2024 AK Legislative Scorecard

HB50 creates a regulatory framework for underground carbon storage under the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. It establishes funds like the Carbon Storage Closure Trust and regulates storage leases and exploration licenses. The main incentive for companies is the federal 45Q tax credit. While it also addresses geothermal resources and gas storage, the bill primarily adds regulations for carbon capture and includes provisions for Cook Inlet oil and gas projects.

The Alaska State Senate passed HB50 on May 15, 2024 by a vote of 17 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill expands government by introducing regulations that infringe on individual freedom and economic liberty. Taxpayer funds should not be used to support compliance with Agenda 2030, as it is unconstitutional. Additionally, this regulatory framework prioritizes international agendas over U.S. sovereignty and control, further increasing government intervention in private sector activities.

SB179 prohibits the state of Alaska and municipalities from taxing the transfer of real property, including home rule and general law municipalities, preventing them from imposing sales or use taxes on these transactions.

The Alaska State Senate passed SB179 on April 3, 2024 by a vote of 16 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because real property taxes, like income taxes, are immoral and anti-constitutional acts of government-imposed theft. Since property is tied to ownership, only when a person or business is secure in the possession of their property can they have the freedom to exercise self-government. Every attack on private property is, therefore, an attack on individual liberty. The U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment were written to safeguard “private property” and prevent “any State” from depriving “any person” of “property, without due process of law.”

HB345 creates disaster relief grants for Alaska unit owners to cover common disaster-related expenses. It also sets requirements for municipalities and regional housing authorities to apply for harbor facility grants for construction, expansion, or repairs. Applicants must show a capital improvement project, provide matching funds, have insurance, follow a maintenance plan, and ensure safety ladders are installed.

The Alaska State Senate passed HB345 on May 14, 2024 by a vote of 19 to 1. We have assigned pluses to the nays because government should neither issue unconstitutional taxpayer-funded grants nor replace public charity. This bill expands government, picks winners and losers, and fosters dependence on government assistance. When the government intervenes in areas outside its proper role, it erodes individual and business autonomy, especially since government aid often comes with strings attached.

HB273 expands the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's (AHFC) role, allowing it to issue or purchase mortgage loans to improve housing affordability, especially in underserved areas. The bill also supports green energy by funding energy-efficient housing and renewable energy projects.

The Alaska State Senate passed HB273 on May 14, 2024 by a vote of 18 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill imposes unnecessary government interference in the housing market, which should naturally determine housing costs. The subsidized loan program unfairly favors certain groups, effectively picking winners and losers, while moving toward socialism by misusing taxpayer funds for subsidized housing. Furthermore, it feeds into "green energy" initiatives based on the discredited "climate change" agenda, diverting resources from market-driven solutions and fiscal responsibility.

SB140 increases funding for educator salaries and retention bonuses and enhancing internet service funding for schools. It requires school districts to report on their efforts and provides an appeal process for charter schools facing termination, along with support for them. The bill adjusts student transportation funding based on district needs, raises the base student allocation to $6,640, boosts funding for correspondence programs, and allocates $500 per student in grades K-3 for reading improvement plans.

The Alaska State Senate passed SB140 on February 26, 2024 by a vote of 18 to 1. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the U.S. public education system suffers from poor academic performance and the indoctrination of harmful ideologies—creating a significant taxpayer burden that this legislation only exacerbates. This decline appears intentional, aimed at undermining traditional American values. Public education represents an unconstitutional expense that frequently fails to deliver positive outcomes—further perpetuating indoctrination and promoting woke policies.