Capitol Report - February 4, 2022

Feb. 4, 2022

COVID-19 in the Capitol as legislators take in-depth look at Operating Budget

Capitol COVID-19 Outbreak:

The House held a technical floor session on Wednesday and several standing committees were canceled after one or more members of the House tested positive for COVID-19. Many representatives were close contacts and were asked to quarantine outside of the building until they could safely return. The outbreak proved disruptive as it pushed the business of the House back by several days. Many planned hearings have been postponed until next week.

多多直播 in the Capitol

Fortunately, the House University of Alaska Finance Subcommittee was still able to meet earlier today to review the university鈥檚 budget additions. Committee members heard from 多多直播 experts about the drone program, our heavy oil recovery method research and development, and our critical minerals and rare earth elements research. Committee members were interested in the difference between the university鈥檚 drones and those used by the U.S. military, the refinery process for heavy oil, and the environmental impacts of processing critical earth minerals. See today鈥檚 presentations .

The Senate Finance Committee has been meeting to review the state鈥檚 finances closely. This week they first heard the from Neil Steininger, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Following Mr. Steininger鈥檚 presentation, the committee heard an of , the operating budget, by Legislative Finance Director Alexei Painter. Notably, when reviewing the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR), Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) said that he would like to separate the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) from the remaining CBR funds, indicating that the Senate Finance Committee intends to preserve HEIF funds and separate them, either by law or litigation. Later, in the same presentation, Mr. Painter discussed the federal COVID-19 and infrastructure funds coming to the state. The university鈥檚 $20M capital request updating student information technology systems is currently funded from the State鈥檚 federal coronavirus capital projects fund and Mr. Painter believes it meets the federal funding guidelines because it falls under 鈥減rojects enabling remote work, education, and health monitoring.鈥 

Upcoming Events

The university Government Relations team will have the opportunity to highlight our drones program, critical earth minerals research, heavy oil recovery research and ACEP鈥檚 work in microreactors this afternoon during an informal discussion with legislators and staff. 多多直播 experts in attendance include Dr. Cathy Cahill and Director Gwen Holdmann. 

Monday, February 7

  • 9:00 a.m.: - Consideration of Governor's Appointee: Kali Spencer to University of Alaska Board of Regents

Tuesday, Feb 8

  • 10:15 a.m.:  - 鈥淎n Act on Microreactors鈥 (Pending introduction & referral)

Wednesday, Feb 9

  • 9:00 a.m.: - 鈥淔ree/Reduced Tuition for Essential Workers鈥
  • 11:00 a.m.: Joint Session  -  State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Winfree
  • 1:30 p.m.: - 鈥淎pprop: Operating Budget/Loans/Fund鈥

Thursday, Feb 10

  • 10:15 a.m. :  - 鈥淎n Act on Microreactors鈥 (Pending introduction & referral)

Friday, Feb 11

  • 9:00 a.m.: - Discussion of FY 23 Research and Development Project Requests / Presentation: University of Alaska 10-Year Vision
  • 9:00 a.m.: - 鈥淎laska Higher Education Investment Fund鈥

For more information, contact Director of State Relations for the University of Alaska System Chad Hutchison, cell 907-378-3946, email clhutchison@alaska.edu.