It was busy last week at the State House, with several bills moving that could potentially impact economic development efforts in the state. Legislators return today following the holiday weekend.
HB2 by Representative Treadaway – Penalties for Rioting: This bill would increase the penalties for the crime of assault on first responders during civil unrest and mandate jail time. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee by a 10-4 vote. This bill was not taken up by the House this week.
HB82 by Representative Garrett, SB189 by Senator Gudger – Small Business Relief and Revitalization Act: This bill would allow businesses to exempt $40,000 of the market value of business personal property from ad valorem tax levied by the state. It would also ensure that relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) received by qualifying disadvantaged farmers is exempt from state income tax. This passed in the House by a vote of 99-0 and passed in the Senate by a vote of 29-0.
Representative Shedd has the companion bills to Senate Majority Leader Scofield’s three broadband bills (SB123, 124, 125). These bills are in response to the current and future American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds being allocated to broadband.
HB189 creates an Alabama Digital Expansion Division chief.
HB255 allows the state, cities and counties to grant funds designated for broadband infrastructure to private companies. This passed out of the House and has been referred to the Senate committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development.
HB298 creates minimum service threshold speeds for broadband service grants.
HB272 by Representative Stringer – Firearms Permit Bill: This bill would repeal pistol permits for concealed carry. Nearly every police and sheriff's department in the state is opposed to this legislation. This bill has passed the House committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
SB54 by Senator Allen – Memorial Preservation Act: This bill would revise penalties for moving or renaming monuments that are 40 years or older and would authorize the Attorney General to commence civil actions. This bill passed the Senate committee on Governmental Affairs by a vote of 7-0 with 1 abstention.
SB57 by Senator Orr – Tax Incentives Bill: This bill would change the reporting date requirements of state agencies that administer economic tax incentives and establish sunset provisions and reporting guidelines for economic tax incentives. The Alliance, along with other economic development entities in the state, opposes this bill as it 1) will put sunset limits on existing and future tax incentives, 2) may limit or greatly reduce the number of years allowable on tax incentives, and 3) would require a burdensome reporting process on state agencies and possibly local granting authorities. This bill was not taken up by the Senate last week.
SB112 by Senator Waggoner- Cell Phone Hands Free Bill- This bill has passed the Senate, but failed to pass the House by three votes.
The Senate passed three bills by Majority Leader Scofield related to broadband. These bills are in response to the current and future ARPA funds being allocated to broadband. These bills were not taken up by the House this week.
SB123 creates an Alabama Digital Expansion Division chief.
SB124 creates minimum service threshold speeds for broadband service grants.
SB125 allows the state, cities and counties to grant funds designated for broadband infrastructure to private companies.
SB140 by Senator Marsh – Parental Choice Bill: This controversial bill would direct money from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund to fund a student’s choice of public school, private school or homeschool. The bill would create Education Savings Accounts that would provide parents access to funds equivalent of the amount the state spends funding each public-school student. This bill was not taken up by the Senate last week.
SB147 by Senator Orr – Open Meetings Bill: This bill will provide further guidelines for electronic meetings held by members of governmental bodies and public participation at those meetings. This bill has passed out of the Senate and has been assigned to the House committee on State Government.
SB152 by Senator Roberts – ARPA Bill: This bill will create an allotment in the state income tax law to conform with the federal intent behind the income tax credit expansion within ARPA. This bill has passed out of House and Senate.
SB171 by Senator Orr – Education Policy: This bill would not tie the State Department of Education to Common Core standards. It establishes a goal of increasing math proficiency of students from kindergarten to 5th grade. It passed out of Senate committee on Finance and Taxation Education and had its second reading in its house of origin. This bill was not taken up by the Senate this week.
SB224 by Senator Orr – Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development: This bill would require an unemployed individual to search for work a certain number of times per week to be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.