February 7, 2022 Group Watch: Legislature Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

• The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to establish the State Seal of Biliteracy; to recognize graduates who have demonstrated an indicated level of proficiency in English and at least one other world language; and to authorize the University of West Alabama Board of Trustees to hold certain meetings by telephone or video conference under certain conditions.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bills to establish the Prison PREP Pilot Program for Small Business Development for Ex-Offenders under the board of Pardons and Paroles and the Department of Corrections as well as a House-passed bill to repeal a law relating to student athletes and compensation for use of a student’s name, image or likeness.
• The Senate passed several bills including bills to further provide for the crime of unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure; to further provide for the definition of gas as related to the regulation of underground storage facilities; and to establish community development entertainment districts under certain circumstances.

• The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a bill to provide a tax exemption for small businesses from ad valorem tax beginning October 1, 2023 under certain circumstances.
• The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee approved bills to provide that a retail wine licensee may dispense wine for off-premise consumption in approved containers and to allow the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption to use drive thru or walk-up window for purchase.
• The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to require the Department of Human Resources to establish and maintain an Elder and Adult in Need of Protection Services Abuse registry.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bills to repeal restrictions against carrying concealed firearms with certain exceptions and to prohibit the implementation and enforcement of federal firearm laws.
• The Senate Education Policy Committee approved a bill to establish the Parent’s Choice Act relating to K-12 education.
• The Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee approved a bill to establish the Rural Logging Support Act of 2022.
• The House approved bills to authorize the board of trustees of the University of West Alabama to conduct certain meetings by teleconference and to establish the State Seal of Biliteracy, recognizing graduates with the proficiency in English and world languages, including American sign language.
• The Senate passed several bills including bills to increase the penalties for second degree assault designed to protect first responders functioning in their official capacity; to provide that the state’s electronic vote counting system must require the use of a paper ballot that is marked and inspected by the voter prior to the ballot being cast and counted; to allow nonprofit corporations that provide water service to the public to be audited by the Examiners of Public Accounts; and to further define gas to include regulation of underground storage facilities.
• They also confirmed nominees to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. See the list of those confirmed below.

• The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills to authorize the transfer of certain funds by the Insurance Commissioner to the Strengthen Alabama Homes Funds; to establish the Small Business Relief and Revitalization Act of 2022; and to increase the member contribution rate for the Teachers Retirement System.
• The Senate approved Sunset Bills to continue the Surface Mining Commission; the Home Medical Equipment Board; the Prosthetists and Orthotists Board; the Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission; the State Board of Registration for Foresters; the Construction Recruitment Institute; and the Real Estate Commission.

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