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.