LEGISLATION THAT BECAME LAW LAST SESSION

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I was very proud to introduce and pass this bill on behalf of my community of Seward and the Alaska Marine Highway System. This legislation approved an additional $75 million in bonding authority for the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) to complete and expand the passenger dock and terminal in Seward. My office inserted language to ensure the passenger dock will be constructed to accommodate roll-on roll-off loading and unloading for the Alaska Marine Highway System. HB 65 came at no cost to the state, and it will benefit the travel industry, the community of Seward, and is the first step in having ferry service return to Seward (a long-term goal of mine). 

After 6 years of sponsoring this bill, I was thrilled to see it pass into law this year. This legislation exempts active commercial fishing vessels with Coast Guard documentation from the unnecessary and onerous burden of registering with the Division of Motor Vehicles. 

As the Chair of the House Fisheries Committee, I was proud to introduce this legislation on behalf of the joint Legislative Task Force on Alaska's seafood industry.  This new law will allow commercial fishermen to form Alaska-based insurance cooperatives. Rising costs and the availability of insurance serve as unnecessary barriers for many commercial fishermen. Local insurance pooling will provide more attractive and lower-risk alternatives for underwriters, as well as lower costs for our fishermen and policies tailored to local fleets.