February 14, 2022 Group Watch: Legislature Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

Tuesday, 7th day of regular session: 

• The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved several bills, including bills to declare that emergency medical services are essential public services; to authorize governmental boards to meet by electronic means; and to allow for issuance of garnishment writs by certified or standard mail.
• The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to allow the establishment entertainment districts under certain conditions; to revise the membership of the Women’s Hall of Fame Board and to authorize them to meet electronically on some matters; to allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption in approved containers; and to establish the Natural Death Act that enables certification of a surrogate to make end-of-life healthcare decisions, and to remove the notarization requirement.
• The Senate passed several general bills without objection, including bills to increase the optional standard deduction amount and increase the adjusted gross income range allowable for maximum optional standard and dependent; to authorize class 1 municipalities to establish entertainment districts under certain conditions; to establish the Alabama Airport Economic and Infrastructure Program; and to prohibit issuance of scrip in bearer form.

• The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee approved several bills including bills to require the Alcohol Beverage Control board to license food trucks in class 1 municipalities to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption and to provide that table wine licensees may disperse wine for off-premise consumption in approved containers.
• The House Education Policy Committee approved a few bills, including one to further provide for membership and duties of the Literacy Task Force.
• The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved a bill to establish the State Employee Retirees Fund Funding Act for periodic bonuses.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bills including those to change the meeting requirements for the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission and to require the Department of Human Resources to establish and maintain the Alabama Elder and Adult in Need of Protectives Services Abuse Registry.
• The Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to increase minimum threshold speeds for broadband service grants.
• The House passed a few bills of local application only and several general bills, including bills to further provide for persons in need of care for mental illness; to further provide for posthumous pardons; and to provide for a central registry of elder citizens requiring adult protective services.
• The Senate passed a number of general bills, including bills to allow governmental bodies to hold virtual meetings; to provide for the declaration of emergency medical services for a public purpose; and to allow writs of garnishment to be issued by regular or certified mail.

• The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills to clarify that emergency management personnel provide essential public safety services; to authorize alcoholic beverage retailers to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption thru walk-up and drive-thru facilities; and a Senate-passed bill to further provide for penalties for the crime of unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure.
• The Senate passed several general bills, including bills to establish a minimum threshold to enter broadband service contracts; to authorize the state, county or a municipal entity to grant certain monies for broadband infrastructure; and to require the establishment and maintenance of a statewide registry for elders requiring adult protective care services.

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