Although some legislators remain interested in authorizing a state coastal zone management program, a year and a half after the former program expired amidst disagreement between the House and Senate and five months after voters overwhelmingly rejected an initiative to establish a new program, Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, suggested Friday that he feels voters have already weighed in.

The House Economic Development, Trade and Tourism Committee unanimously moved a resolution out of committee Thursday that would call on Gov. Sean Parnell to create a state food resource development working group.

Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, who introduced the resolution, said he wants to bring together state agencies who dabble in food system-related issues — nutrition programs, research, ecology and beyond — and establish a “point person” in the governor’s office for a coordinated approach to Alaska’s food system.

First-time House Finance Committee member Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, led her first subcommittee meeting Tuesday afternoon, as the Finance subcommittee on the University of Alaska budget schedule met in the Alaska State Capitol.

UA President Patrick Gamble and Legislative Finance Division analyst David Teal gave presentations on the university system’s budget overview for fiscal year 2014, with Gamble making UA’s case for budget requests that were not included in Gov. Sean Parnell’s proposed operating and capital budgets last month.

Some 46 percent of general fund allocations for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities in Gov. Sean Parnell’s proposed operating budget are marked for the Alaska Marine Highway System, House Finance Committee members were told Monday.

That $165 million “slice of the pie,” as represented on a pie chart in DOT&PF Administrative Services Director Mary Siroky, is the largest component of general fund allocations for the department in Parnell’s fiscal year 2014 operating budget proposal, topping highways and aviation combined.