Email from Alaska Senate Majority Summer School Summer School August 4, 2025 Dear Friends and Neighbors, On Saturday the bells rang to call us into special session. The legislature completed just about all our work by the May deadline, but we didn't get to turn in veto overrides early. Read on for our summer school grades, plus some (actually interesting—honest!) insurance law changes, and cross-border conversations. I had a great talk with Amy Lloyd's JDHS Government class in May. Teeter Totter By now you've likely heard the results of the very short special session: We overrode Governor Dunleavy's attack on school funding with 45 votes (out of 60.) We also overrode his veto of a bill to give the Legislative Auditor the tools she needs to review how his administration is collecting oil taxes with three votes to spare. We didn't come up with enough support to hold override votes on other budget issues, and I had just 39 votes (of the 40 needed) to restore the vetoed commercial fishing loan bill I carried. But what does it all mean? First and foremost, schools can use the cash we budgeted effectively. It would have been tough to hire a teacher if the vote was held in January. And the auditor can perform her duties. It also means the overwhelming outcry by Alaskans all across the state made the difference: legislators responded. That includes those who share a political party with the governor. It can be tough to explain to your most passionate voters why you went 'against the team,' but many of my colleagues heard from so many constituents they decided to cast the politically hard vote to get the good policy outcome. Contrast that to my fishing finance bill, which originally passed 59 - 1. Twenty of those legislators weren't willing to stick to their guns and vote to override. It also means the governor outsmarted himself. He called this special session at a time and in a way designed to minimize his chances of being overridden. And his request that his allies not show up maximized the likelihood of the legislature looking bad, potentially stuck on the floor unable to vote. But most legislators take their jobs seriously enough to cross oceans and show up no matter the political consequences. Combine that with legislators tired of an intransigent 'brook no compromises' approach, and he instead created the circumstances to make the overrides happen. That presages a rebalancing of power between the legislative and executive branches. Not at the most structural level—Alaska's constitution still creates a very strong executive. But a majority of the members of his own party give him a course correction. (Republicans voted 17 - 14 to override on school funding and split 16-16 on the audit bill.) That shows the institution is willing to stand up for itself and the people it serves. The governor has acted with near-impunity for most of his time in office where the legislature is concerned. He doesn't work on bills or budgets while we consider them, preferring to wield his veto at the end of the process against those who dare defy him. While we shouldn't expect a 90-degree turn, the coming end of his second term will steadily reduce legislators' need to fear him and the damage his administration can do to their constituents. Make no mistake: legislators overwhelmingly cast their votes this weekend based on policy. But the political implications for the governor suggest he would be wise to start looking for more ways to collaborate. During PNWER, I got to visit the Snoqualmie Falls hydro project. Puget Sound Energy brags it was the world's first underground hydropower plant, built in 1899. That's cool, but it can't top Juneau's Gold Creek hydro, which came online in 1896! Good Geography I don't go to a lot of conferences. Along with having a limited office account, I need to see a high ratio of work to tourism before I'll put state dollars into plane tickets. So it's no surprise I spent part of late July in Bellevue, Washington at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region annual meeting. PNWER is a group focused on the economy, environment, and quality of life in the five northwestern US states and the five northern and western Canadian provinces/territories. You'll seldom see the group's name on a press release. The focus is on bringing the region together to address everything from cross-border trade to invasive species to infrastructure resilience and the energy grid. The conferences—and the monthly board meetings in between—are about planning and mapping out actual changes and solving problems. So conversations ranged from marine transportation to growing a regional hydrogen economy. The U.S. Ambassador to Canada gave a talk that unfortunately made international news about tariffs and trade. And we looked at ways to smooth border crossings, especially as the 2026 World Cup looms ever closer! We didn't solve every issue at the conference, but cross-border work groups are cranking away with new vigor and directions to take advantage of opportunities in our part of the globe. It's not the sort of work that makes headlines, but it does make a difference. Rep. Hannan & I presented a legislative citation remembering Ethel Lund at the medical center named in her honor. Ethel was an extraordinary advocate for Alaska Native healthcare and a founder of SEARHC. Among her many honors, she carried the Olympic flame on the bow of a Tlingit canoe during the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay. New Policy During the regular session we passed an insurance omnibus bill. Don’t stop reading! Insurance legislation can usually put sloths to sleep, but this one has some really interesting stuff. First, the bill makes an important fix for anyone whose home or business gets damaged during a disaster. Most federal disaster assistance takes a denial letter from your insurance company—even for damage you weren't insured for—so Uncle Sam is sure he's really the payer of last resort. After the Mendenhall River flood in 2024, one company was canceling Juneauites’ insurance because they’d submitted a claim for something they weren't insured for. Never mind that it was necessary to get federal help. Our new law puts an end to that. The second good new law follows up on the fisheries task force's work. That group heard from fishing businesses around the state who have trouble getting insurance. The bill lowers the tonnage limit so smaller boats can qualify for wet marine and transportation insurance. More options to insure fishing boats is a good thing. The third piece of the omnibus expands consumer protection in our state. Alaskans can call the Division of Insurance if they have a complaint about a claim. But unlike regular car insurance, extended warranties haven’t been filed with the State. That means in the past, the Division couldn’t do anything to help. The bill fixes this so Alaskans have somewhere to turn if the extended car warranty company isn't playing by the rules. There’s another important consumer protection in the bill—this one is for property insurance. If you buy replacement value coverage, it will cover the actual cost to replace your house if it burns down. A cash value policy will pay out less because it depreciates the house over time. Some policies also depreciate the value of work to build the house. I'm not sure it's valid to say the labor is less valuable because the work happened longer ago. Many Alaskans who have these policies don’t realize the company is depreciating labor value until something goes wrong and they need to rebuild. The bill still lets insurance companies depreciate labor, but only if the company sells a special endorsement. That puts the customer on clear notice: they’re paying a lower premium in exchange for a policy that covers substantially less. Along with all the good in the bill one change made me a little dubious. Right now, we technically allow Health Maintenance Organizations in Alaska, but we have too many consumer protections for them to come in and operate. I don't find myself weeping over that, but those rules also have kept Alaska seniors from being able to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans. The bill tweaks rules about paying for 'out of network' services in ways that should let those plans become available here. But it keeps the most important guardrails in place: insurers in Alaska still need to cover patients out of network in emergencies or situations where there’s not a specialist in state. That's still likely to prevent a proliferation of HMOs. All in all, I'm glad Alaska signed up for these new insurance policies. All my best, Did someone forward you this newsletter and you want your very own copy? Did you fall into it through the series of tubes and now want it sent straight to you? SUBSCRIBE Events & Happenings Around District B Juneau Beat The Odds On Aug. 23, run a 5k or walk 2 miles to support Cancer Connections, helping Southeast Alaskans facing cancer. It’s a fun time for a great cause! Juneau Open Mic Calling performing artists of all sorts! The City Museum is hosting an Open Mic night Aug. 14 as part of their ‘Wild Joys: Creating Community Through the Performing Arts’ exhibition. You can sign up here. Juneau Evergreen Cemetery Tour On Aug. 16, join the experts from the City Museum for an Evergreen Cemetery Tour. Juneau Bookmark Contest Know a young artist? The annual Juneau bookmark contest starts Sept. 15. Students in pre-school through high school can submit their art. Juneau Library Walks Join the fun for walks, socializing, and free snacks during Parks & Rec’s Walk to the Library! Meet up at the Downtown Library on Aug. 18 to enjoy a ship-free morning on the Seawalk! Juneau Second Saturday Market On Aug. 9, shop local for handmade goods, fresh-baked treats, and more at the Second Saturday Market at the Mendenhall Mall. Juneau Free Summer Movie On Aug. 9, take the kids to a free summer showing of The Wild Robot. Gustavus Open Mic Head to the Community Center on Aug. 16 to share your talents at Open Mic night. Gustavus Author Talk Come to the Library on Aug. 23 to hear author Jenny Hahn talk about Pacific Harvest – A Northwest Coast Foraging Guide. Gustavus Contra Dance On Aug. 30, put on your dancing shoes for an evening of contra dance. Gustavus Second Saturday Market You can shop local on Aug. 9 at the Community Center’s Second Saturday Market. Haines Trail Adventures Join the library crew for two August trail adventures. Kids under 8, bring your adult. Hike to Battery Point Aug. 12, and on Aug. 14 adventure to Seven-Mile Saddle Summit! Haines Snack Attack Bring the kids to the library on Aug. 22 to make liquid gold elixir! (I suspect it might end up tasting like homemade lemonade.) Haines Notes of Gratitude Come to the Chilkat Center for the Arts on Aug. 10 for an evening of musical theater and opera! Haines Dalton City Limits Come to the fairgrounds for a summer concert series! On August 13 you can dance to western swing sounds and then on August 27 you can close out the season with high energy nostalgia covers. Haines Artists Market Shop for local art, crafts, and homemade goods on August 21. Klukwan HARK Visit Bring your furry friends for their vaccinations and nail clippings on Aug. 21. Skagway Harriet Pullen Birthday Party Come celebrate the 165th birthday of suffragist and Skagway legend Harriet Pullen! On Aug. 17, come to the Library for tea and treats. Skagway Climbing Club On Thursdays, join the fun with the Skagway Climbing Club! Whether you’re brand new or an experienced climber, you can join the trips to outdoor crags, learn about belaying, and more! Skagway Klondike Road Relay It’s time to get your team together and break in your shoes! The Klondike Road Relay starts Sept. 5. Skagway Maggio Music Fun-Raiser On Aug. 16, come to the Dedman Stage for music, food, games, and more. Skagway Garden City Market Check out local jewelry, paintings, plants, produce, soap, baked goods, and so much more! Get all your shopping done on Aug. 9. Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! Want to Send Snail Mail? Alaska State Capitol Room 514 Juneau, AK 99801 You Can Call: 800 550 4947 907 465 4947 Or Email Me! Contact My Staff, the people who power the work: Aurora Hauke 907 465 5051 [email protected] Ella Adkison 907 465 6419 [email protected] Cathy Schlingheyde 907 465 6827 [email protected] Senator Jesse Kiehl | Alaska State Capitol Rm. 514, 4th Avenue & Main Street | Juneau, AK 99801 US Unsubscribe | Constant Contact Data Notice