Government

Water Water Everywhere … Unless It Hasn’t Rained Lately: Legislators Debate Bill to Govern Water Use During Droughts

River advocacy groups are promoting passage of a bill that would provide clear standards in times of drought for the state to step in to allocate use of water for agriculture, recreation, drinking and other uses. The bill, HB 476, also would set up a system of “conservation credits” for agricultural and other large water users who institute water-saving measures before periods of drought. Under the bill, when water flow in a river or stream falls below predetermined, science-based levels, state agencies could more quickly impose limits on usage to protect the health of the waterway. That would impact the quality of water for drinking, recreation and aquatic life, advocates say. Meanwhile, farmers are concerned that the bill could let the state cut back on their water use just when they need it most. The bill is awaiting action in a committee. Read more.

by Hank Black

State Water Regions in Drought Bill

A bill that would set rules for the state to step in and allocate use of water during droughts, HB 476, would divide the state’s counties into surface water regions for purposes of determining water availability and needs. Read more.

by Hank Black

Ivey: Bill for Appointed K-12 Board of Education Would Fix “Broken” Governance

Legislation to potentially replace Alabama’s elected K-12 board of education with a commission of governor appointees will be voted on Tuesday in a Senate committee. The proposed constitutional amendment from Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, has the support of Gov. Kay Ivey, who is also president of board of education. “As we know all too well, statistic after statistic — and study after study — shows that our children are not getting the best education possible or even the best education that is available,” Ivey said in a letter to board members last week. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

All Clear (For Now): More Testing Shows Baby Thought to Have Measles Did Not

The baby in St. Clair County believed to have had Alabama’s first case of measles has tested negative for the disease. The Alabama Department of Public Health had reported that the baby had a presumptive positive measles case after initial tests run by a commercial lab returned a positive result. But when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did a more detailed test, the baby was diagnosed as not having the disease, according to a press release issued by the state health department. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

After Delays, Distracted Driving Bill Could Be Back Next Week

A vote in the Alabama House of Representatives on a bill to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones and other devices was delayed this week, but the measure could go back before legislators next week. Read more.

by Alabama Daily News

House Passes Bill to Change Board of Pardons and Paroles

The Alabama House of Representatives debated for more than five hours this week legislation that Democrats argued gave the governor’s office too much control over the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. The bill passed Thursday evening along party lines, 73 to 27. It now goes to the Senate. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

No Toys Under Birmingham’s Budget Tree Next Year, Woodfin Says

On Tuesday, Mayor Randall Woodfin will unveil his proposed FY 2020 budget to the Birmingham City Council. It will follow this year’s $436 million budget, the city’s largest ever and the first that the Woodfin administration had overseen from the ground up. That budget implemented a new “zero-based” strategy, which meant that appropriations were based on need rather than the previous year’s budget. In March, Woodfin compared the FY 2020 budget to a “need-only Christmas,” where socks, not toys, are the gifts. “That’s how this budget’s going to be,” he said. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Bill

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate passed legislation Thursday regulating medical marijuana for patients with certain conditions. The bill now goes to the Alabama House. Senate Bill 236, dubbed the Care Act, would establish the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to administer a patient registry system and issue medical cannabis cards. The bill lists about 30 qualifying conditions, including addiction, cancer, autism, epilepsy, terminal conditions and end-of-life care. Patients would need a prescription from a doctor and a second recommendation from a specialist to obtain medical marijuana. Read more.

by Caroline Beck and Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Committee Adds Rape, Incest Exception to Abortion Ban Bill; Could Get Senate Vote Thursday

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would criminalize most abortions in Alabama but added an exception for victims of rape and incest despite objections from the bill sponsors. That amendment could be a large part of debate Thursday when the full Senate is expected to consider the legislation. House Bill 314 is sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, and its intent is to challenge Roe V. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that made access to abortions a constitutional right in the first two trimesters of pregnancy. "To accept another amendment that weakens the argument or diverts the message that the baby in the womb is a person dilutes the whole message," Collins told the committee. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Bill Would Give Governor More Oversight of State Pardons and Parole

MONTGOMERY — Legislation that would provide oversight changes to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles and put into law when an inmate may be considered for parole cleared committees recently. House Bill 380, sponsored by Rep. Connie Rowe, R-Jasper, and Senate Bill 42, sponsored by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, would eliminate a nominating board that makes recommendations to the governor and instead allow the governor to appoint board members with the consent of the Senate. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News