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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We have such great news reporters in the Capitol! There has been very accurate reporting done all session.
Articles cited in this newsletter summarize actions on last day of 23rd Legislature.
Gas Pipeline
Staff and I will continue to watch both Finance committees, even though we no longer have our hands on it. Concern is that most of the Senate Committee doesn't live on the Railbelt, so won't be directly affected by the gas price for consumers.
Summary of House Finance meeting (5/22/26) is in a section of this newsletter.
Skepticism looms as an obstacle over Alaska Legislature’s special gasline session Alaska Beacon
The risk is if only Phase 1 is built. In that scenario, the Department of Revenue estimates, Southcentral Alaskans could end up paying more than $27 per mcf under current law and almost $23 per mcf under the governor’s proposal.
Speaking Thursday during the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval offered conflicting statements about the pipeline’s financing.
At one point, he said that he had sufficient investments to construct the first phase without any tax breaks. Later, talking with Dunleavy, he said the tax bill is “a critical condition” for pipeline construction, as is a gas-purchase agreement with ENSTAR, the middleman that supplies most of Southcentral Alaska with natural gas.
(My comment: Yes, Glenfarne told us in November 2025, in Executive Session of Legislative Budget & Audit, that no legislation (tax cuts) would be needed. Executive Sessions are not recorded, so I can't send it to you. The struggle: Risk of only Phase One, conflicting or no information from little-known private company. Glenfarne has two projects in U.S. that are much smaller, worked on longer, and still not to FID (final investment decision); maybe that's because they are not getting tax breaks there either.)
AOGCC tells Senate Resources new Pt Thomson offtake may be needed Petroleum News
The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission updated the Senate Resources Committee on Point Thomson May 13, telling the committee that its existing gas offtake order for the field, issued in 2015, may need to be updated.
(My comment: This is very important. New information about this very complex oil/gas field calls for reassessment of how much gas can be removed.)
Glenfarne CEO says Alaska LNG financing hinges on tax legislation Anchorage Daily News
“We know so little about what actually Glenfarne is doing. We know so little. It’s all left to speculation, and I don’t care to speculate,” said Edgmon, a Dillingham independent.
LNG Special Session: Lawmakers vote to start work next week. Alaska News Source
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, defended the legislature’s approach. “We’re doing what we believe is the best thing for the people of Alaska,” Giessel told Alaska’s News Source. “We’re supporting a gas pipeline, but not at any cost to Alaskans.”
Alaska LNG: A personal archive Alaska Beacon
They haven’t sent out any brochures or hosted any meetings, but I’m trying to write down what they say anyway, so that a few years from now, I can flip though my now organized and labeled folders and highlight the dates that came and went, the promises made and abandoned, just the latest in an archive of corporate lies.
Two bills that I worked on that passed:
SB 147/HB 195 Pharmacy Patient Services – Pharmacists hold doctoral degrees. There are 520 pharmacists in Alaska, and 860 pharmacy technicians.
This legislation, if allowed into law by the Governor, allows pharmacists to diagnose and treat simple illnesses that can be diagnosed with a test done in the pharmacy (examples: sore throat, urinary tract infections, colds, flu, etc.). Pharmacists can then prescribe treatment for these simple, test-confirmed diagnoses, as well as renew prescriptions for chronic care for asthma and diabetes. They can provide HIV prevention medications, contraceptives, and smoking cessation services.
They cannot make new diagnosis that is outside what can be confirmed with CLIA-waived test. They cannot prescribe opioids or other medications on prohibited lists. No medications from REMS list can even be purchased by a pharmacist.
This patient services authority exists for pharmacists in 30 other states. Savings: $277/visit treated by local pharmacist rather than at healthcare clinic. Pharmacies are often open for much longer hours, on city and neighborhood streets, and well known to citizens.
Local pharmacists are positioned in communities all over Alaska. They can meet healthcare needs of Alaskans quickly, safely, less expensively, and prevent complications. Twenty-four other states equip their pharmacists to provide these services.
Myth-buster: No pharmacist is authorized to prescribe or dispense for medication abortion. State laws prohibit it: AS 18.16.010 (a) and AS 18.16.090. In addition: the Federal Drug Administration prohibits Mifepristone from being on the shelf in a community pharmacy (see REMS – Risk Evaluation & Mitigation Strategy, FDA website).
HB 210, SB 205 Occupational Disability Coverage – amended into HB 14
Under current law for defined contribution retirement program, a public employee who becomes disabled while serving the public receives an occupational disability benefit equal to 40% of their gross monthly compensation at the time they left service. This 40% was set in the 1950s.
SB 205 increases that benefit to 75% of their gross monthly pay. This change applies to members of both the Public Employees’ Retirement System Defined Benefit Plan and the Defined Contribution Plan, ensuring equitable treatment across retirement tiers. The bill also provides for an immediate effective date.
The bill ensures injured public employees are not pushed into poverty and do not lose their retirement security.
When a public employee is injured in the line of duty, the financial consequences can be devastating. The sudden loss of income, combined with medical expenses and long-term recovery needs, places significant strain on individuals and their families.
Example: State Trooper earning $6,000/month
Disabled by gunshot wound - income drops to $2,400/month
This bill sets disability income at $4,500/month (75% of previous salary)
Can we afford it? YES! Trust funds are far more than fully funded:
PERS: 399% funded
TRS: 5,172% funded
This is not a funding problem.
This is a policy design problem.
HB 210/SB 205 reflects reality:
• People permanently disabled usually cannot supplement income
• Medical costs are often higher
• Families still need housing, food, transportation, and childcare.
I know 3 state troopers, shot on job, 100% disabled – one lost his home, another divorced, all are living in poverty, all have no health insurance so can’t afford healthcare for their injuries, all will never be able to work again.
About 11 years ago, two on-duty state troopers were shot and killed in rural community. Both had children/wife who were left with no financial support (they were not pension recipients) and no healthcare coverage. Legislature passed legislation that gave the two widows healthcare coverage for 10 years.
This is a real problem. This bill corrects this serious gap.
I hope the Governor doesn’t veto this.
May 21 - Special Session begins
House and Senate gaveled in on May 21, adopted resolutions permitting finance committees to function, floor sessions to be held as needed.
Gas Pipeline
Staff and I will continue to watch both Finance committees, even though we no longer have our hands on it. Concern is that most of the Senate Committee doesn't live on the Railbelt, so won't be directly affected by the gas price for consumers.
Items in this Newsletter:
- Action on Last 2 Days...
- Questions from Constituents
- Gasline Finance Committee Meetings
- Podcast: Pipeline Impossible: Deadlines Reckoning
- Plastic Recovery Newsletter
- Oil and Gas Pipeline Topics with Current Topics, Stuff I Found Interesting, Education, Politics, Healthcare
- Resource Values, Permanent Fund Data
- Alaska History
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