by holding the operating budget until the last day and refusing to transmit the capital budget at all. It has become increasingly evident that many in the Senate see the House as nothing more than a 40-member advisory committee, and the budget that initially left Senate on day 121 reflected that. After the House refused to immediately roll over and concur, the budget had to be returned to the Senate so that additional projects could be added such as the new Fairbanks Veterans Cemetery (which I originally ran a floor amendment to add to the Senate’s budget), demolition of the Polaris building, and improvements to the Salcha Senior Center. A big shoutout to our Interior House Finance Members Will Stapp, Frank Tomaszewki, and Mike Cronk for standing strong and making sure those projects made it in! In the end, the House concurred with the CORRECTED budget.
It is deeply troubling that others in the Senate chose to force this debate to the 11th hour and manufacture a near government shutdown just to avoid outside input on their version of the budget. I hope, moving forward, that lessons are learned and actions are taken to prevent future mistrust and disrespect between our two bodies. The Senate and House are coequal chambers, and it is important that we act that way.
In more positive news I was able to have two bills pass the Senate this year with bipartisan support. Despite my minority caucus status, I was able to work with members of both parties and both chambers to move SB 13 The Textbook Cost Transparency Act out of the Senate and SB 119 State Identification Card for Prisoners out of both bodies and now to the Governor’s desk (you can read more about both bills below).
Next session I will continue my work to advocate for a long-term fiscal plan that can receive buy-in from not just a small group of senators but from members of both chambers and both parties. In the end, we are all Alaskans, and we must break out of the patterns of the past and start asking what we want our state to look like for our kids and figure out how we get there. We have to get a long-term, sustainable fiscal plan that works for everyone.
Always advocating on your behalf,
Robb
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***NEW LEGISLATION*** SB 119 STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD FOR PRISONERS: SB 119 provides easier access to identification cards for reentrants upon release, granting them an important tool for reintegration. SB 119 grants the Department of Corrections the statutory authority to issue state IDs to anyone leaving their custody that does not have an ID in their possession. The inability to find housing or employment or obtain medications are significant factors in whether or not a person is likely to re-offend, endangering public safety and costing the state more money once they are back in prison. By providing reentrants with a valid form of identification upon their release we also provide the individual with an essential tool for finding housing, employment, and medical care and alleviate the risk of reoffending.
Within the span of about a month and a half, we were able to get SB 119 past Senate State Affairs Committee, Senate Floor, House State Affairs, and House Floor garnering unanimous support in both chambers. SB 119 now sits on the Governor’s desk awaiting signage. A special thanks to Representative Gray who introduced similar companion legislation on the House side that inevitably led to SB 119.
***NEW LEGISLATION*** SB 129 MATT GLOVER BIKE PATH - SB 129 would name the MP 357-362 Bicycle/Pedestrian Path project connecting two existing paths to create a continuous path between Fairbanks and North Pole after cyclist Matt Glover. Matt Glover was an avid cyclist and member of the cycling community. His fellow cyclists described him as kind and caring, with a witty sense of humor. He traveled through rain and snow, logging thousands of miles a year traveling between his home in North Pole and work in Fairbanks. Tragically in 2022, Matt Glover passed away after a vehicle collision while on his bike.
SB 129 is currently in the Senate Transportation Committee, and we expect it to move to the Senate floor early next year.
***NEW LEGISLATION*** SR 2 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION/AMENDMENTS - Article V of the Constitution of the United States allows state legislatures to call for a constitutional convention to consider and ratify amendments to the US Constitution if two thirds of their fellow legislatures also ratify similar calls for conventions. Currently the state of Alaska has passed HJR 17 in 1982 and HJR 22 in 2014 calling for a convention. However, it is unknown how many other state legislatures have called for a constitutional convention equivalent to HJR 17 and HJR 22 and whether the two-thirds threshold for a constitutional convention has been met. It is the purpose of SR 2 to assess the number of other state applications under Article V of the US Constitution to determine if the two-thirds threshold for a constitutional convention has been met. If the threshold has been met, then SR2 urgers the Governor to direct the Attorney General to institute legal action requiring the U.S. Congress to comply with its ministerial duty to call the convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.
SR 2 is currently in the Senate State Affairs Committee, and we look forward to a hearing next year.
SB 13 UNIVERSITY: TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS COST - SB 13 The Textbook Cost Transparency act provides students with vital information about their textbook and course materials while they are registering for classes, allowing them to make informed choices and financially plan. The goal of this legislation is to provide students with as much information regarding costs as early as possible in the registration process with clearly defined definitions integrated into the University of Alaska’s shared online course catalog (UAOnline). By allowing students to see which classes come at “zero-cost” or “low-cost” they will be able to make more informed financial decisions more easily.
We previously introduced this legislation last session, and it received bipartisan support from the then Senate President, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Rules Chair (now presiding officer) who cosponsored the legislation. We have also received overwhelming support from students, student advocacy groups, and some faculty. A companion bill HB 10 has been submitted by Representative Ashley Carrick.
***On 5/5/23 SB 13 passed the Senate on a vote of 19-1 and now awaits its first hearing in the House Education Committee next year. ***
SB 102 REFUSE UTILITY REGULATIONS - SB 102 would allow refuse utilities to use the SRF (Simplified Rate Filing) provided by the RCA (Regulatory Commission of Alaska). The SRF is a process in which applicants are able to adjust their rates as frequently as quarterly but may not exceed a cumulative 20 percent in any three-year period or a cumulative eight percent in a 12-month period. Rate adjustments under SRF regulations are in addition to purchased and fuel cost rate adjustments (AS 42.05.381(e) and 3 AAC 48.700).
The goal of the legislation is to help the RCA deal with refuse utility filling backlogs and provide flexibility for service area expansion, especially in the Interior. SB 102 is currently in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, and we look forward to a hearing next session.
SJR 3 CONST. AM: APPROP LIMIT - SJR 3 is a proposed amendment to the constitution that establishes and defines annual appropriation limits on state government. During the third special session of 2021 my office submitted SJR 301 as a companion to then Representative Kaufman's HJR 301 and worked with the recommendations of the Alaska Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group which advocated that the legislature evaluate state spending limit reform.
SJR 3 is an exact copy of the version of SJR 301 that was amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee to be based instead on a five-year average of individual personal income in the state minus the PFD and the income of state and local employees. The resolution also provides exceptions for certain large scale capitol projects in the future. SJR 3 is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and still awaits a hearing.
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Transportation: After a relatively quiet year, the Senate Transportation Committee ended the session having moved five bills: HB 128 Oil Terminal Facility, SB 62 Electric-Assisted Bicycles, SB 123 License Requirements: Comm. Drivers, SB 127 Taxation: Vehicle Rentals, Subpoenas, and SJR 11 Western AK/Arctic Oil Spill Response.
The committee is likely to spend a good amount of time next year on SB 155 Port of Alaska; Port Authority which would establish a Port of Alaska Authority to manage and operate the Port of Anchorage, and I look forward to the conversations to come.
For information on past and present bills in Senate Transportation Committee click here.
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Employment and training services available through the Alaska Job Center can prepare you for a great job! Alaska’s Job Centers can help you overcome barriers that may have prevented you from finding sustainable, rewarding employment.
At an Alaska Job Center, you can access free:
- Aptitude, skill, and interest assessments
- Funding for training and support services using state and federal grants with ongoing case management
- Occupational skills training
- Short-term training to upgrade or enhance your current job skills
- Apprenticeship opportunities with key trades
- On-the-job training with private employers
- Relocation assistance for full-time permanent employment
- Support services during training or to obtain/maintain employment
- Workshops to enhance your job search, resume, and cover letters
- Resource rooms that provide easy access to computers, copiers, fax machines, and phones
- Internet access to current jobs listings that exist locally, statewide, and nationwide
- Assistance from trained staff with your job search activities
Referrals to Community Partner Services for:
- Adult education and GED services
- Young Alaskans age 14-24
- Mature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training (known as MASST for workers age 55 and older)
- English language learners
Our programs are for everyone! We also have programs specifically for people exiting incarceration, youth transitioning out of foster care, Veterans, people experiencing disabilities, Alaskans whose industry has been impacted by an economic downturn – such as the cancelation of a commercial fisheries opener, and more!
If you are interested in learning more about job training, and the free resources that exist to help you find or advance in your career, contact the Fairbanks Job Center at (907) 451-5901, or in-person at 675 7th Avenue, Station B.
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The Voice of Common Sense
The Alaska Senate Minority website is live! Check out our priorities, proposed solutions, viewpoints, video clips, press releases and more by clicking here. You can also follow us on Facebook at Alaska Senate Minority | Facebook
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Meet My Awesome Staff!
For further information, responses and feedback please contact my office anytime. Below you can find contact info and committee/bill assignments for each member of team Myers.
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About Me
Senator Robert Myers was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. He spent much of his young childhood at the Salchaket Roadhouse which his parents owned. Growing up, Robb developed a passion for Alaska. He attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he studied philosophy, political science, and history. During college he drove for a tour company where he was able to share Alaska with countless people. He currently drives truck and travels the Haul Road frequently. He ran for office because he wants an Alaska his children will choose to make their home down the road. When Robb isn’t working, he enjoys reading, history, board games, and spending time with his wife Dawna and his five kids.
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