May 1, 2023 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

On Tuesday (14th day of regular session): 

• The House passed general bills to provide for the $3 billion budget for governmental operations for the 2024 fiscal year; a supplemental appropriations bill for a number of agencies for the current fiscal year; to establish the Medicaid Emergency Reserve Fund and to provide for the withdrawal and use of amounts deposited into the fund; to make a $39 million appropriation from the Children Trust Fund for the 2024 fiscal year to specific agencies; to establish the Preceptor Tax Incentive Program to provide income tax credit incentives for certain medical students who train in rural and underserved counties in the state; and to provide a cost-of-living increase for state employees for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023.
• The Senate gave final approval to House-passed bills to further provide for the scope of Social Work Practice and to further provide that the term healthcare provider includes emergency medical services personnel. It also approved bills to revise the circumstances under which the Alabama Medicaid Agency may revise the ceiling for the Medicaid reimbursement rate to nursing facilities during a given fiscal year and a bill to require the ethics commission to provide an alleged violator with exculpatory evidence.

On Wednesday (committee day only):

• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved bills to increase the exemption for taxable retirement income for individuals who are 65 years of age or older and to exclude hours worked above 40 in any given week from gross income. 
• The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved a bill to provide for the charging of a reasonable fee for services provided by the Department of Finance and to allow the State Comptroller to pay a vendor which is entitled to payment for services or goods rendered to the State. 
• The House Health Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, marketing or possession of psychoactive cannabinoids found in hemp for certain age groups. 
• The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved several bills including a bill to authorize the use of up to eight weeks of sick leave for attending to an ill child for when a petition for adoption has been filed and attending to an adopted child. 
• The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved a House-passed bill to further provide for the salary of all circuit clerks in the Unified Judicial System based on the pay plan adopted by the personnel system of the Unified Judicial System. 
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved several bills including bills to provide for the crime of retail theft in various degrees; to provide that a prisoner is not eligible for parole if charged with a new offense that has not been disposed; to create the crime of making a terrorist threat in the second degree and to establish penalties for violations; to provide that it is unlawful to discharge a firearm on school property; and to revise the criminal penalties for violations of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. 
• The Senate Education Policy Committee approved bills to require students to complete a personal financial literacy and money management course before graduation and to prohibit a biological male from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for females.

On Thursday (15^th day of of regular session):

• The House passed general bills to further provide for income tax deductions on health insurance premiums; to prohibit requiring microchipping of employees; and to require the use of certain refrigerants and refrigerant-equipped products in compliance with federal law. 
• The Senate passed bills to further provide for the compensation of retired law enforcement officers providing services as school resource officers; to authorize paid family leave benefit policies; and to further provide for pretrial supervision of certain offenders by a community punishment and corrections program as a condition of bond in certain circumstances.

May 1, 2023 Group Watch: House Passes General Fund Budget

The Alabama House passed the state’s General Fund budget, providing for annual spending of more than $3 billion. The budget, which is inline with Governor Ivey’s priorities but larger than her proposal, passed by a vote of 105-0 after a brief discussion led by the sponsor of the bill. The General Fund is for non-education state programs and includes agencies such as Medicaid, prisons, mental health, the court system, the Department of Human Resources, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Pardons and Paroles. The budget, which is for the fiscal year starting October 1, includes a 2 percent cost of living adjustment for state workers. Read more here.

May 1, 2023 Group Watch: Legislature Passes Vaping Ban in Vehicles with Kids

The legislature passed a bill to ban smoking or vaping  in a vehicle that is carrying passengers 14 or younger. Last week, with a 30-0 vote, the Senate gave final approval to a House-passed bill that makes it a secondary violation, meaning that police could only charge a violator if they stopped a vehicle for a separate violation, like speeding, and issue a ticket for that offense. Violators of the new law would face a fine of up to $100. The prohibition on smoking applies regardless of whether the vehicle windows are rolled down or whether the vehicle is in motion or parked. Read more here.

May 1, 2023 Group Watch: Bill Increases Funding For Alabama Sheriffs 

The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to provide more money to county sheriffs to offset the loss of funds caused by the repeal of the requirement for a permit to carry concealed handguns. Lawmakers created a “Local Government Pistol Permit Revenue Loss Fund” last year, intended to replace some of the money. It allocated $5 million a year, or enough to maintain a balance of $2 million in the fund. That funding is in place for three years. The bill passed this week would increase that to $7.5 million a year and extend the funding through fiscal year 2028.

May 1, 2023 Group Watch: Grocery Tax Cut Supported By Full Senate

All members of the Alabama Senate have signed onto a proposal to cut the grocery tax in half this year, with a full cut on the way. The fact that all 35 Senators have signed on as co-sponsors makes the bill by Sen. Andrew Jones the frontrunner. Alabama has a sales tax rate of 4 percent, and some local jurisdictions impose an additional sales tax of up to 7 percent, making the total sales tax rate in certain parts of the state as high as 11 percent. The bill would begin phasing out the state sales and use tax on food September 1. Jones’ bill comes at a time the state has record budget surpluses and the highest employment rate in the history of the state. The bill does not require any offsetting tax increases, and is estimated to cut taxes by $304 million.

May 1, 2023 Group Watch: Bill Filed to Ban CCP Ownership of AL Land

House majority leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) filed The Alabama Property Protection Act last week. The legislation would ban China from buying and owning Alabama land, protecting both the state’s agricultural resources but also the multiple military bases and sites within the state. The bill is similar to legislation being spearheaded by Senator Katie Britt at the federal level. Read more here.

April 24, 2023 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Alabama businesses had a great week in the Alabama legislature. Governor Ivey’s four-bill economic development package achieved final passage and was signed into law, which means the priority item on this session’s agenda can be checked “done.” 

Alabama Senator Katie Britt also enjoyed a stellar week thanks to the result of a recent poll showing her to be the most popular Republican freshman senator. She’s a productive senator too: Britt has already authored and /or sponsored more than 60 pieces of legislation.

And, the transgender issue continues to get attention this session. The House easily passed a bill to ban transgender athletes from participating in collegiate sports. 

Read more on these topics and other #alpolitics happenings below.

The House and Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, April 25 
at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively.

April 24, 2023 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@thebloomgroup
April 23
Congratulations to our Bloom Group seniors, Walton Norrell and Breland Burnham.

April 24, 2023 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

On Tuesday (11th day of regular session): 

• The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved bills to further provide for the disposition of unclaimed funds held in a county treasury after being held for a certain number of years and to further specify that the definition of gross receipts does not include and excise tax imposed by the federal, state and local governments. 
• The House approved several bills of local application only and general bills to change the school grading system designation of a failing school to the lowest sixth percent school; expand the membership of the Alabama Job Creation and Military Stability Commission; to require a child to successfully complete kindergarten before being admitted to the first grade; and further provide for appointed attorney’s compensation in a commitment proceeding. 
• The Senate approved several bills of local application only and a number of House-passed sunset bills to continue the operations of boards and commissions.

On Wednesday (12th day of regular session):

• The House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee approved a bill to extend professional license reciprocity to spouses of United States Department of Defense civil servants. 
• The House Health Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to provide that the term “health care provider” as used in the Alabama Medical Liability Act of 1987 would include emergency medical services personnel. 
• The House Education Policy Committee approved two Senate-passed bills to provide and adopt the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to allow licensed teachers to practice among compact states; and to require local boards of education to install, maintain and operate video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms. 
• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved Senate-passed bills to authorize the State Industrial Development Authority to make site assessment grants and site development grants to certain companies and to require the Department of Commerce to publish certain information regarding economic development incentives awarded under the Alabama Jobs Act.
• The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved the General Fund budget for fiscal year 2024 and a supplemental appropriation for several agencies for the 2023 fiscal year. It also approved a bill to revise the circumstances under which the Alabama Medicaid Agency may revise the ceiling for the Medicaid reimbursement rate to nursing facilities during a given fiscal year. 
• The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved House-passed bills to extend the Alabama Jobs Act sunset date to July 31,2028 and to increase the annualized cap on outstanding Alabama Jobs Act incentives by $25 million each year for five years up to $475 million; and to provide for a name change for the Alabama Innovation Corporation and revise the residency requirements for certain grant recipients. 
• The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a House-passed bill to require the Department of Commerce to publish certain information regarding economic development incentives awarded under the Alabama Jobs Act. 
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to increase the compensation for an attorney appointed to serve as guardian ad litem in certain juvenile cases. 

On Thursday (13^th day of of regular session):

• The House passed a large number of bills of local application only and general bills to create the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act requiring the State Board of Education to adopt guidelines and training for staff regarding sudden cardiac arrest.
• The Senate passed bills to authorize the State Industrial Development Authority to make site assessment grants and site development grants to certain companies and to require the Department of Commerce to publish certain information regarding economic development incentives awarded under the Alabama Jobs Act.

April 24, 2023 Group Watch: Economic “Game Plan” Put Into Play By Legislature, Ivey

All four components of the landmark renewal and expansion of Alabama’s economic incentives program passed the Alabama Legislature last week. This marks a key victory for Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, and she wasted no time signing it into law (on a football, no less) and commending the legislature for its work passing the package. (Read the governor’s full statement, here.) 

The core renewal bill strengthens Alabama’s focus on site development by transferring tech accelerators and support for underrepresented businesses to Innovate Alabama and encouraging development of new shovel-ready sites. The other components are poised to be an advantage for Alabama’s ability to recruit companies and create jobs.

The bills had broad approval, including the support of Alabama Big 10 Mayors, who collectively praised their final passage. The Gulf United Metro Business Organization (GUMBO), a coalition of local business leaders, also expressed excitement, noting how essential these laws will be to boost to tourism and travel in the state.