Alabama Legislature

‘Vaccine Passports’ Ban Passes Final Vote

MONTGOMERY — A bill that would prohibit the issuance of state or local government “vaccine passports” passed its final vote Thursday. Senate Bill 267 from Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, says state and local governments “may not require an individual to receive an immunization or present documentation of an immunization as a condition for receiving any government benefit or service or for entry into a government building.” The bill also says an entity or individual doing business in Alabama can’t refuse to provide goods or services or refuse admission or entry to anyone based on their immunization status or lack of documentation. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Ivey Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law

Alabama will now allow medical marijuana usage for patients with specific conditions. Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday signed Senate Bill 46, which outlines the usage of medical marijuana along with its regulation and distribution. "This is certainly a sensitive and emotional issue and something that is continually being studied. ... I am interested in the potential good medical cannabis can have for those with chronic illnesses or what it can do to improve the quality of life of those in their final days." Ivey Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Bill to Allow Citations Instead of Arrests Goes to Ivey

The Alabama Legislature moved to allow city police officers to issue citations for some misdemeanor offenses rather than taking offenders into custody. Senate Bill 59 now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Changes to Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Passes Final Vote

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Monday approved a bill changing how law enforcement can seize and keep property from low-level drug offenders. The House approved the bill unanimously and sent it back to the Senate with some minor changes that also were agreed upon unanimously. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. The bill is a compromise with law enforcement after several years of failed attempts by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and advocacy groups to change the law they said disproportionately hurts low-income individuals and minorities. “This will put better boundaries around the property of people and raise the bar for the government seizing it and forfeiting it for low-level charges,” Orr told Alabama Daily News last month. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Legislature Passes General Fund Budget on Final Day of Session

MONTGOMERY -- The state’s General Fund budget received final passage Monday as lawmakers sent a record-setting $2.4 billion budget to Gov. Kay Ivey for her approval. House Budget Chairman Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, took to the House floor to explain that changes made to the budget by a House-Senate conference committee added about $900,000 from what the Senate had passed.   The House and Senate voted unanimously on Monday to agree with the changes made in the conference committee.  The approved 2022 fiscal year budget is $90.6 million larger than the current year’s budget and about $26.5 million more than what Ivey recommended in February. Read more. More from the Legislature on its last day: Legislative Briefs: Sexual Assault Survivor Rights, Yoga, Curbside Voting Bills Win Approval Legislature Removes State Income Tax on Restaurants’ Federal Rescue Money No Gambling or Transgender Bills on the Last Day, but Abortion Bill Passes the Legislature 'Vaccine Passports' Ban Passes Final Vote Bill to Change Governor’s Control of State of Emergency Orders Dies Changes to Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Passes Final Vote Bill to Allow Citations Instead of Arrests Goes to Ivey Legislative Briefs: Sexual Assault Survivor Rights, Yoga, Curbside Voting Bills Win Approval

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Spending Oversight Bill Clears Legislature, But Not in Time to Avoid Possible Veto

MONTGOMERY -- Last week, as debate in the House of Representative raged into the night on the issue of gambling, lawmakers quietly gave final approval to a bill seeking more legislative oversight of government agencies’ spending, including that of the executive branch. But it didn’t pass in time to avoid a possible veto by the governor. As originally written and passed by the House earlier in the session, Rep. Mike Jones’ House Bill 392 would have required any state agency or department planning to spend more than $10 million or 5% of their annual appropriation from the General Fund, whichever is less, to first be approved by a new oversight committee. However, the bill’s reach was scaled back considerably in the Senate. Instead of a new legislative panel, the Senate version gave oversight to the existing Legislative Contract Review Committee. It also removed the Legislature’s ability to delay contracts until the next legislative session. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Lawmakers Want Another Shot at State-Owned Prison Plan

MONTGOMERY — As the state’s plan to lease new mega-prisons hit another apparent roadblock Monday, more lawmakers appear ready for the state to instead borrow money to construct its own new facilities. Some legislative leaders on Monday said lawmakers are ready to approve a state-owned prison plan. At least one said support would be there as early as next Monday, the Legislature’s final day of the regular session. Multiple sources told Alabama Daily News that lawmakers have discussed taking current legislation that is awaiting final passage and substituting it with language initiating a state prison bond process similar to one former Gov. Robert Bentley pursued in 2016 and 2017. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Legislation to Untax Rescue Plan Relief May Have to Wait

Legislation is needed to ensure Alabama families and restaurant owners aren’t penalized on their state income taxes for credits and grants they receive under the federal American Rescue Plan Act. But with one day left in this year’s regular legislative session, a proposed bill on the matter isn’t likely to pass. That means it probably will have to wait until later in the year. The $1.9 trillion federal rescue plan’s enhanced child tax credit, earned income tax credit and child and dependent care tax credit will be worth about $1.7 billion to Alabama taxpayers, and payments will begin this summer, Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, said. Additionally, Alabama restaurants are expected to receive about $426 million in grants. If lawmakers don’t act, Alabamians could be taxed more than $100 million in state income taxes, he said. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Legislative Briefs: Raising Age for Nicotine Purchases, Extend Daylight Saving Time

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Legislature met for the 29th day of the 30-day regular session Thursday. Here are the highlights from the State House.  Lawmakers approved and sent to the governor a bill that would raise the age for buying tobacco products, including vaping products, to 21 years old. A bill that would allow the state to adopt permanent daylight saving time, if the federal government approves it, passed its final vote on Thursday. Rep. Ritchie Whorton, R-Owens Cross Road, said this will help with economic growth by allowing businesses to operate longer and improve the overall health of Alabamians. A billl that would let newer teachers in the state roll over each year thier sick leave and get paid for unused days upon retirement was approved by the Senate. It goes to the House for agreement on an amendment added by the Senate. Proponents want to erase some of the “disparity” between Tier I and Tier II benefit recipients. The Senate approved a bill to undo a nearly three-decade ban on the practice of yoga in public schools. It goes back tot the House for approval of amendments. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Broadband Bill Passage a ‘Milestone,’ but Funding Questions Remain

MONTGOMERY— The Alabama Legislature gave final approval this week to a bill creating a new state authority to oversee the expansion of high-speed broadband internet services throughout the state. There's no specific revenue stream for the effort that experts have said would take billions of dollars. Thursday evening, an expanded gambling proposal, part of which was intended to fund broadband, seemed to be stalled in the House. But advocates say they expect significant federal funding in the near future. Read more. More from the Legislature: Legislative Briefs: Raising Age for Nicotine Purchases, Extend Daylight Saving Time Judicial, DA Pay Changes Go to the Governor Bill Would Allow Police to Issue Citations Rather Than Make Arrests Read complete coverage of the Legislature

by Mary Sell, Todd Stacy and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News