March 2 was Day 45 of the session.The House Finance Committee is taking public testimony today and tomorrow on the Operating Budget, and hopes to bring the budget to the House Floor next week. Much discussion has been around a $48 million cut to school construction bond payments, and the use of Permanent Fund earnings to balance the deficit. After the House passes the budget, Senate leaders are saying to expect up to $300 million in budget cuts from their side.
The House Resources Committee has been taking public testimony on a bill (HB111) that increases taxes on the state's oil & gas industry. HB111 also cuts various oil tax credits and deductions for exploration and development costs.
After next week, the House Finance Committee will get back to deliberations on a bill (HB115) that restructures the Permanent Fund earnings and institutes a state income tax.
On the Senate side, there is a bill (SB70) to restructure Permanent Fund earnings and institute a spending cap. SB70 is scheduled for hearings all next week in the Senate Finance Committee.
Below is a summary of bills of interest:
SB45
, relating to contractor exemptions for owner-builders, moved out of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee this past week.The bill has moved to the Senate Finance Committee, where it is not scheduled for hearings at this time.
HB79
, the Governor's omnibus workers' compensation bill, is scheduled for hearings next week in the House Labor & Commerce Committee.On Monday, March 6th, at 3:15PM there is expected to be a new draft version of the bill with amendments to the independent contractor's section.A follow up hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8th to hear public testimony.
SB40
, the Senate version of the Governor's omnibus workers' compensation bill, is in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee.It had its first overview hearing last week, but is not scheduled for additional hearings at this time.
HB90
, by Rep. Sam Kito (D-Juneau), would change occupational license fees by separating investigative costs into a separate surcharge.Yesterday this bill was moved out of the House Labor & Commerce Committee without any changes.It is now in the House Finance Committee, and is not scheduled for hearings at this time.There is no Senate companion bill.
HB141
, by Rep. Zach Fansler (D-Bethel), would extend the sunset on the list of vocational and workforce development centers that receive funding from the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP).The bill was introduced last week, and is scheduled for a hearing in the House Labor & Commerce Committee next week on Monday.For a copy of the bill that shows the list of recipients, below is a web link:
