Unalaska, AK – A new legislative session opened up in Juneau today, and there are already a number of bills and budget items that could affect residents of Unalaska.

Both Sen. Lyman Hoffman and Rep. Bryce Edgmon have returned to the state capital after running unopposed. Hoffman continues to serve as the co-chair of the Senate finance committee, and Edgmon is now a member of the House finance committee.

Edgmon says that his primary concern as member of the finance committee is ensuring that capital projects in Southwest maintain their funding.

"My priorities, as they always are, are to represent all the individual priorities of my communities and to focus on operating budget components that influence District 37," says Edgmon. "It's equally as important - and for some communities, probably even more important - to focus on capital budget items."

Edgmon says that Unalaska's wastewater treatment plant is especially on his radar. The current wastewater treatment plant must be updated in order to comply with EPA regulations.

"Given that EPA's efforts to clamp down on Unalaska could involve 76 other communities around the state in terms of secondary sewage treatment requirements, I think this issues probably has more of a state-wide scope than we realize at this point," says Edgmon.

Over 130 bills were pre-filed before the session's opening, including a number of pieces of fisheries legislation. While some of these items primarily effect sport fishermen, one bill concerns loans made to commercial fishermen for energy efficiency upgrades.

The legislative session will close on April 17.