Alaska's most experienced lawmakers got the jump on their colleagues Monday with the first release of pre-filed bills before the 28th Alaska Legislature convenes next week.
The initial bill filings including 56 bills and three constitutional amendments. Many resurrect failed efforts from last year, the end of the two-year 27th Alaska Legislature, with solid Republican control possibly offering new hope for passage.
The likely focus of this year's session should be Gov. Sean Parnell's ongoing effort to roll back taxes for the state's big oil producers – although his exact plan has yet to be made public.
Some peripheral issues to the oil-tax debate are among the newly filed bills, as are ongoing natural gas issues. Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, wants more information about what companies get in tax credits, a key part of the oil tax debate. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, and Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, are making another attempt at supporting the in-state gasline legislation that they pushed through the House last year but which stalled in the Senate.
And Rep. Scott Kawasaki, R-Fairbanks, wants to make it easier for the state's royalty oil to be used in Alaska, which may benefit Fairbanks and a nearby refinery.
A couple of religion-inspired issues may also get attention this year, with Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, wanting to amend the Alaska Constitution to allow state education funds to go to private religious schools, while Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, wants to allow a religious exemption to the requirement of a photo on driver's licenses.
Some less controversial bills are back, too. Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, succeeded in getting a bill requiring pharmacy audits through the Senate last year before it stalled in the House. The bill is back, along with a House companion sponsored by Rep. Kurt Olson, R-Soldotna.
Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, is back with a controversial bill requiring photo identification in order to vote. He introduced that bill last session as well, but never sought a hearing in its first committee of referral, a committee that he himself chaired.
Reps. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, and Lynn Gattis, R Wasilla, want to include cyberbullying in schools' anti-bullying efforts.
A second batch of pre-filed bills will be released before the Jan. 15 start of the session, but it won't be until the session begins that the bills will get their committee assignments. That can either pave the way for a bill's quick passage or burden it with additional hurdles.
Contact Pat Forgey at pat(at)alaskadispatch.com