11-10-06 : House Majority Organizes for 25th Legislature

02-22-06 : Elkins Announced Federal Grant for Ketchikan Airport

02-22-06 : Mat-Su Delegation to Bring Transportation Issues Back Home
Highway Safety and Knik Arm Crossing Top Agenda

04-07-05 : Alaska House Passes Operating Budget

HB 239 : Powers/ Duties DOTPF/ Transportation Plan
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee by Request

An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; repealing the requirement for a long-range program for highway construction and maintenance; and repealing a requirement that public facilities comply with energy standards adopted by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

Contact : : 465-6873
Last Action : (H) TRA » (H) FIN : 04-15-05

04-14-05 : Opponents of DOT projects in the past learned that they could manipulate obsolete statutes, such as a requirement that the department conduct a cost-benefit analysis, to halt construction projects vital to the health, safety, and wellbeing of Alaskans. To preserve our future projects, HB 239 amends this statute and ensure that this loophole will not be used in the future to block important projects across the state.

HB 259 : Truck Load Requirements
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

An Act relating to covered or enclosed loads.

Contact : : 465-3743
Last Action : (H) TRA » (H) FIN : 03-03-06

| Sponsor Statement |

HB 266 : Vehicle Weights And Insurance
Signed into Law! Chapter 81 SLA 06
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

An Act relating to penalties for violation of vehicle weight limitations; prohibiting the use of a violation of a vehicle weight limitation for certain personal automobile insurance actions; amending Rule 43.6, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date.

Version : CS HB 266 (FIN)
Contact : : 465-6873
Last Action : Signed into Law : 06-28-06
Current Status : Chapter 81 SLA 06 : 06-28-06

| Sponsor Statement | Sectional Analysis |

05-08-06 : Passed the Legislature reconsideration noticed, to be transmitted to the Governor for signature.

The Finance Committee Substitute increases the fine schedule for overweight commercial vehicles and prohibits an insurer from taking adverse action relating to personal automobile insurance of a commercial driver who commits one or more violations relating to overweight commercial vehicles.

Modifies existing law related to the penalty structure for overweight vehicle violations as well as prohibiting the use of overweight vehicle violations by insurers.

HB 279 : Outdoor Advertising; Encroachments
Signed into Law! Chapter 61 SLA 05
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

An Act relating to encroachments in the right-of-way of a highway.

Version : SCS CS HB 279 (FIN)
Companion Bill : SB 183
Contact : : 465-6873
Last Action : Signed into Law : 06-24-05
Current Status : Chapter 61 SLA 05 : 06-24-05

| Sponsor Statement |

05-06-05 : The provisions of HB 279: - Inserts an exception into statute that will grandfather current encroachments in the right-of-way of a highway by obtaining a permit by the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. - The permit may be issued to a private person, a government agency acting in a business capacity, or an owner or lessee of land contiguous to the right-of-way. - In order to qualify for the permit, the encroachment must: 1. Not pose a risk to the traveling public. 2. The erection of the encroachment occurred in good faith. 3. The denial of the encroachment permit would pose a hardship on landowner.

HB 491 : Alaska Railroad Revenue Bonds
Companion Bill SB 308 Signed Into Law!
Chapter 28 SLA 06
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

An Act authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue revenue bonds to finance rail transportation projects that qualify for federal financial participation; and providing for an effective date.

Companion Bill : SB 308
Contact : : 465-3743
Last Action : (H) TRA » (H) FIN : 03-15-06

| Sponsor Statement |

03-14-06 : Passed House Transportation Committee without change, to be moved to the House Finance Committee.

House Bill 491 will authorize the Alaska Railroad to issue up to $165,000,000 in tax exempt bonds backed by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funds received annually by the Railroad. Bond proceeds will be used to finance FTA-eligible rail transportation projects focused on accelerating the Railroad’s mainline track and bridge rehabilitation program by as much as ten years.

HB 495 : Fire Fighter, Nurse, Senior License Plate
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

An Act relating to special fire fighter, nurse, and senior citizen license plates.

Current Status : (H) STA : 03-24-06

HB 497 : Transfer Clark Bay Terminal
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

An Act providing for the transfer of property at Clark Bay to the Inter-Island Ferry Authority.

Contact : : 465-6873
Current Status : (H) RES : 03-29-06

| Sponsor Statement |

HCR 38 : Fast Ferries
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

Urging the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to use the Alaska marine highway system fast ferries efficiently by deploying the fast ferries in northern Lynn Canal and Prince William Sound beginning in the summer of 2006, and to provide data regularly to the affected communities to enable the communities to evaluate the service effectively.

Contact : : 465-6873
Last Action : (H) TRA » (H) FIN : 04-13-06

| Sponsor Statement |

HCR 41 : Suspend Uniform Rules For SB 304
Passed Legislature! Legis Resolve 35
Sponsored by Hou. Transportation Committee

Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning Senate Bill No. 304, relating to airport parking shuttles and to airport charges, rentals, or fees.

Current Status : Legis Resolve 35 : 05-08-06