Leg with Louie: Staying Engaged in Uncertain Times

It is to their credit that our legislators have an eye on the pandemic, and an eye toward closing shop early, and are discussing processes to vote on the budget and governor’s appointments by phone. Taking it week by week is the way to go, or probably more like day to day if yesterday’s spate of event, class, gathering, and get-together cancellations serves as evidence.

We all need to take some space, wash our hands and make sure that vulnerable members of our community aren’t put at further risk by our actions or our policies. We have seen a huge international response around this public health emergency and it's heartening to know what we are capable of when we come together.

As we face one public health emergency, we look to another: next week the House plans to take up a series of important investigatory hearings into the impact of human-caused global warming in Alaska. They will also hear about some recommended policy directives set out in 2018 to combat climate change.

Here is the full list of climate hearings for next week:

  • On Monday, at 1:00 p.m. the House Resources Committee will hear a presentation on climate change and invasive species.
  • On Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee will explore the climate change policy recommendations in the 37-page Climate Action Leadership Team report from 2018.  This report was created under the Walker Administration and hidden by the Dunleavy Administration.  It contains recommendations on action items the Administration and Legislature can implement to mitigate the impacts of climate change on communities and decrease emissions in Alaska.
  • On Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. the House Resource Committee will investigate the impact of climate change on oil and gas infrastructure in Alaska.
  • On Thursday at 10:00 a.m. the House Fisheries and House Community and Regional Affairs Committees will hold a joint meeting to hear from UAF researchers about Ocean Acidification & Increasing Ocean & River Temperatures in Alaska.
  • On Friday at 1:00 p.m. the House Resources Committee will discuss climate change and wildfires in Alaska.

All of the hearings will be carried live on Alaska Legislature TV.  Plan to tune in and be ready for opportunities to make your voice heard. We may not be able to be there in person, but we can stay informed and engaged, and make a big difference.  

Stay healthy, we have a battle against climate change ahead.

Bills/Hearings to Watch Next Week
Monday, March 16

1:00 p.m. (H)RESOURCES

  • Presentation: Invasive Species in Alaska with a Changing Climate by
  • Tim Stallard, Alien Species Control, LLC
  • Aaron Martin, Invasive Species Program Coordinator, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Alaska Region
  • Testimony <Invitation Only>

HB 280 INVASIVE SPECIES IN STATE WATER; COUNCIL

  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 

HB 240 REGULATE PFAS USE; FIRE/WATER SAFETY

  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 
Tuesday, March 17

8:00 a.m. H)COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

  • Presentation: Climate Change Action Plan & Policy Recommendations to the Governor by Michael LeVine, Luke Hopkins, & Sam Schimmel, Former Team Members, The Walker Administration Climate Change for Alaska Leadership Team

8:00 a.m. H)TRIBAL AFFAIRS

HJR 29 ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1945

  • Invited & Public Testimony

12:00 p.m. Lunch & Learn:

  • Is Nuclear Energy an Option for Alaska? An Overview of Micro Reactors Technology Trends &
  • Possible Alaska Applications by Gwen Holdmann, Director, Alaska Center for Energy & Power of the University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Sponsored by Rep. Wool

1:00 p.m. H)MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

  • Presentation: COVID-19 Update by Department
  • Staff, DMVA

5:30 p.m. (S)ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Finance SubCommittee*

  • Department of Environmental Conservation Budget Overview
  • Budget Closeout
Wednesday, March 18

9:00 a.m. S)FINANCE

HB 205 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS

  • Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> 

SB 154 APPROP: CAPITAL; SUPP; OTHER APPROP

  • Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> 
  • Juneau, Fairbanks, Unalaska, Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Tok, Delta Junction:
  • Sign Up by 10:15 a.m.
  • **Please Note: All Public Testimony Will be via Telephone Only. No In-Person Testimony.
  • From Juneau or Anchorage: 586-9085
  • Outside Juneau or Anchorage: 844-586-9085
  • Written Testimony Will be Accepted at: [email protected]

1:00 p.m. H)RESOURCES

  • Presentation: Alaska Oil & Gas Infrastructure with a Changing Climate
  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 

HB 218 SALT WATER FISHING: OPERATORS/GUIDES

  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 

HB 280 INVASIVE SPECIES IN STATE WATER; COUNCIL

  •  Public Testimony 

1:00 p.m. S)FINANCE HB 205 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS

  • Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> 

SB 154 APPROP: CAPITAL; SUPP; OTHER APPROP

  • Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> 
  • Anchorage, Mat-Su, Offnets: Sign Up by 2:30 p.m.
  • **Please Note: All Public Testimony Will be via
  • Telephone Only. No In-Person Testimony.
  • From Juneau or Anchorage: 586-9085
  • Outside Juneau or Anchorage: 844-586-9085
  • Written Testimony Will be Accepted at: [email protected]

3:30 p.m. S)RESOURCES SB 189 SPORT FISHING ENHANCEMENT SURCHARGE

  • Public Testimony

SB 217 STATE LAND VOUCHER; PFD

  • Public Testimony 

SB 204 STATE LAND SALES; PLATS; RIVERS

  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 
  • All Off Net Callers Must Hang Up Immediately
  • After Testifying to Keep Lines Open
  • Continue to Access Meeting Through akleg.gov
  • **Streamed live on AKL.tv**
Thursday, March 19

10:00 a.m. (H)COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS Joint with House FSH

  • Presentation: Ocean Acidification & Increasing Ocean & River Temperatures by
  • Jeff Danielson, University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Christ Sergeant, University of Alaska Fairbanks/University of Montana Flathead Lake
  • Biological Station

10:15 a.m. (H)ENERGY Special Committee

  • Presentation: Alaska Energy Authority - Susitna/Watana Update by
  • Curtis Thayer, Exec. Dir.

12:00 p.m. Lunch & Learn:

  • Alaska's Seafood Industry: A wholistic look from a harvester, processor, & economic perspective by: Pacific Seafood Processors Assoc, United Fishermen of Alaska, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
  • Sponsored by Rep. Stutes
Friday, March 20

8:00 a.m. H)EDUCATION

  • Presentation & Discussion: Coronavirus Implications for Alaska Schools
  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 

9:00 a.m. (H)FINANCE 

HB 102 RENTAL VEHICLE BY PRIVATE OWNER

SB 115 MOTOR FUEL TAX; EV REG. FEE

  • <Pending Referral>

1:00 p.m. H)RESOURCES

  • Presentation: Wildfires in Alaska with a Changing Climate by
  • Brian Brettschneider, Research Assoc., University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Chris Maisch, State Forester, Director of Div. of Forestry, Dept. of Natural Resources
  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 

Consideration of Governor's Appointees

  • Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission - Jeremy Price
  • Big Game Commercial Services Board - Peter Buist
  • Public Testimony 

HB 280 INVASIVE SPECIES IN STATE WATER; COUNCIL

  • Testimony <Invitation Only> 

3:30 S)RESOURCES

SB 160 FOREST LAND USE PLANS; TIMBER SALE

  • -Testimony <Invitation Only> 

HB 16 SHARED ANIMAL AND RAW MILK/PRODUCTS

  •  Testimony <Invitation Only> 

SB 194 ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTORS

  •  Testimony <Invitation Only> 

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