The Legislature met for two days last week, breaking a consistent pattern of three-day weeks during this Regular Session. Despite the \u201cbreak\u201d on Wednesday, both legislative bodies put in significant hours last week due to serious debate on a number of substantive and controversial bills.<\/p>\n
After a few weeks of late nights and heated debates, this week is a much-needed Spring Break for the Legislature. They will return on March 29 for the 24th<\/sup> day of the 30-day session. The Legislature is expected to resume the three-day week pattern until the conclusion of the session.<\/p>\n When lawmakers return, the General Fund Budget will likely be addressed in a conference committee, and the Education Trust Fund Budget will see committee action. Movement of the budgets usually signals that the end of the session is near, and it is likely the Legislature could conclude the Regular Session within two to three weeks after Spring Break.<\/p>\n School Choice<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Senate approved SB 261 by Sen. Dan Roberts<\/strong> on Tuesday. The bill would 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; it simply allows individuals and corporations to give more and receive a tax credit equal to 100% of the contribution. The bill is expected to be considered by House committee when they reconvene after Spring Break.<\/p>\n The Senate also passed a bill Thursday that would allow county tax revenue to go to public charter schools.\u00a0 Currently, county tax revenue earmarked for education is distributed among the county school system and any city systems within that county. Under SB 302, charter schools in a county could receive a portion of that revenue based on their annual enrollment. As amended on the floor, the bill specifies that charter schools will not receive more state funding per student than traditional public schools in a county and ensures that counties with less than 40,000 residents are not required to dedicate local funds to charter schools. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.<\/p>\n \u201cDivisive Concepts\u201d<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The House passed a bill Thursday largely along party lines that would prohibit a list of \u201cdivisive concepts relating to race or sex\u201d from being taught in public K-12 schools and from workplace training for state entities.\u00a0 HB 9 lists nine such concepts, including:<\/p>\n The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.<\/p>\n General Fund Budget<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The House approved a $2.7 billion General Fund budget Tuesday, moving it closer to final passage. House changes required that the bill be returned to the Senate, which voted to go to a conference committee to resolve the differences between the two versions. Of note, the plan includes a 4% raise for current state employees and a one-time bonus for retired state employees.<\/p>\n Unemployment<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Senate amended and passed a bill Thursday that would require individuals to apply for a minimum of three jobs per week to be eligible to receive state unemployment benefits. Under SB 224, the Department of Labor \u201cshall require the claimant to provide proof of work search efforts when filing his or her weekly certification\u201d and \u201cshall conduct random reviews of at least 10 percent of the work search proof provided by claimants each week.\u201d The bill now moves to the House for consideration.<\/p>\n Gambling<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee approved a \u201clottery-only\u201d bill Thursday that would allow for lottery ticket sales but does not include the casino or sports betting provisions found in the Senate proposal. Under HB 501, revenue from the lottery ticket sales would go toward education, including scholarships and student loan repayment grants. The Senate has yet to vote on its gambling package and now may wait to see how HB 501 fares in the House. However, time is quickly becoming an issue. If either proposal is passed by the Legislature, it would require voter approval on the November ballot.<\/p>\n Involuntary Commitment<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Senate gave final passage to a bill Thursday that would change the involuntary commitment process for people with mental health issues. HB 70 would allow a probate judge to consider \u201cthe respondent\u2019s actions occurring within the two-year period immediately preceding the hearing\u201d and would define \u201creal and present threat of substantial harm to self or others\u201d to include \u201ca significant risk that an individual who is exhibiting behavior consistent with a mental illness, as a result of the mental illness, will do either of the following: by action or inaction, cause, allow, or inflict serious bodily harm upon himself, herself, or another individual [or] be unable to satisfy his or her need for nourishment, medical care, shelter, or self-protection so that there is a substantial likelihood of death, serious bodily harm, serious physical debilitation, serious mental debilitation, or life-threatening disease.\u201d The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.<\/p>\n COVID-19 Treatments<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Senate Health Care Committee approved a bill, reportedly without a quorum, Wednesday pertaining to \u201coff label\u201d prescriptions of drugs that have already been approved by the FDA. SB 312 would:<\/p>\n ABA’s governmental affairs team continues to monitor the following bills:<\/p>\n HB 0518 | Jeremy Gray<\/strong><\/p>\n Economic development, to create a small business micro-loan program, to establish a micro-loan tax credit for the benefit of the micro-loan program, Secs. 41-10-840 to 41-10-843, inclusive, added.<\/p>\n Mar 17, 2022 –<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n SB 0303 | Arthur Orr<\/strong><\/p>\n Economic tax incentives, reporting requirements of state agencies, Sec. 40-1-50 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 09, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Finance and Taxation Education<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Finance and Taxation Education<\/p>\n SB 0258 | Jack Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n Public notices, virtual method, provided for<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 09, 2022 – Banking and Insurance first Amendment Offered<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Banking and Insurance<\/p>\n SB 0257 | Will Barfoot<\/strong><\/p>\n Banking and financial institutions, small loans, authorizing limited closing fees, Sec. 5-18-15 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 21 Favorable from Banking and Insurance<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Banking and Insurance<\/p>\n HB 0391 | Steve Clouse<\/strong><\/p>\n Business privilege tax, to provide reduced minimum business privilege tax for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and to provide a full exemption on amounts due of $100 or less for taxable years begining after December 31, 2023, Section 40-14A-22 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 17, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 24 Favorable from Finance and Taxation General Fund<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Finance and Taxation General Fund<\/p>\n HB 0335 | Chris Blackshear<\/strong><\/p>\n Banking and financial institutions, small loans, authorizing limited closing fees, Sec. 5-18-15 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 17, 2022 – Forwarded to Executive Department<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Banking and Insurance<\/p>\n SB 0211 | Chris Elliott<\/strong><\/p>\n Vessels, certificate of title, uniform act, requirements, issuance by State Law Enforcement Agency, security agreement, perfection<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 09, 2022 – Assigned Act No. 2022-144.<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0289 | Steve Clouse<\/strong><\/p>\n Supplemental Appropriations, from the American Rescue Plan Act – State Small Business Credit Initiative Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 21 Favorable from Ways and Means General Fund with 1 amendment<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Ways and Means General Fund<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n SB 0191 | Greg Albritton<\/strong><\/p>\n Supplemental Appropriations, from the American Rescue Plan Act – State Small Business Credit Initiative Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 17, 2022 – Conference Committee Appointed<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Ways and Means General Fund<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0272 | Shane Stringer<\/strong><\/p>\n Firearms, certain restrictions on carrying in motor vehicle, Local Government Pistol Permit Revenue Loss Fund, created, penalties, provided, Secs. 13A-11-55, 13A-11-73 repealed; Secs. 13A-11-7, 13A-11-50, 13A-11-61.2, 13A-11-62, 13A-11-71, 13A-11-74, 13A-11-85, 13A-11-90 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 10, 2022 – Forwarded to Governor at 3:05 p.m. on March 10, 2022.<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Judiciary<\/p>\n HB 0259 | Prince Chestnut<\/strong><\/p>\n Education, personal finance literacy, personal rights, and good citizenship in grades 6-12, Sec. 16-40-12 added.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 03, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Education Policy<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Education Policy<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0238 | David Faulkner<\/strong><\/p>\n Courts, Garnishment proceedings, service of garnishment notice further provided, Sec. 6-6-394.1 added.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 02, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Judiciary<\/p>\n HB 0181 | Roderick Scott<\/strong><\/p>\n Relating to the Department of Revenue; to all writs of garnishment to be issued by mail; to amend 40-2-11, as amended by Act 2021-148, 2021 Regular Session<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 15, 2022 – Scott motion to Indefinitely Postpone adopted Voice Vote<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n SB 0162 | Linda Coleman-Madison<\/strong><\/p>\n Relating to the Department of Revenue; to all writs of garnishment to be issued by mail; to amend 40-2-11, as amended by Act 2021-148, 2021 Regular Session<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 17, 2022 – Forwarded to Governor on March 17, 2022 at 10:08 a.m. on March 17, 2022<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0145 | Reed Ingram<\/strong><\/p>\n Motor vehicle, financing and lease agreements, lease waiver agreements to pay deficiency balances at end of lease, motor vehicle value protection agreements to reduce deficiency balances, Secs. 8-37A-1 to 8-37A-6, inclusive, added; Sec. 8-37-2 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 16, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 12 Favorable from Financial Services<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Financial Services<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0127 | Andrew Sorrell<\/strong><\/p>\n Virtual currency, exemption from ad valorem taxation provided, Sec. 40-9-1 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Jan 13, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Ways and Means General Fund<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Ways and Means General Fund<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n SB 0084 | Donnie Chesteen<\/strong><\/p>\n Education, Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program board, may meet electronically, Sec. 16-33C-4.1 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 02, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on State Government<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n SB 0081 | Donnie Chesteen<\/strong><\/p>\n Alabama Trust Fund, virtual meetings, provided for, operation of board provided for, Sec. 36-17-21 added.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 15, 2022 – Rereferred from BA&C to SG<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0085 | Danny Garrett<\/strong><\/p>\n Public deposits, Security for Alabama Funds Enhancement (SAFE) Program board, to allow for virutal meetings, Sec. 41-14A-6 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 9 Favorable from State Government<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0084 | Danny Garrett<\/strong><\/p>\n Alabama Trust Fund, virtual meetings, provided for, operation of board provided for, Sec. 36-17-21 added.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 9 Favorable from State Government<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0083 | Danny Garrett<\/strong><\/p>\n Education, Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program board, may meet electronically, Sec. 16-33C-4.1 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 09, 2022 – Pending third reading on day 9 Favorable from State Government<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0State Government<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0082 | Danny Garrett<\/strong><\/p>\n Small Business Relief and Revitalization Act of 2022, cancellation of indebtedness income exempt from income tax, financial institution excise tax and corporate income tax due date extension, certain business tangible personal property ad valorem tax exemption, deposit of certified funds with Revenue in lieu of one-time surety bond for licensure, average monthly sales tax liability for estimated payments increased, Secs. 40-16-3.1, 40-18-39.1 added; Secs. 40-9-1, 40-23-6, 40-23-6.1, 40-23-7 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Feb 22, 2022 – Assigned Act No. 2022-53.<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Finance and Taxation Education<\/p>\n HB 0066 | Shane Stringer<\/strong><\/p>\n Firearms, offenses against public order, concealed pistols, concealed carry permit, constitutional carry, pistol permits, Secs. 9-11-304, 13A-11-52, 13A-11-73, 13A-11-74 repealed; Secs. 13A-11-7, 13A-11-50, 13A-11-55, 13A-11-61.2, 13A-11-62, 13A-11-71, 13A-11-85, 13A-11-90 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0044 | Andrew Sorrell<\/strong><\/p>\n Firearms, concealed pistols, concealed carry permit, criminal code, offenses against public order, constitutional carry, pistol permits, Secs. 9-11-304, 13A-11-52, 13A-11-73, 13A-11-74 repealed; Secs. 13A-11-7, 13A-11-50, 13A-11-55, 13A-11-61.2, 13A-11-62, 13A-11-71, 13A-11-85, 13A-11-90 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0027 | Rolanda Hollis<\/strong><\/p>\n Discrimination, to make it unlawful to deny an individual full and equal employment of public accommodations based on certain protected classes, to make it unlawful for a local school board to discriminate against an individual based on certain protected classes, and to make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an applicant or employee based on certain protected classes<\/a><\/p>\n Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Judiciary<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Judiciary<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0007 | James Hanes<\/strong><\/p>\n Firearms, Second Amendment Preservation Act, right to keep and bear arms, provided<\/a><\/p>\n Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n HB 0006 | Shane Stringer<\/strong><\/p>\n Firearms, permitless carry, process for seized pistols amended, Secs. 13A-11-50, 13A-11-52, 13A-11-74 repealed; Secs. 13A-11-71, 13A-11-73, 13A-11-84 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Public Safety and Homeland Security<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n SB 0067 | Clyde Chambliss<\/strong><\/p>\n Federal Aid Highway Finance Authority, date for payment of principal and interest, further provided, Sec. 23-1-314 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 03, 2022 – Assigned Act No. 2022-122.<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Ways and Means General Fund<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n SB 0057 | Arthur Orr<\/strong><\/p>\n Taxation, tax credit, authorized for the cost of acquisition and construction of a qualified storm shelter<\/a><\/p>\n Jan 11, 2022 – Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Finance and Taxation Education<\/p>\n House Committee:<\/p>\n Senate Committee: \u00a0Finance and Taxation Education<\/p>\n SB 0048 | Thomas Whatley<\/strong><\/p>\n Motor vehicle, financing and lease agreements, lease waiver agreements to pay deficiency balances at end of lease, motor vehicle value protection agreements to reduce deficiency balances, Secs. 8-37A-1 to 8-37A-6, inclusive, added; Sec. 8-37-2 am’d.<\/a><\/p>\n Mar 17, 2022 – Forwarded to Governor on March 17, 2022 at 10:08 a.m. on March 17, 2022<\/p>\n House Committee: \u00a0Financial Services<\/p>\n Senate Committee:<\/p>\n\n
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