Gregory Williams, AFSA Regional Director of State Government Affairs, testified on April 28 by teleconference before the Alaska Senate Finance Committee on SB 272. This is a measure relating to mortgage lending activities and broker licensing. A working group of the SGA Mortgage Lending Committee sought key amendments to the measure. Since there is no state financial services association in Alaska, AFSA retained a lobbyist in Juneau who provided advice and successful on-site liaison with legislators, staff and other interested parties. Following the testimony the amendments and the bill were approved by the committee. The changes AFSA sought related to licensing, refinancing and escrow provisions in the bill. One important successful change limited the refinancing provisions to high cost loans rather than to all loans. Due to time constraints the measure did not pass before the legislature adjourned, it is, however, expected to be reintroduced next year.