Senator Article Archive

Judge Zeman first created uncertainty for students and now has created uncertainty for the legislative branch, the executive branch, and school districts throughout the state. Superior Court Judge Zeman put the question of adjournment into a tailspin last Thursday when he chose to grant the NEA plaintiffs’ request for a brief stay (suspension) on his…

You have an opportunity to weigh in regarding the retention of Judge Zeman who made the recent Alaska Superior Court decision impacting public correspondence homeschooling. He struck down the statutes that are core to the program in 30 of our 54 school districts, impacting nearly 20% of Alaska’s K-12 students. Whether you like or dislike…

Better wear a thick mitten hot pad or you will most certainly blister your hand because the education issue continues to be an extremely fiery topic. First, we sadly learned late last week that the released test scores indicate far too few of our students are attaining proficiency in the basic subjects in our public…

Prior to a couple of months ago, I had never heard the acronym “AWOS”, let alone knew we had an AWOS problem in Alaska or that an AWOS was related to life and safety – something about which we all care tremendously. So, what is the meaning of an A-W-O-S? Those four letters stand for…

Word released Friday evening puts families of more than 22,000 Alaskan students in jeopardy. Families who receive public funding allotments for public correspondence (homeschool) students were dealt a big blow. Judge Adolf Zeman ruled in favor of NEA-Alaska who funded the case against families using the allotments for private vendor purchases. The judge did not…

The House version of the operating budget bill is sitting at approximately $12.3 billion (including the PFD). Where do we get the revenue to cover those costs? $3.7 billion from the 5% percent-of-market (POMV) draw from the Permanent Fund, $2.8 billion from oil and other taxes, and the remaining $5.8 billion in revenue is made…

Off-the-road-system rural Alaska has its perks. It’s not for everyone but with a decade under my belt living in what we used to call “the bush” in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, I can tell you that the best part for me involved people. The options of shopping at a mall or going to the movie theatre…

Much work has been underway by groups, companies, policymakers here in the US and abroad to develop roadmaps for tackling all the big questions AI brings up—like how we keep our data private, protect our rights, and make sure AI plays nice. It’s kind of wild to think about how fast AI is changing everything…

Our Most Precious Resource: Our Children Corporate media will likely spin what happens and why. I’ve heard from pro-override individuals who have let me know after hearing me out that they see the issue differently, support the stand I’m taking for the students and teachers, and want the legislature to go back to the drawing…

Across Alaska’s peaceful and rugged landscapes, a new chapter is unfolding—one that will develop the state’s flourishing promise and secure the well-being of its people. Establishing a Department of Agriculture in Alaska would not be just a step but a giant leap forward toward realizing the untapped potential of more of the massive Alaskan acreage…

SB 24 is a bill that would add “mental health education” to the K-12 curriculum in public schools. I had tremendous reservations about the bill as written, so I crafted language changes to the bill. First, I need to explain that because I am a huge advocate for safe schools and preventing school shootings, I…

The time has come to broaden our economic horizons beyond relying primarily on oil revenue. Our state’s shaky financial health proves the need for diversification and innovation. Although Alaska still has significant oil reserves, reports are not signaling any big booms around the corner. Yet, amidst these challenges lies a promising opportunity for prosperity through…

SB 140, the education package, is on the governor’s desk. The bill underwent arduous negotiations between the House and the Senate, with Governor Dunleavy, a former teacher and superintendent, making known his priorities which were specifically designed to improve student outcomes. The bill on his desk, however, left out some of those priorities and watered…

It is indeed unusual that this early in the legislative session that the House passed SB 140, an education package that provides provisions to expand public charter school and public correspondence options for students, a funding boost targeted to K-3 students with reading deficiencies, a reasonable boost of funds for pupil transportation, and a $680…

As Alaska stands at a fundamental crossroad, the decisions made today regarding the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) will profoundly influence the state’s economic, cultural, and social landscape. The expected vote this week on the House floor of HJR 7 heralds a critical opportunity to help secure a prosperous future for Alaskans. Following the unsettling 2016…

Whoa. What? Shelley Hughes is supporting this? A separate department for agriculture?? But isn’t she all about right-sizing and limiting government? Yes, folks, I am, but this is not about big, overstepping government. It’s about providing more streamlined government to support the private sector under one roof instead of spread between multiple departments. It’s about…

Based on chronically low student performance across our state (except for some wonderful pockets of excellence sprinkled in both urban and rural regions), a constitutional duty must now be met by the legislature and the state. Very few are discussing it and are aware. The media failed to cover it when I pointed it out…

Blow The Dust Off The Dam Project Already Nobody is happy a natural gas shortfall is looming on the Kenai Peninsula up through Anchorage and Mat-Su and onto Fairbanks. Nobody is fond of importing gas into our resource-rich state. Everybody is focused on figuring out how we can get companies to drill more Cook Inlet…

Where have all the fiscal conservatives gone? In the recent debate over Senate Bill 88, a pressing question echoed through my head: “Where have all the fiscal conservatives gone?” This question, reminiscent of the haunting melodies of “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” and “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” underscores a critical juncture in…

A foundational question for all of us in Alaska, when too many schools are failing, is whether any proposed increased funding is targeted or not to improve student achievement. If we’re not asking that question, shame on us. SB140 is the “new education bill” in Juneau that you likely will be hearing a lot about…

Hughes Introduces SB 177 AI, Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, Deepfakes Just prior to the session kicking off, I pre-filed SB177 which pertains to state agencies’ use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), data privacy, cybersecurity, and political deepfakes. With the increasing availability of AI to streamline work processes, transparency and guidelines for the use of AI by state…

Food & Farm Caucus We are kicking off 2024 and the new session with our first Food and Farm Caucus meeting in the State Capitol this Wednesday at 5:15 in Room 205. The Food and Farm Caucus (F&F Caucus) started in 2022 when I, along with Senator Scott Kawasaki, Representatives George Rauscher, and Geran Tarr…

WE MUST PASS HB 68 The topic of trafficking in the US ramped up last summer after the film release of The Sound of Freedom but the topic is not new to Alaska. I remember reading an article several years ago about a study that included Covenant House in Anchorage. I was shocked to learn…

Concealed Carry Job Duty Assigned to at Least One Qualified, Trained Individual per School Shortly before we gaveled in for session, I pre-filed SB 173 “The Safe Schools Act” designed to deter active shooting tragedies taking place in any of Alaska’s K-12 schools. A retired teacher in my district who worked at Bethel High School…

This is a bit technical but hang tight with me. If you can track what happened technically, you can better understand what happened politically. I offered two amendments on the Senate floor last week to a bill (SB 52) which had a title that began with the broad topic of education, the exact words: “An…

A PFD Cut is Not a Fiscal Plan SB 107 cuts the PFD and sets Alaska on a pathway to decimate the PFD altogether. Its proponents had the audacity to claim the bill was a “fiscal plan” which I and my fellow Senate Minority members aptly refuted with solid logic and facts. The bill eliminates…

Choose Right Destination We are at the critical juncture where we absolutely must understand how what we do now with the PFD will make a huge difference – as different as night and day –  in the type of state we have in our future. What we do at this pivotal point will impact our…

The Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) decided not to take up a vote last week to adopt a bylaw change that would have limited girls’ sports and teams to biological females. Hundreds of Alaskans emailed, signed a petition, and called in to testify in support of protecting girls’ sports to preserve the original intent of…

From Sap to Syrup This is the time of year for boiling things down, whether in the syrup industry or in the capital city. “Sugarmakers” are busy collecting sap during this season and embarking on the arduous adventure of making syrup. This means time in the elements collecting buckets full of sap, reducing and evaporating…

The House decided to pass and move the operating budget bill to the Senate last week after reaching an agreement for fair play regarding the handling of the capital budget bill. It would have been an opportunity too for the House to insist the Senate Majority begin to move the fiscal plan pieces, but another…

Part of Solution to Workforce Shortage It started last year. Nearly every single person who streamed into my office, no matter the sector, no matter the industry, no matter the region of the state, each was singing the same tune, and it was the blues. Everybody was moaning about the workforce shortage in Alaska. The…

The recently announced goal by the Biden administration that 50 percent of new vehicles be electric by 2030, his “EV Acceleration Challenge”, is unaffordable, unrealistic, and irresponsible. And it’s all based on a shaky premise. As your District M Senator, I cannot ignore this, especially when I realize the impacts on Alaskans. I cannot walk…

SB 77 Undermines Principle of Property Right Protection Ours is a nation where property ownership is sought out as part of the American dream. Under communism, socialism, under the oppression of a dictator, that possibility is squelched. The fundamental right we have in Alaska to own property is one to be cherished and protected. Owning…

Alaska School Activities Association A board member of a non-profit in Alaska typically does not expect to be bombarded and contacted by hundreds of people, some who are very stern and even angry. I’m used to that, but they aren’t. I signed up to run for office and hearing from large numbers of people who…

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Well, la-dee-da. Based on data from 2021, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are actually down 17.7 percent from 2007, putting current levels approximately 2 percent below 1990’s level. This is stunning news, and it is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Draft Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) recently released. Digging a little deeper,…

Taxes Alone = A Runaway Horse If your horse is not hitched to your wagon, don’t expect your load to go anywhere soon. Better beware too because your horse might just race off out of control. Now hold that thought. It’s been like Groundhog Day here in the Capitol building the last couple of weeks,…

Real Health Insurance Savings Potential for School Districts The words “pooling” and “steam” in the title may conjure up images in your mind of hot springs and geysers but there’s something equally as exciting as these vacation destinations for school administrators right now: the chance to save millions in their district budgets. When there is…

2023 Business Plan Competition Keynote by Senator Shelley Hughes The Perfect Pitch was the grand finale event of the UAA College of Business and Public Policy Business Plan Competition held on Friday, April 7, 2023. Aspiring entrepreneurs showcased their ideas and presented their investor pitches to a live audience. Expert judges gave feedback to the…

…The Key Point in Email Traffic I try my best to keep up with the hundreds of emails I receive. Admittedly, it is getting more and more challenging, and there are not enough hours in the week – nights and weekends included – to respond to each. What I do see are recurring themes in…

We Need to Rally for Public Accommodation Sanity I received a report this weekend, and I will state right up front, as of this writing, it is not a verified report. But it doesn’t need to be because the situation, if it did not occur on Friday in the Mat-Su, it will at some point…

Let’s Extend This Significant Day Throughout the Year “Education and Sharing Day is set aside each year to remind us that it is our duty as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, community members and leaders to teach our children values and morals by which they can aspire to become contributing, caring, service-minded adults. Sunday, April…

Directing More Dollars to Classrooms with Funds Districts Already Have The issue of school funding is a big focus this year in Juneau. Few are talking about one way we can increase dollars for classrooms without one new penny. And it’s not just chump change either that could be redirected to student instruction. By giving…

Flawed Process and Policy In response to the 67% pay raise proposal for legislators, I introduced Senate Bill (SB) 111 “Rejecting Legislators’ Salary Increase” last week.  Not only is this legislation a responsible step considering the fiscal shortfall the legislature is currently facing as we craft the FY2024 budget and the lack of a long-term…

Effort to Repeal Ag Crop Statutes Creates Stir After working for more than seven years to promote hemp as an agricultural crop farmers could produce and successfully carrying legislation to ensure by law hemp would not fall under the supervision of the Marijuana Control Board and instead the Division of Agriculture, you can imagine my…

Thanks to Alaska Board of Education Safe and fair for all: Title IX-related resolution passes Many of you have been begging me to file my bill from last year to protect girls’ sports (SB 140). Oh, did I ever want to because I knew the matter of safety and fairness for all students needed to…

“National Popular Vote” isn’t what it’s cracked up to be: It’s bad for Alaska, bad for the Nation I’m barely (by one year!) old enough to remember when The Last Frontier became America’s 49th state. It was a big deal. Alaska is still a big deal in a class by itself. Our state ratified the…

How can we make sure we’re getting the most bang for our buck in state government operations? Chatter about raising old taxes and implementing new ones is beginning to pick up in the Capitol building. My reaction is different than some who engage in this conversation: they are excited about the prospect – they salivate…

Spending Cap, PFD, and SB9 Should Be First, Not Taxes Discussion among leadership and the governor ensued last week about the need for a fiscal plan (sooner rather than later) after a conversation about what our fiscal situation will look like in just a few years – especially considering some of the big-ticket items on…

Who knows what’s best? Parents or the schools? SB 96, HB 105, SB 43 Many of you have contacted me to let me know you are in adamant opposition to SB 43, a bill that would require comprehensive sexual health education beginning in kindergarten and through 12th grade covering topics listed in law. I am…

Executive Board Formed A new legislative task force is picking up where Governor Dunleavy’s Alaska Food Security and Independence Task Force left off when it expired on February 27, 2023. The Alaska Food Strategy Task Force (AFSTF) was established by HB 298 and signed into law during the 32nd Legislative session. The recently established AFSTF…

Group of Legislators Thanks Walgreens for Following Law We all know that some things are not what they seem. That occurred this past week. All we heard in the media as a response from the legislature regarding Walgreen’s decision to not mail abortion pills to Alaska was an outcry in letter form bashing the company…

Whoa. Of the 50 minerals and metals critical to the United States, Alaska has 49. But if they’re buried, what good are they? Leaders in our nation’s capital and those here at home who want to advance renewable energy need to realize their hopes and dreams will go down the tubes unless they wake up…

No one likes being in last place, but this time, oh how I wish we were. Alaska is number one among the 50 states for what we spend on healthcare[1]. Brace yourself, because it gets worse. Alaska is the most expensive location on the entire planet for healthcare[2]. This is not sustainable, folks. Families and…

SB 88 Pension “Pill” Better Read the Warning Label Senator Cathy Giessel, the sponsor of SB 88, and nine co-sponsors from the Senate Majority are touting the bill to reinstate pensions for public employees (rather than the current 401K type retirement system adopted in 2006) as a cure for recruitment and retention challenges. Although the…

An issue currently rising to the top in Juneau Why is Lady Justice’s blindfold slipping in Alaska? And what can we do about it? We all want our judges to be honest, fair, intelligent, and experienced persons who uphold the constitution and the law without bias. Although some individual judges in our state meet this…

A project in the National Petroleum Reserve has suffered some resistance from the Biden administration. The day of reckoning will soon be upon us as the U.S. Department of Interior is about to make its Record of Decision. Fortunately, the Alaska State House sent a clear bipartisan message via HJR 6 that the Willow Project…

After Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke last week to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature, a speech which included remarks pertaining to the Chinese spy balloon and other objects in US airspace, I raised the question to Senator Murkowski if D.C. now recognizes that Alaska is truly the first line of defense, that we arguably…

Student Learning Outcomes Must Be Tied to School Funding Are Legislators Listening? I testified under “public testimony” to the Senate Education Committee a couple of weeks ago – which was quite unconventional for a legislator to do so (but it’s also quite unconventional for a Senate Minority member such as myself not to have any…

What’s an issue currently rising to the top in Juneau? Food Security and Independence Priority for Alaska What happens if something catastrophic happens to the Port of Seattle of the Port of Alaska? One late ship from Tote or Matson causes disruptions, but compound that by two or three or four late ships—it would be devastating.…

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Hope you are feeling Influential and masterful this February 20th! Why, you may ask? Well, I figure feeling a bit presidential on Presidents’ Day might be a fitting way to celebrate the holiday! I have come to realize that our impacting people, situations, and issues for good and using skills we’ve…

We are facing a crisis in our K-12 schools in Alaska. Does the legislature have the political will and fortitude to help our students? Sometimes when things are presented to us, we fail to recognize they’re coming to us on a silver platter. We miss that we have a golden opportunity before us. I want to…

Dear Friends and Neighbors, As you all know, I am a state senator and serve in Juneau, not Washington, D.C. At the same time, we here at home at the state level want our leaders in our nation’s capital to realize a thing or two about Alaska. This is one of those times. I posted yesterday on…

The question of defined benefits for public employees: Should we return to DB? Can we afford DB? Since Alaska closed the door on the Defined Benefits (DB) retirement plan in 2006 to public employees due to the growing unfunded liability, and opened the door to the new Defined Contribution (DC) retirement plan, various legislators have…

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Things have been rockin’ and rollin’ this past week in the people’s branch and there’s no stopping the momentum this coming week. Before delving into my update, I want to thank all the new subscribers (existing subscribers, I love you too!). Many of you don’t live in my district, and I’m honored…

Is HB172 the culprit that allowed the wrongful custody hold of the school principal to occur? No, it is not. Is there work to do to prevent a recurrence? Yes, there is. Many residents have raised concerns, some have jumped to erroneous conclusions, and some have contacted my office asking about the recent news report…

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS Governor Mike Dunleavy gave his fifth annual State of the State address on January 23rd to a joint session of the 33rd Legislature. His remarks instilled hope and vision for tangible and achievable opportunities that we can realize if the legislature is willing to partner together with his administration. I…

Dear Friends and Neighbors, The gavel came down January 17th to kick off the 33rd Legislature, and already there’s been a steady whirl of activity in our senate office on your behalf! As a member this year of the Senate Minority, my role has certainly shifted, but my ability to impact policy positively and promote…