February 15, 2021 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

• Tuesday, February 9 (4th legislative day): The House passed several bills, including bills to update the disbursement of certain license taxes and registration fees; to provide for enhanced criminal penalties under certain conditions for violations under the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act; and to authorize the Secretary of State to waive the Certificate of Existence fee for business entities under certain conditions. The Senate passed bills that include ones to authorize agents of the city or county to expend funds from reserve accounts for solid waste in excess of $1 million for lawful purposes; to permit municipal and county entities to transfer or use public funds for repair or replacement of private sewer laterals with provision for cost recovery; to provide for enhanced criminal penalties under certain conditions for violations under the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act; and to require redaction of contract information from court documents released to the public regarding elder citizens.
• Wednesday, February 10 (5th legislative day and a committee day): The House Urban and Rural Development Committee approved a bill to authorize the installation and deployment of small wireless facilities and associated poles, towers and base stations on the public rights-of-ways. The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to require redaction of contract information from court documents released to the public regarding elder citizens. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved bills to impose a $1 fee on firefighter license plates; to update the statutes relating to distracted driving and use of a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle; and to combine motor vehicle dealers and motorcycle dealer and used vehicle license plates. The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to require a child successfully complete kindergarten before being admitted to the first grade and to authorize the State Department of Education to manage the construction and renovation of property that is part of a state educational institution. The Senate Tourism Committee approved bills relating to gaming, specifically to establish the Alabama Education Lottery Corporation and the Alabama Gaming Commission and creating the authority to negotiate a compact with Poarch Creek Indians. It also approved a bill to create the Digital Expansion Authority and related entities to further advance access and connectivity to broadband. The House passed several bills of local application only, and the Senate gave final passage to House-passed bills to exempt from state taxation COVID-19 relief funds and to extend the job credit and investment credit for approved projects and incentives for the attraction of new and expanding business, including in rural areas.
• Thursday, February 11 (6th legislative day): The House approved bills to allocate federal funds from the Finance Department to the Alabama Rental Assistance Fund; to align the state with the model law by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners relating to credit for reinsurance; and to further provide for members of the Tier II plan under the Teachers Retirement System. It also approved Senate-passed bills to provide immunity from claims relating to contraction or exposure to coronavirus and to authorize the installation and deployment of small wireless facilities and associated poles, towers and base stations on the public rights-of-way. The Senate passed bills to change the annual license tax and registration fee for low-speed electric vehicles (golf carts); to allow the awarding authority to negotiate the lowest bidder when all bids exceed available funding; and to authorize financial institutions to refuse to execute or delay execution of certain financial transactions involving the account of an elder or vulnerable adult when financial exploitation may have occurred.

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