43 Bills Debated By Alaska Lawmakers This Month
On Monday, Alaska lawmakers prefiled 43 bills, a week ahead of the upcoming regular legislative session in Juneau. The proposals cover a broad range of topics, including incentives for natural gas production in Cook Inlet and the exploration of psychedelic medicines for mental health treatment in Alaska.
Summary of the proposed measures:
Cook Inlet Natural Gas: Alaskans, particularly those in the Railbelt area, are facing a potential natural gas shortage from Cook Inlet. Alternatives like importing liquified natural gas are being considered, which might lead to higher heating and power costs. Rep. George Rauscher, a Sutton Republican, has introduced a bill to remove royalty payments for Cook Inlet gas producers to boost production. Governor Mike Dunleavy also plans to propose a similar bill. However, Sen. Cathy Giessel from Anchorage, co-chair of the Senate Resources Committee, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of such royalty relief.
A long-sought gas pipeline has been touted by Dunleavy as a way to potentially address the Railbelt’s energy woes. Rep. Jesse Sumner, Wasilla, has a bill that would set aside Permanent Fund earnings to pay for up to 25% state ownership in a gas pipeline.
Education: School funding is another key issue, with lawmakers considering increasing state per-student funding. Rep. Rebecca Himschoot from Sitka has proposed a bill to eliminate restrictions on using out-of-state teaching experience in salary scales. Rep. Will Stapp from Fairbanks has introduced a bill to create a fund addressing the University of Alaska’s maintenance backlog, proposing an annual allocation of $35 million.
Psychedelic Medicines: Sen. Forrest Dunbar from Anchorage prefiled a bill focusing on the therapeutic use of psychedelic medicines to combat Alaska’s mental health crisis. This bill would focus on FDA-approved psychedelic drugs and follows the trend of states like Oregon and Colorado, which have made strides in legalizing certain psychedelic substances for therapeutic use.
Ethics Complaints Against State Officials: A bill filed by Sen. Matt Claman from Anchorage aims to prohibit the state from representing senior executive branch officials in ethics complaints, suggesting that these officials should hire their own attorneys but could be reimbursed by the state if exonerated. Rep. Andy Josephson from Anchorage has introduced a similar bill in the House.
A second batch of prefiled bills is expected to be released on Friday, and the 33rd Alaska Legislature will commence its second session on January 16.
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