Government

Legislature Approves Bill to Slow Future Occupational Taxes

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama State Senate on Thursday voted along party lines to give final approval to legislation slowing cities' ability to pass local occupational taxes. House Bill 147, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, limits municipalities from enacting occupational taxes by requiring any such policy to pass the Legislature as local legislation. Democrats argued strongly against the bill, saying it unfairly hurts the capital city of Montgomery, which passed an occupational tax last week. The Senate debated the bill for more than three hours before passing it on a 27-7 vote. It now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, whose office previously signaled support for it. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Ban on Smoking in Cars With Children Progresses, but Concerns Over Rights Remain

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to ban smoking tobacco and using vaping products in vehicles when children younger than 14 are present. But as the bill moves to the Senate, some lawmakers are concerned about policing people’s actions within their property. The House last week approved House Bill 46, by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, in a 78-19 vote. It was amended to add the vaping prohibition and to say that smoking or vaping with children in the car is a secondary violation, not a primary reason a driver can be pulled over. The violation comes with a fine not to exceed $100. Hollis told Alabama Daily News she drafted the bill after riding in a vehicle with her husband while he smoked. Read more.

by Abby Driggers and Devin Pavlou, Alabama Daily News

Bill to Give Voters Option to End Police Jurisdictions Passes First Vote

MONTGOMERY — A bill that would require counties to allow voters to decide whether they want to eliminate police jurisdictions passed out of a Senate committee Tuesday, but disagreements between representatives of counties and cities still exist.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Don’t Go to the Polls Without BW’s 2020 Primary Voter Guide — Mobile

In BirminghamWatch’s 2020 Primary Voter Guide, you’ll find: A story on what candidates in the U.S. Senate race have to say about issues important to voters and why the Senate race is driving debate about the election. A story about the candidates’ positions on issues in the Republican primary for president, and in the Democratic primary for president. A story about the statewide amendment on the ballot, which would move the state Board of Education from an elected board to an appointed one. Profiles of candidates on the ballot, including basic information about each of the candidates along with the top contributors to their campaigns, the main issues they’re citing in their campaigns and links to their web or social media sites. A list of those links will be updated this evening. Printable sample ballots you can use to mark your own choices for each race. And a Voter’s Toolbox of information about voting, including which districts will be on your ballot and how to find your polling place. It’s all in one package on the BirminghamWatch 2020 Primary Voter Guide.

by BirminghamWatch

Parkers Will Be Able to Pay at Birmingham Meters Using an App

The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to modernize its parking system, approving a three-year contract with ParkMobile, an application that allows users to pay for parking with their smartphones. The change, officials stressed, will add to, not replace, the coin-operated meter system used by the city. ParkMobile will charge a 45-cent processing fee for payments made through its app; 15 cents of that fee will go to the city. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Birmingham Promise Scholarship and Internship Program Gets Corporate Backers

Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Tuesday that three corporate foundations — Alabama Power, Altec/Styslinger and Regions — have each committed $1 million to the new Birmingham Promise educational initiative. The Birmingham Promise initiative initially was approved as part of the city’s FY 2020 budget, funded with $2 million taken from the city’s allocation to Birmingham City Schools. The program is planned to offer juniors and seniors in city schools paid internships and dual enrollment opportunities, as well as offering graduates the opportunity to attend in-state two-year or four-year public colleges tuition-free. The $3 million in corporate contributions announced Tuesday will go “a long way” toward the tuition assistance side of the Birmingham Promise, Woodfin said. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

BirminghamWatch 2020 Primary Voter Guide: Republican U.S. Senate Race Headlines March 3 Primaries in Alabama — Mobile

Who is the strongest, most effective supporter of President Donald Trump? That seems to be the dominant question Alabama Republicans are asking as they near the March 3 election to choose a nominee to try to unseat freshman Democrat Doug Jones in this fall’s U.S. Senate race. The field of seven GOP candidates has talked

by Glenn Stephens

Don’t Go to the Polls Without the 2020 Primary Voter Guide

In BirminghamWatch’s 2020 Primary Voter Guide, you’ll find: A story on what candidates in the U.S. Senate race have to say about issues important to voters and why the Senate race is driving debate about the election. A story about the candidates’ positions on issues in the Republican primary for president, and in the Democratic primary for president. A story about the statewide amendment on the ballot, which would move the state Board of Education from an elected board to an appointed one. Profiles of candidates on the ballot, including basic information about each of the candidates along with the top contributors to their campaigns, the main issues they’re citing in their campaigns and links to their web or social media sites. A list of those links will be updated this evening. Printable sample ballots you can use to mark your own choices for each race. And a Voter’s Toolbox of information about voting, including which districts will be on your ballot and how to find your polling place. It’s all in one package on the BirminghamWatch 2020 Primary Voter Guide.

by BirminghamWatch

After Committee Passage, Senate Slows Animal Cruelty Bill

MONTGOMERY — At least one member of the Alabama Senate committee that approved a bill opponents claim rolls back state animal abuse laws said he wants to see the legislation die. “My goal right now is to not let this come up on the floor,” Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, told Alabama Daily News. Senate Bill 196 says those who file animal abuse complaints that aren't substantiated as severe cases can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. It also puts responsibility for most abuse investigations on the Alabama Department of Agriculture and allows money raised by nonprofit animal groups to go toward the fees abusers must pay. A co-sponsor on the bill, Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, said it was designed to protect farmers, particularly cattle ranchers, from bogus claims of abuse. But opponents say the language isn't clear enough and could hurt humane shelters and people who breed dogs as pets, for instance. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Will Smith

Republican candidate for Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals Place 2

by Solomon Crenshaw