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Assembly committee hears updates on HUD funding push, SB47 Chugach park easements, SB8 resolution and election-bill tracking
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Summary
Committee staff reviewed ongoing municipal advocacy: a HUD formula change letter being circulated to the Alaska delegation, work on Senate Bill 47 to allow state park easements to municipalities, a draft Assembly resolution supporting Senate Bill 8 (deaf/hearing-impaired accommodations), and continued tracking of several election bills.
The Assembly Legislative Committee received several legislative‑tracking updates and advocacy items at its March 6 meeting.
Miss Ross briefed the committee on the municipality’s effort to secure a letter from the Alaska delegation supporting a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding formula update intended to increase Alaska’s share of HUD funds. Ross said Representative Mears and Senator Kaufman’s offices were working to collect signatures for a letter the municipal team will carry to Washington, D.C.
Nolan Clowda added that Senator Sullivan discussed the HUD/continuum‑of‑care topic during a recent meeting at the mayor’s office and indicated hope that discussions with the new HUD secretary could make progress on that issue.
Committee staff also described Senate Bill 47 (S P 47 in the transcript), which would allow easements in Chugach State Park to be granted to municipalities through the Department of Natural Resources commissioner. Staff said they worked with Senator Giesel’s office to add language requiring municipal acceptance of easements to avoid inadvertently assuming cost burdens. The transcript records that the bill passed the Senate Resources committee.
The committee noted a draft resolution from Assemblymember Bowman supporting Senate Bill 8, a bill described in the sponsor statement as addressing accommodations for people who are deaf or hearing‑impaired. The resolution sponsor was not present at the March 6 meeting; staff said the resolution would appear on the March 18 agenda.
On election bills, staff reported continued tracking and contact with Representative Shrogy and Senator Wilkowsky’s offices but said larger election‑focused measures may not include the municipality’s desired language this session.
Other items: Chair Anna Brawley reported she had been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (EENR) Committee; she said she will share takeaways from that national committee role. Staff also noted the Anchorage delegation’s annual town hall will be held at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus on Saturday, April 5; the transcript did not record a start time.
The committee received these briefings for information. Staff asked members to review the sponsor statement for the SB8 resolution ahead of the March 18 meeting; no Assembly votes or formal positions were recorded on March 6.
