HB 56 (Crawford)
HYDROGEN ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Summary: Establishes within the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development a partnership supporting the development of hydrogen energy use. Funding for the partnership will be sought from federal and private sources, and sections 2 and 3 of the act will take effect only if sufficient funding is obtained by the department. Members appointed by the commissioner will represent the federal government, the state, the university, political subdivisions of the state, tribal organizations, the electric utility industry, the fossil fuel industry, non-fossil fuel industry, and private environmental conservation groups.

HB 149 (Rls by Request of the Governor)
POLLUTION DISCHARGE PERMITS
Summary: This bill would bring the state’s discharge permit requirements into line with federal requirements, which is necessary in order for the Department of Environmental Conservation to receive primacy from the EPA over discharges within the state.

HB 152 (HARRIS, Thomas)
ESTABLISHING A RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND
Summary: This bill would establish a fund, administered by the Alaska Energy Authority, to help communities fund and develop alternative energy projects.

HB 243 (JOULE)
COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Summary: HB 243 establishes objectives for the Alaska coastal management program, including management, restoration, enhancement, development, balanced utilization, including subsistence use, and protection of coastal areas. HB 243 also provides for public comment related to findings under the legislation.

HB 247 (Coghill)
LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION
Summary: This bill sets the Local Boundary Commission as an independent state agency under the the Alaska DCCED. The bills also calls for the LBC to take over duties relating to borough feasibility studies.

HB 272 (STOLTZE)
AK REGIONAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Summary: This bill would extend the termination date of the ARDORs program to 2011. (sponsor statement)

HB 302 (Seaton)
MAKE INFO ABOUT MIXING ZONES PUBLIC
Summary: HB 302 would allow the public to have easier access to data on the annual amounts of pollutants discharged under mixing zone permits. This bill would apply only to large-scale industrial and municipal mixing zone permits. (sponsor statement)

HB 311 (request by Governor)
BUDGET: CAPITAL, SUPP. & OTHER APPROPS
Summary: Governor's proposed FY 09 capital budget, including $75 million to Municipal Revenue Sharing.

HB 378 (Crawford)
PLATTING REQUIREMENTS/RECREATION PURPOSES
Summary: This bills amends AS 29.35.180(b) to include the language: "A unified municipality or other home rule borough may not require the dedication of property for a recreational facility, recreational project, or other recreational purpose in platting requirements or as a condition of plat approval."

SB 91 (Rls By Request of the Governor)
POLLUTANT DISCHARGE PERMITS
Summary: This bill would bring the state’s discharge permit requirements into line with federal requirements, which is necessary in order for the Department of Environmental Conservation to receive primacy from the EPA over discharges within the state.

SB 161 (Olson)
COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Summary: SB 161 establishes objectives for the Alaska coastal management program, including management, restoration, enhancement, development, balanced utilization, including subsistence use, and protection of coastal areas. SB 161 also provides for public comment related to findings under the legislation.

SB 180 (McGuire)
TRANSFER AQUATIC FARMING TO DNR
Summary: This bill would transfer the duties relating to aquatic farming and hatchery operations from the Dept. of Fish & Game to the Dept. of Natural Resources.

SB 184 (Rules by Request)
REGULATION OF COOPERATIVE FISHERIES
Summary: This bill amends the powers regulated by the Board of Fisheries to include the regulation of commercial cooperative fisheries.

SB 221 (request by Governor)
BUDGET: CAPITAL, SUPP. & OTHER APPROPS
Summary: Governor's proposed FY 09 capital budget, including $75 million to Municipal Revenue Sharing.

SB 228 (Dyson)
MUNICIPAL LAND USE REGULATION
Summary: This bill would allow property owners to continue using a property as previously permitted before a change in municipal ordinance. Or, until the municipality deems that the use of the property as previously permitted has a negative effect on neighboring properties.

SB 254 (Huggins)
AK REGIONAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Summary: This bills asks to extend the termination date of the ARDORs program to 2013. This bill is a companion bill to HB 272. (sponsor statement)