Lawmakers continued its session last week completing days 19, 20 and 21 of the 30-day Regular Session. Legislative leaders have indicated that lawmakers will meet two days this week before taking spring break next week.
Concealed Carry
Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill Thursday that will allow for the concealed carry of handguns without obtaining a state permit. The law will take effect Jan. 1. Permits are not abolished under the new law and can still be obtained voluntarily. During a traffic stop or other investigation, an officer who has a reasonable suspicion that a person was about to engage in criminal conduct could temporarily take a handgun and run it through databases to ascertain whether the gun was stolen. The officer could also check the person’s criminal history. Further, an officer could temporarily take a weapon if a reasonable person would believe it is necessary for the safety of the officer or others, but the weapon must be returned unless there is an arrest, or the person is posing a threat to safety. To compensate for the loss of funding from permit fees, the new law directs up to $5 million to sheriffs’ offices. The bill does not change current law as it relates to the rights of individuals and businesses to prohibit firearms on their property.
Education Budget
The House approved an $8.17 billion Education Trust Fund budget Tuesday by a vote of 100-1. Education spending would increase by about $502 million under the plan, including increases for classroom materials, the hiring of technology coordinators and reading coaches, and $20 million for implementation of the pending Numeracy Act. Increased pay for teachers, a bonus for retired employees, funding for math and science teacher recruitment, and money for operations and maintenance expenses are also included. The FY23 plan now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Gambling
The Senate Tourism Committee approved legislation Wednesday that would propose the authorization of a state lottery, sports betting, eight casinos with slots and table games, and two smaller gambling sites that could have up to 300 slot machines each. SB 293 and SB 294 comprise a legislative package that includes a constitutional amendment proposal and a companion bill that would establish a state gaming commission and rules for operation. The package now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
School Choice
The Senate Education Policy Committee approved a bill Thursday that would allow county tax dollars to fund charter schools. SB 302 would let county dollars follow students who enroll in charter schools like state and federal dollars do under current law. The bill currently does not move city funding and would allow charter schools in a county to receive a portion of the county-level tax revenue dedicated to education based on a charter school’s annual enrollment. Conversion public charter schools would continue to get all local funding that the non-charter public school received before conversion. SB 302 has companion legislation in the House, HB 459. SB 302 can now be considered by the full Senate.
Also, the Senate Finance and Taxation Education committee approved SB 261on Wednesday. The bill would essentially increase the amount individuals and corporations may give (and therefore receive a tax credit) to educational scholarship granting organizations under the Alabama Accountability Act. The bill does not increase the current annual cumulative tax credit cap of $30,000,000.
Medicaid
A new provision was added to the General Fund Budget Wednesday that would allow the state to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for women from 60 days to one year. The added provision was introduced as a standalone bill (HB 360) but has been included in the budget proposal moving through the Legislature. The General Fund Budget passed committee Wednesday and can now be considered by the full House.
Our governmental relations team is currently tracking the following bills:
SB 0303 | Arthur Orr
Economic tax incentives, reporting requirements of state agencies, Sec. 40-1-50 am’d.
Mar 09, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Finance and Taxation Education
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Finance and Taxation Education
SB 0258 | Jack Williams
Public notices, virtual method, provided for
Mar 09, 2022 – Banking and Insurance first Amendment Offered
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Banking and Insurance
SB 0257 | Will Barfoot
Mar 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 21 Favorable from Banking and Insurance
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Banking and Insurance
HB 0391 | Steve Clouse
Mar 10, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Finance and Taxation General Fund
HB 0335 | Chris Blackshear
Mar 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 21 Favorable from Banking and Insurance
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Banking and Insurance
SB 0211 | Chris Elliott
Mar 09, 2022 – Forwarded to Governor on March 9, 2022 at 4:56 p.m. on March 9, 2022
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
HB 0289 | Steve Clouse
Mar 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 21 Favorable from Ways and Means General Fund with 1 amendment
House Committee: Ways and Means General Fund
Senate Committee:
SB 0191 | Greg Albritton
Mar 09, 2022 – Ways and Means General Fund first Amendment Offered
House Committee: Ways and Means General Fund
Senate Committee:
HB 0272 | Shane Stringer
Mar 10, 2022 – Forwarded to Governor at 3:05 p.m. on March 10, 2022.
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Judiciary
HB 0259 | Prince Chestnut
Feb 03, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Education Policy
House Committee: Education Policy
Senate Committee:
HB 0238 | David Faulkner
Mar 02, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Judiciary
HB 0181 | Roderick Scott
Feb 16, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 12 Favorable from State Government
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
SB 0162 | Linda Coleman-Madison
Feb 16, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 12 Favorable from State Government
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
HB 0145 | Reed Ingram
Feb 16, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 12 Favorable from Financial Services
House Committee: Financial Services
Senate Committee:
HB 0127 | Andrew Sorrell
Virtual currency, exemption from ad valorem taxation provided, Sec. 40-9-1 am’d.
Jan 13, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Ways and Means General Fund
House Committee: Ways and Means General Fund
Senate Committee:
SB 0084 | Donnie Chesteen
Feb 02, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on State Government
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
SB 0081 | Donnie Chesteen
Feb 15, 2022 – Rereferred from BA&C to SG
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
HB 0085 | Danny Garrett
Feb 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 9 Favorable from State Government
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
HB 0084 | Danny Garrett
Feb 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 9 Favorable from State Government
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
HB 0083 | Danny Garrett
Feb 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 9 Favorable from State Government
House Committee: State Government
Senate Committee:
HB 0082 | Danny Garrett
Feb 22, 2022 – Assigned Act No. 2022-53.
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Finance and Taxation Education
HB 0066 | Shane Stringer
Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
House Committee: Public Safety and Homeland Security
Senate Committee:
HB 0044 | Andrew Sorrell
Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
House Committee: Public Safety and Homeland Security
Senate Committee:
HB 0027 | Rolanda Hollis
Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Judiciary
House Committee: Judiciary
Senate Committee:
HB 0007 | James Hanes
Firearms, Second Amendment Preservation Act, right to keep and bear arms, provided
Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
House Committee: Public Safety and Homeland Security
Senate Committee:
HB 0006 | Shane Stringer
Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
House Committee: Public Safety and Homeland Security
Senate Committee:
SB 0067 | Clyde Chambliss
Mar 03, 2022 – Delivered to Governor at 12:54 pm.m on March 3, 2022
House Committee: Ways and Means General Fund
Senate Committee:
SB 0057 | Arthur Orr
Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Finance and Taxation Education
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Finance and Taxation Education
SB 0048 | Thomas Whatley
Feb 16, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 12 Favorable from Financial Services
House Committee: Financial Services
Senate Committee:
SB 0012 | Tim Melson
Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Judiciary
SB 0001 | Gerald Allen
Feb 02, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 6 Favorable from Judiciary
House Committee:
Senate Committee: Judiciary
