I will be back on the Kenai Peninsula this weekend with a town hall in Cooper Landing on Friday, March 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Cooper Landing Community Hall at 18511 Bean Creek Road. On Saturday, March 29, I will be joined by Reps. Ruffridge and Elam for a Joint Town Hall from 10 a.m. to noon at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Chambers at 144 N. Binkley Street in Soldotna.

This past week the Senate Education committee began hearings on increasing K-12 school funding and new policies that will lead to improved education outcomes. The bill that came over from the House must be amended to work for Alaska’s families and all forms of public education.

Developments continue to evolve around the AKLNG project. Negotiations between the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation and Glenfarne are nearing an inflection point and I expect a significant update soon from the AGDC board. The non-binding letter of intent signed by Taiwan to invest and purchase LNG is a small step. It is also positive to note that another large investment firm has gathered financing to privatize the project and is willing to quarterback laying pipe if things with Glenfarne fall through. However, that offer will likely not last forever. I am very interested in ensuring the Kenai Peninsula and all of Alaska gets the best deal possible.

Six of the bills I have introduced had hearings this week, including Senate Bill 79 and Senate Bill 137.

Senate Bill 79 gives employers another option to pay wages, allowing employers to directly credit wages to an employee on a payroll card account. This legislation ensures that employees without a bank account can access their wages without having to pay a check cashing fee and then carrying their entire paycheck in cash. Employees have easy access to their wages when they are on a payroll card. They can make point of sale purchases without fees and withdraw cash from their cards at ATMs.

Senate Bill 137 extends the sunset date of three State of Alaska boards: Direct-Entry Midwifery, Nursing, and Parole. The Division of Legislative Audit conducts a review of boards such as these the year before their sunset date, considering each board’s performance against its statutory mission and providing an assessment of whether the board continues to perform a public service. The audits highlight areas where a board could improve its performance, if there are any, and how long a board should be extended for before the next sunset review. The Division found all three boards provide a public benefit and recommended extending the Boards of Midwifery and Nursing to June 30, 2031, and the Board of Parole to June 30, 2029. The bill I introduced incorporates these recommendations.

I am honored to be your state senator. I want to hear from you. You’re welcome to call my office at 907-283-7996 or email me at Sen.Jesse.Bjorkman@akleg.gov. I hope you’ll take the time to share your questions and ideas.