Tag: Alabama Legislature
Public Records, Hairstyle Discrimination, Marijuana Among Issues Before Legislature
MONTGOMERY — Several legislative committees met Wednesday to consider bills and hear from the public. Here’s the latest from the State House.
Public Records Bill Delayed
A bill that would strengthen Alabama’s public records law was delayed Wednesday at the call of the bill’s sponsor to hear concerns from interested parties. Read more.
Bill to Increase Charter School Funding Passes Committee
MONTGOMERY — Legislation advanced Wednesday to change how local tax dollars fund charter schools, a move proponents say is needed to make their funding more equal to that of traditional public schools.
Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, sponsored the 2015 legislation that allows charter schools in the state. “Over the last five years, we’ve learned some things we need to tweak,” Collins told Alabama Daily News. Read more.
Also in the Legislature
Alabama to Receive $4B From Biden Relief and Stimulus Plan
Senate Kills Lottery, Gambling Legislation
Bill to Limit Executive Branch Spending Advances
House Passes General Fund Budget that Increases Funding for State Agencies
Bill Stalled That Would Increase Penalties for Rioting
State Budgets, Legislative Authority, Gambling Bills in State House This Week
Public Records, Hairstyle Discrimination, Marijuana Among Issues Before Legislature
Bill Stalled That Would Increase Penalties for Rioting
A bill that would increase penalties for those who participate in riots was slowed down in a House committee today after some lawmakers expressed concerns that the bill is limiting First Amendment rights to protest. Read more.
Senate Kills Lottery, Gambling Legislation
The Alabama Senate on Tuesday defeated a plan to start a lottery and allow casinos in the state by two votes. Twenty-one votes were required to approve the constitutional amendment, but the Senate vote was 19 to 13 in favor.
Gov. Kay Ivey said the defeat just meant more work needed to be done on a gambling proposal, and she still supported giving Alabamians a vote on whether they want a lottery and gaming.
“This issue is too important to not get it right,” Ivey said in a statement. “No doubt gambling is complex and challenging, but I remain committed to giving the people of Alabama the final say.” Read more.
Also in the Legislature
Bill to Limit Executive Branch Spending Advances
House Passes General Fund Budget that Increases Funding for State Agencies
Bill Stalled That Would Increase Penalties for Rioting
State Budgets, Legislative Authority, Gambling Bills in State House This Week
Bill to Limit Executive Branch Spending Advances
MONTGOMERY — The Senate Government Affairs Committee on Tuesday advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit Alabama governors and executive agencies from entering into contracts larger than $5 million or for more than a two-year period without the Legislature’s approval.
Senate Bill 290 is sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, one of the loudest voices of opposition to Gov. Kay Ivey’s plan to lease three large men’s prisons. Albritton said the governor’s prison lease plan was a “major contributor” to his filing of this bill, but not the single reason. Albritton chairs the Legislative Contract Review Committee, which reviews service contracts state agencies enter into. Some of them can be multimillion-dollar agreements.
Read more.
House Passes General Fund Budget that Increases Funding for State Agencies
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives passed the General Fund budget Tuesday, sending a bill to the Senate that increases funding across the board for state agencies and programs for the next fiscal year.
As passed, the $2.47 billion budget is an increase of $78.9 million over the current fiscal year’s General Fund and $15 million more than Gov. Kay Ivey’s original budget proposal from February. It includes a 2% pay raise for state employees.
Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, who chairs the House General Fund budget committee, said he felt lawmakers arrived at a good budget, which was reflected in the 101-1 vote in the House. Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, cast the lone no vote.
“All in all, I felt like this was a good budget that leaves some money on the table that will help us get ready for any other surprises that are coming down the road,” Clouse said.
Read more.
Lawmaker: During Pandemic ‘Compassionate Care’ Needed in Health Facility Visitor Policies
On Oct. 21, Bonnie and Harold Sachs entered a north Alabama emergency room because, despite a negative COVID-19 test, Harold Sachs’ symptoms, including decreased blood oxygen levels, were worsening.
He was tested again and, when the results were positive, he was admitted to the hospital. Bonnie Sachs kissed her husband of 50 years before he was taken to the COVID unit. She wouldn’t see him in person again until he died Nov. 9.
“He didn’t know me, he was on a ventilator,” Bonnie Sachs told Alabama Daily News.
Harold and Bonnie Sachs’ and many similar stories in the past year are the reason Sen. Garlan Gudger said he filed Senate Bill 307, which says that, during public health emergencies, health care facilities shall continue to allow visitors under certain conditions.
“I think everyone needs compassionate care at the end of life,” Gudger, R-Cullman, told Alabama Daily News. “And I think they need their family to be there to help patients get over whatever illness or virus.” Read more.
State Budgets, Legislative Authority, Gambling Bills in State House This Week
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House is expected to vote this week on the 2022 General Fund budget while the Senate’s priorities include gambling legislation and bills that could blur the lines of authority between the legislative and executive branches of state government.
After moving fast through the first four weeks of the 2021 session, lawmakers are expected to slow down to a more normal pace as the mid-point approaches.
“We’re hopeful by spring break we’re going to move (the budgets) out of the house of origin,” Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville, told reporters on Thursday. Read more.
Concealed Carry, Law Enforcement Checks, Jail Issues Taken Up Thursday by Legislature
MONTGOMERY — Here’s the latest notable legislative activity from the State House.
Concealed Carry Bill Advances
Rep. Proncey Robertsons’ House Bill 477, the Alabama Uniform Concealed Carry Permit Act, was approved Thursday in the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee. It would standardize across the state the concealed carry permit process, create a “prohibited person database” and allow for a lifetime permit. Read more.
Bill to Close ABC Stores Gets Committee Approval
MONTGOMERY — A bill to close the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board’s about 170 retail stores by 2026 cleared the Senate Tourism Committee on Thursday.
Multiple versions of an ABC store phase-out bill have been filed by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, in the past decade.
“I truly believe if we were designing state government today, we would not say, let’s get into the retail sale of alcohol and let’s compete against the private sector,” Orr told the committee. There are more than 500 private retailers in the state. Read more.
