Representative Maxine Dibert

Breaking News: The AKLNG oil and gas bill, HB 381, passed the House today by a wide bipartisan margin (34-5). I supported the bill despite the fact that I do believe it can be improved further. I worked tirelessly with my colleagues on the House Resources committee to improve the legislation we were given mid-session, and the bill we sent to the Finance Committee represents a foundation of what we passed on the floor today. HB 381 is truly cross-partisan legislation. As with all compromises, no one is especially pleased. But, as the saying goes: we can’t let perfect be the enemy of good. The important features in this bill that engendered my support center around eligibility requirements for the alternative tax structure. These include: 1) most importantly, a spur line to Fairbanks that is fully funded as part of the overall project with costs shared by all ratepayers across the railbelt; 2) a guarantee that project cost-overruns will not be born by Alaskans; 3) reasonable natural gas price ceilings preventing rate payers from unfair high prices and price gouging; and, 4) Alaska-hire initiatives grounded in strong project labor agreements. The project is not guaranteed by any means as we wait for a final investment decision from the developers, but should it proceed, it will be a transformative infrastructure project that could provide truly affordable energy to Fairbanks. It will provide thousands of high paying jobs for Alaskans and will stir new economic opportunities for our communities, our people, and our state. The bill will now head to the Senate where they will consider it early next week.

We are back in Juneau and will gavel in to hear the bill, HB 381, on the House Floor this morning (10:30am).

You can read the current version of the bill that came out of House Finance here:
https://www.akleg.gov/basis/get_documents.asp?session=34&docid=16609

You can watch the floor session live here:
https://www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/house-floor-session-2026061036/?eventID=2026061036

Special Session Update: The legislature will be gathering later this week for floor sessions in Juneau focusing on the project. The House Finance Committee will begin the process of considering amendments to HB381 today (on now).
👉🏼You can stream this meeting on Gavel Alaska here: https://www.ktoo.org/video/gavel/house-finance-committee-2026061024/?eventID=2026061024
👉🏼You can view the full amendment packet here: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/get_documents.asp?session=34&docid=16590
👉🏼You can read the current version of the bill here:https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/HB0381B.PDF

I am tracking the House Finance committee’s work closely in preparation for the upcoming floor session. I can support a plan to incentivize investment in the AKLNG project through some partial tax abatement if it includes guaranteed returns that protect Alaskans. It must provide affordable energy to Fairbanksans—our families are hurting. The devil is in the details of course but I will advocate that the final legislation includes the following as eligibility for any tax abatement: 1) a spur line to Fairbanks is built and included in overall project costs; 2) system-wide tariff treatment for all ratepayers along the railbelt including Fairbanks; 3) maximum residential price ceilings for in-state customers, preventing prohibitively high prices for natural gas should phase II not be undertaken; 4) language stating Alaskans are not responsible for cost overruns; and, 5) it requires that the majority of construction jobs go to Alaskan residents working under fair project labor agreements providing for competitive pay, benefits, and safe working conditions.

This is a great opportunity!

Come grab a healthy breakfast and lunch at either Barnette Magnet School or Denali Elementary School.
June 1 – June 25 M-Th

🍎 FREE meals to ALL kids and teens aged 18 and under!

Nutrition Services - Fairbanks School District is proud to provide two Summer Food Service Program locations during the month of June. This is a federally funded USDA summer nutrition program offered free of charge to all children 18 years of age and younger.

Come grab a healthy breakfast and lunch at either Barnette Magnet School or Denali Elementary School.

June 1 – June 25 (M-TH)
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.; 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Learn more at https://www.k12northstar.org/view-all-news/post-details/~board/district-news/post/press-release-summer-food-service-program-begins-june-1-for-children-in-need-may-2026

I had the honor to sponsor and present a citation from the 34th Alaska State Legislature tonight congratulationing the Fairbanks Golden Heart Rotary Club on their twentieth anniversary of operation in Fairbanks. The motto of Rotary is: “service above self.” I believe we can all take this to heart. One of the most successful programs the Golden Heart Rotary Club has developed is The Running Club. The 🏃‍♂️ club is free to join for children ages seven to twelve and encourages them to get active during the summer months. The Golden Heart Rotary Club also holds an annual golf tournament in Fairbanks and has for seventeen years. The tournament serves as a fundraiser for numerous charitable efforts. In all, the tournament has raised over ninety thousand dollars for local community organizations committed to providing aid and assistance across Fairbanks. 👏🏾 👏🏾 The club performs many other charitable activities, including sponsoring exchange students in Fairbanks schools, and providing aid to families around the holidays. The dedication of the Golden Heart Rotary Club to improving the lives of their fellow Fairbanksans has done tremendous good over their twenty years of service and we are grateful to them for exemplifying the ideals of service and charity.

Public Testimony on this bill is happening now- share your thoughts by phone or submit by email before 5pm

Happy Memorial Day - hope you’re able to spend some time with your family and friends. It’s important we remember what Memorial Day represents: It is a day set aside to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country so the rest of us can live in freedom. We honor those who never made it home. We thank you for your sacrifices.

The 34th Legislature adjourned Sine Die last night after 120 days of difficult but productive work. Thank you to all of you who stay engaged and who gave feedback and guidance during our work. We will now gavel in today for a 30 day special session focused on a gasline bill. As co-chair of House Resources, I was directly involved in crafting the AKLNG language. This language attempts to balance moderate property tax relief, substantially lower energy costs statewide, and job creation. Despite the Governor giving us a bill very late in the session, we held more than a dozen hearings and worked tirelessly to improve the bill. The initial work on the pipeline bill during the special session will be done in House Finance. I will stay very engaged with the work. My primary focus on this legislation throughout the process has been to ensure that if this mega-project does proceed, it will include a Fairbanks spur included in the total project cost borne by the developers and that resulting natural gas is delivered to Fairbanks ratepayers at the same cost as residential customers in Southcentral. Fairbanks families’ energy costs, including electricity and heating oil, have soared to record levels over the past year with no hope of near term relief. People and small businesses are suffering immensely and near a breaking point.

Alaska Legislature adjourns regular session with special gasline session set for Thursday | Alaska Beacon Legislators ended their two-year regular term after passing 111 bills but failing to achieve the top objectives set by the House and Senate.

Thank you to all for working together across bodies, caucuses, and parties to arrive at real solutions that help Alaskan children and families.