March 11, 2024 Group Watch: Gambling Legislation Changed, but Passed

After the Senate Tourism Committee approved a scaled-back version of gambling legislation earlier in the week, the full Senate passed a two-bill proposal for a lottery and state-regulated gambling on Thursday, after about eight hours of debate. The vote was 22-11 on the first bill, a proposed constitutional amendment, which requires 21 votes. The Senate’s version dramatically changed the legislation approved by the Alabama House a couple of weeks ago, which would have included sports betting and up to seven new casinos, along with a lottery. The Senate-passed plan would allow pari-mutuel betting on horse racing and dog racing, simulcast races and computerized historical horse racing machines at seven locations. The pari-mutuel betting would be at the state’s four former greyhound tracks in Birmingham, Mobile, Greene County and Macon County, at what are now bingo halls in Houston and Lowndes Counties, and one additional site in Greene County. The facilities could not offer casino games or electronic bingo. The plan also calls for the Governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians that would allow the tribe to offer the full range of casino games at facilities in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery, facilities that now offer electronic bingo. The new version changes when voters would decide on the constitutional amendment needed to approve the package, too, moving the vote to a special election on September 10 instead of the general election in November. The legislation now returns to the House, which can accept the changes, or, most likely, send it to conference committee to reach an agreement on a final version. 

March 11, 2024 Group Watch: School Choice Bill Signed into Law, Expanding AL Educational Freedom

Governor Kay Ivey’s signature on school choice legislation (penned last Thursday morning) has placed Alabama at the forefront of states in expanding educational freedom in 2024. The law authorized the creation of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), and puts Alabama in the company of 14 other states that offer comprehensive choice programs. The new Alabama law creates $7,000 ESAs for eligible students to use toward education expenses beginning in the 2025-26 school year. It will be available to all students by 2027-28 school year. Eligible students must be between ages 5 and 19 or up to 21 for students with disabilities and have not graduated from high school.

March 11, 2024 Group Watch: AL Lawmakers & Governor Protect IVF in State

Governor Ivey signed into law the bill to protect Alabama IVF services after Alabama lawmakers gave final passage last Wednesday night to a bill that gives legal protection to in vitro fertilization clinics. The legislation came in response to a state Supreme Court ruling that resulted in a pause of services. Lawmakers scrambled to provide immunity that would allow clinics to resume services after the court ruled that frozen embryos held in storage have the legal status of children for purposes of civil liability under Alabama’s wrongful death of a minor law. The House and Senate passed similar, but not identical, bills on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, the Senate concurred with a House-passed bill by a vote of 29-1. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, which had paused IVF services, issued a statement Wednesday saying they would resume. UAB expressed appreciation to the Legislature and Governor Ivey for swiftly passing and signing legislation that provides some protections and will allow UAB to resume in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.

March 11, 2024 Group Watch: Property Tax Cap Bill Advances:

A bill to cap annual property tax increases was approved by an Alabama House committee last week, but changes are expected when it is debated on the House floor. The bill would limit annual tax hikes by capping increases on annual assessments of property. There is currently no cap on how much someone’s property taxes might increase year-to-year. As approved in committee, Class III properties, which include single family homes and land used for agricultural production, and Class II properties, which include commercial and business properties, would be capped at 5 percent per year. A fiscal note on the bill says it will cut revenue to state and local governments and schools by about $67 million per year.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Legislators returned to session last Tuesday to news of an explosive device found and detonated (by authorities)  at the Alabama Attorney General’s office over the weekend. No one was hurt, and the matter is now under investigation, so stay tuned.

Despite the incident, the legislature quickly got to work to ensure couples can continue to pursue in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the state, with both chambers passing bills to protect IVF services last week. The legislation came in response to the outcry from both state leaders and residents across Alabama (and beyond), who voiced sentiments ranging from concern to vocal disapproval of an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that threatened access to IVF services. 

Other big-ticket topics like school choice and the future of  Birmingham Southern College also made progress last week.  

Find more details and info on other important #alpolitics news below.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@thebloomgroup
March 3
Thank you Governor Ivey and thank you Better Basics for advancing children’s literacy in Alabama. https://betterbasics.org

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

Tuesday, 10th day: 

• The House approved a general bill referred to as the CHOOSE Act, which established education savings accounts. 
• The Senate passed bills to authorize sheriffs and chiefs of police to contract to provide school resource officers for nonpublic K-12 schools; to remove the Department of Insurance from the sunset process; to authorize the Board of Nursing to clarify scope of practice of certified nursing support technicians when disciplinary actions are taken; and to limit the liability of members of any community emergency response team who perform emergency care at the scene of an accident. 

Wednesday, 11th day and a committee day:

• The House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee approved a bill to create the crimes of abuse and neglect of an adult in varying degrees. 
• The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to require the posting of classroom curricula on the website of the school; to permit parents of enrolled students to request information on instructional materials (already passed the Senate); and to prohibit the use of three-cueing system of educational instruction in the curriculum. 
• The House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to prevent “ballot harvesting.”
• The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved bills to make a supplemental appropriation from the American Rescue Plan Act to the Small Business Credit Initiative Fund and to provide that no benefit increase for retirees under ERS and TRS be paid unless granted by separate legislative act and creating no unfunded liability. 
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to further provide prohibitions on the possession of an electronic nicotine delivery system by individuals under 21 years of age. 
• The Senate Education Policy Committee approved a bill to provide for the teaching of history in a fact-based and inclusive manner. 
• The Senate Healthcare Committee approved two bills relating to in vitro fertilization.

Thursday, 12th day: 

• The House passed bills to require fire-protection personnel and emergency medical services personnel to receive annual training related to individuals with sensory needs and certain disabilities; to prohibit the online distribution of materials harmful to minors and require age-verifications for certain sites; and to provide civil and criminal immunity for in vitro goods and services in certain circumstances. 
• The Senate approved bills to exempt from sales and use tax certain purchases of diapers, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing and female sanitary hygiene products and to provide civil and criminal immunity for in vitro goods and services in certain circumstances, with amendment.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: AL GOP Lawmakers Advance Solution to Protect IVF

State lawmakers from both parties introduced bills last week with the goal of protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers from legal liabilities following a February 23 ruling by the state Supreme Court. State Senators Tim Melson and Larry Stutts, two north Alabama doctors who serve over the Senate Healthcare Committee, are carrying two bills to shield entities and individuals in providing IVF services from criminal and civil actions. Senator Larry Stutts led members of the Senate Healthcare Committee to move forward bills they believe address the concerns of patients and providers. In the House, State Representative Terri Collins advanced a bill expected to be identical to the Senate bill which could be voted on in both chambers on the same day and signed by the governor. Both chambers passed bills on Thursday, but the Senate bill was amended, thus requiring a vote next week to determine which version will end up on the governor’s desk. Read more here.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: AL House Passes School Choice Bill

The Alabama House passed the CHOOSE ACT, making education savings accounts, or ESAs, one step closer to reality. Lawmakers discussed the bill for four hours before voting 69-34 to approve it. Six Republicans joined the chamber’s 28 Democrats in voting no. The bill would provide eligible families $7,000 in state tax dollars per student to pay for the cost of educating their child in a participating school or for other eligible expenses. ESAs would become available at the start of the 2025-26 school year. The state would prioritize support for low-income families and students with disabilities first, and then gradually phase in options for eligible families at the start of the 2027-28 school year. Families who homeschool their children could receive $2,000 per child, up to $4,000 each year, for eligible expenses. Thirteen states currently have some form of education savings accounts or ESAs.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: Industrial Development Sites Get Grant Money Boost 

The State Industrial Development Authority (SIDA) has approved more than $30 million in grants under the new Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS) to speed the development of much-needed industry-ready sites across the state. A total of $30.1 million in SEEDS funding will be matched with $38.4 million in local funds at 29 different industrial sites encompassing nearly 8,400 acres. At a recent meeting, SIDA approved 14 site assessment grants valued at $1.1 million, chiefly for environmental and geo-tech surveys of early-stage industrial sites at communities including Ashland, Sulligent, Hamilton, Prattville and Montgomery. Local matches totaling a combined $629,000 are pledged. SIDA also approved 15 development grants valued at $29 million for purposes such as infrastructure improvements, land purchases and site grading. Communities including Jasper, Atmore, Opelika and Mobile will provide matching funds totaling $37.8 million.