The 34th Legislature continues to roll on toward spring! We are all happy to see more light and longer days.

I will be on the Kenai Peninsula for three town halls this weekend. Friday, Feb. 28 I will be at the Sportsman’s Club in Moose Pass from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, March 1 I will be at the Nikiski Rec Center from 10 a.m. to 11:30 and the KPB Assembly Chambers in Soldotna from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. I hope you’ll stop by to share your questions and ideas. Can’t make it? You can always reach out to my office at 907-283-7996 or email me at Sen.Jesse.Bjorkman@akleg.gov.

The Senate Transportation Committee, which I chair, held a hearing this week on ways that we can support the trucking industry. We discussed how a decision by the Legislature to lower the age to 18 for in-state commercial drivers is helping attract young Alaskans into the trucking workforce without impacting safety. The Association also shared the need for better maintenance on Alaska roads, in particular on the Dalton Highway that provides goods for Alaska’s oil industry, and changes that may be necessary to allow for more commercial driver’s license training and testing in more remote parts of Alaska.

The Senate Budget Sub-Committees have begun to meet. I am on the DOT budget subcommittee and I will be focusing on winter road maintenance for the Seward Highway, road brine use, as well as obstacles that prevent road projects from moving forward efficiently.

Another transportation issue that is important for the safety our residents is the Cooper Landing Bypass. I know you care about this and other Kenai Peninsula road projects, so please provide comments on the new STIP amendment by the March 20 deadline at dot.alaska.gov/stip. Also, open houses for the Sterling Highway Safety Corridor are coming up in April on the 22nd in Soldotna and on the 23rd in Sterling.

In other news, my first bill for the 34th Legislature, S.B. 79 — sponsored by my Senate Labor & Commerce committee — passed the Senate unanimously this week. This bill makes it easier for employees to avoid check cashing fees when they don’t have a bank account.

Talks continue about education funding. I am working to ensure our students have effective education and am advocating for increased opportunities and real measures of progress for students that are easily understood by students, parents and the community.

I am honored to be your state senator and 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.