Alabama Legislature

Committee for Recompiling State Constitution Holds Public Hearing, Work to Continue

MONTGOMERY --  The committee charged with making Alabama’s monster constitution more user friendly and less racist is taking written public comments. Only one speaker attended the public hearing Tuesday at the State House for the committee on recompilation of the constitution, but a two-week period for written comments to be sent to the committee was also approved. Committee Chair Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, said during Tuesday’s meeting that she knows some members of the public could not come because of concerns over COVID-19. People wishing to submit a comment have until Sept. 7. Those can be sent by email to Othni Lathram, director of the Legislative Services Agency, at olathram@lsa.state.al.us. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Ivey ‘Encouraged’ by Lawmakers’ Prison Plan Work

MONTGOMERY – Summer discussions between lawmakers and Gov. Kay Ivey’s administration on how to fix the state’s crowded and crumbling prisons have entered the draft legislation phase. Officials aren’t talking publicly about the details, but Ivey said she’s “encouraged” by the work done so far. A draft bill prepared at the State House calls for new and renovated prison infrastructure over a 10-year period. “While there has yet to be a final plan in terms of legislation, I’m encouraged by the progress being made from the ongoing discussions with the Legislative leadership,” Ivey told Alabama Daily News in a written statement. “For several months, they have engaged with our team, and I can assure the people of Alabama that we are like-minded and laser-focused on finding a solution to our decades-long problem within our correctional facilities. I’m extremely hopeful they are on the right-track, and I am encouraged by their holistic approach to this issue.” Read more.

by Mary Sell and Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Commission on Reentry: Further Discussion Needed on Recidivism Definition

MONTGOMERY –  A new state commission studying how to help released inmates stay out of prison spent much of a meeting Wednesday working on a definition of recidivism that all state agencies can use. One of the goals of the Joint Commission on Reentry is to create a definition so the state can implement best practices to aid those leaving prisons and create a safer Alabama. Cam Ward, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Parole, said during the meeting that since every state agency defines recidivism differently, it is a nearly impossible task to settle on a singular meaning and mission. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

General Fund, Education Fund Revenues Up; Budget Leaders Cautiously Watch Delta Variant

The state’s General Fund and Education Trust Fund receipts have grown by double-digits over last year, encouraging state leaders as they cautiously watch the continuing pandemic and brace for potential big expenses in 2022. “We are recovering quite well from the pandemic, and revenues are ahead of expectations for the fiscal year,” said Kirk Fulford, deputy director of the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Division. “Obviously, it is too early to predict what 2022 will look like yet as much of that will depend on further issues with the latest strain of COVID and how that impacts businesses, healthcare, etc.” From Oct. 1 through July, tax receipts in the ETF were up 11%, $683.5 million, from the same point in fiscal 2020. The 2021 year-to-date collection was $6.8 billion. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Trussville’s Danny Garrett to Head House Budget Committee

Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, is the new Alabama House education budget committee chairman. Garrett replaces former Rep. Bill Poole, who this month became the state’s finance director. Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, made the announcement Tuesday. Garrett was first elected to the House in 2014. This term he’s been vice-chairman of the budget committee under Poole. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Lawmaker Proposes Legislation to Bar Schools from Requiring Masks

MONTGOMERY -- While most health officials are advocating for more mask wearing amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, one north Alabama lawmaker said he is drafting a bill that would prohibit any public K-12 school in Alabama from requiring masks. Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, told Alabama Daily News on Thursday that his bill is not pro- or anti-mask but about giving more freedom to parents. “This bill says that parents should have the right to choose whether or not their child wears a mask in a public school, and I believe the parents are more qualified to make that decision than the government,” said Sorrell, who is running for state auditor in 2022. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

New Law Eases Restrictions on Cottage Food Makers

Melissa Humble and her husband moved back to Alabama in March 2020, just before much of the state shut down. Looking for a way to earn income and stay home to protect her immunocompromised spouse from COVID-19, Humble began baking and selling French macarons and other treats. HumbleBee Bakes is now a regular at farmers markets around Headland in Henry County, and Humble locally sources the fruit, jellies and eggs that go into her products. But the state’s laws regulating the cottage food industry were limiting. It capped gross sales at $20,000 a year and didn’t allow for Internet sales. Starting Monday, those restrictions will be eased under Senate Bill 160, approved in the spring. Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, sponsored the law change. “It takes the ridiculous shackles off of people who want to start home businesses,” Orr said. “This could be the first step, the incubation of new small businesses in the home." Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Legislative ‘Blackout’ on Campaign Fundraising Shrinks to 2 Weeks

Alabama is one of 29 states that has some restrictions on campaign contributions to candidates for state office during legislative sessions, but that “blackout” window is shrinking to two weeks next year. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Sen. Priscilla Dunn Won’t Seek Reelection, Candidates Line Up to Run

MONTGOMERY -- Democratic State Sen. Priscilla Dunn won’t be running for reelection in 2022, and at least two current state representatives plan to run for the vacant seat. Dunn’s husband, Grover Dunn, told Alabama Daily News on Monday that his wife would be retiring after finishing her last year in office. State Reps. Louise Alexander, D-Bessemer, and Merika Coleman said they plan to run for the seat. Rep. Rod Scott, D-Fairfield, said he has been considering running for the Senate seat but has not officially decided. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Bill Would Offer More Protections for Pregnant Workers in Alabama

MONTGOMERY -- A pre-filled bill in the Alabama Legislature seeks to offer more protections for pregnant workers by outlining accommodations that employers would be required to take supporting their health. House Bill 1 from Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, would require employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" related to pregnancy, childbirth or other related medical conditions. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News