March 14, 2016 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
The Governor is not pleased with the Senate-passed and House committee-approved General Fund budget (see article below) and says he’ll veto it if changes aren’t made. Meanwhile, other bills are progressing:
On Tuesday, March 8 (13th day of the session):
- The House passed the education budget; separate education bills for Lyman Ward Military Academy, Tuskegee University and Talladega College; and a pay increase for public education employees.
- The House passed bills of local application only affecting service of process fees in Houston County; probate processing fees and authorization for electronic recording of documents in Coosa County; and to further distribute in lieu of taxes in Jackson County.
- The Senate passed one bill of local application only to further distribute in lieu of taxes in Jackson County.
On Wednesday, March 9 (a committee day):
- The House Judiciary Committee approved bills to allow district courts to make limited increases in filing and docket fees; expanded the definition of encoded data fraud to include possession of a debit or credit card for fraudulent purposes; and a bill relating to foster care, guardianship and kinship guardian agreements.
- The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to create education savings accounts; to require training of members of governing boards of Colleges and Universities; and to establish as a body corporate employees hired after January 1, 2017 in the Community College System not subject to the Students First Act of 2011.
- The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved a bill further provide for the distribution of funds from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster.
- The House Health Committee approved a bill regulating the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses.
- The Tuscaloosa County Local Legislation Committee approved a local gasoline tax for county road improvements.
- The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved a Senate-passed General Fund budget for functions of government with changes.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to allow for a municipality to collect business license tax only where the branch or headquarters is located.
- The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved a bill to allow the expedited tax sale of properties under certain circumstances.
- The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved a bill for the simplified seller use tax remittance.
On Thursday, March 10 (14th day of the session):
- The House passed bills of local application only to provide for two additional airport authority members and authorize the sheriff’s office to participate in the Employees Retirement System in Montgomery County and to require continuing education for the sheriff and staff in Elmore County.
- The Senate passed bills to create the Alabama Space Authority; to permit alcoholic beverage distilleries to sell retail products for off-site consumption; to provide vulnerable adults protection from financial exploitation and to regulate the sale of nonprescription eyeglasses.
Bills to Watch:
- Senator Arthur Orr (R, Decatur) is sponsoring a bill that would bring payday loan reforms. The Senate delayed a vote on the bill last week.
- Two lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries or a state university to research the viability of growing industrial hemp in the state.
The House and Senate reconvene on Tuesday, March 15, at 1 pm and 2 pm respectively. Find a link to live audio of both chambers here.
