May 22, 2023 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play
On Tuesday (21st day of regular session):
- The House passed bills to revise the definition of an electronic nicotine delivery system to include delivery of substances other than tobacco and to further provide for the sale of tobacco and other related products to minors; to require certain manufacturers of internet-enabled devices to activate existing filters to restrict access to certain materials; to establish the Rural Logging Support Act of 2023 and to provide for the distribution of funding to the Alabama Forestry Commission to support rural economic development; and to provide that Class 3 municipalities may establish self-help business improvement districts.
- The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved bills to further provide for the exceptions to a law for inoperable or stored motor vehicles and to prohibit the continued operation of a motor vehicle in violation of the registration and insurance requirements; and to provide for the procurement of certain professional service contracts based on competitive, qualification-based policies and procedures and to provide for the advertisement of such contracts.
- The Senate passed bills to permit PACs to make contributions to political parties in certain circumstances; to create the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act and the Alabama Principal Leadership Development System for public K-12 education and further provide for the support and development of education leadership; to further provide for the distribution of funding to the Alabama Forestry Commission to support rural economic development; to revise compensation received by retired justices and judges who are called to active duty; and to further provide for the definitions of the Child Physical and Sexual Abuse Victim Protection Act.
On Wednesday (22nd day and a committee day):
- The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved bills to establish future sunset dates for extended tax incentive programs and to provide required guidelines for all new incentive legislation; to provide for the creation and implementation of a mentoring program for new principals and a continuing professional learning program for principals and assistant principals; and to provide for the compensation of members of the Alabama Literacy Task Force.
- The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved bills to provide for an increase in the amount of the average monthly sales tax liability for required estimated payments; and to provide that the credit from a parent or holding company may be claimed by the subsidiary in certain circumstances and to provide retroactive effect.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bills to further provide prohibitions on the possession of an electronic nicotine delivery system by individuals under 21 years of age; and to provide that a prisoner is not eligible for parole if he or she has been duly charged with a new offense that has not been disposed.
- The Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bill to extend the validity period of motor vehicle license plate designs from five to 10 years.
- The Senate Healthcare Committee approved a bill to require healthcare providers and organ transplant centers to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability in medical need of an anatomical gift or organ transplant.
- The House passed bills to provide a state income tax credit to individuals and businesses that make contributions to eligible charitable organizations that operate as a pregnancy center or residential maternity facility; to provide under certain circumstances, for a portion of Tennessee Valley Authority in-lieu-of-taxes payments to be distributed to the county; and to exempt the purchase of gun sales and gun safety devices from sales and use tax.
- The Senate got embroiled in delaying tactics over confirmation appointments and never got to consider bills on its special-order calendar.
On Thursday (23rd day of of regular session):
- The House passed bills to allow a detention facility to adopt a policy to further define what items constitute contraband; to increase the exemption for taxable retirement income for individuals who are 65 years of age or older; and to make a supplemental appropriation to certain entities from the Opioid Treatment and Abatement Fund for $10 million.
- The Senate passed bills to require an agreement with a design professional who does not have professional liability insurance; to provide for the procurement of certain professional service contracts based on competitive, qualification-based policies and procedures; to prohibit certain foreign citizens, governments or entities from acquiring certain real properties in Alabama; to reimburse employees for actual expenses for in-state travel; and to temporarily revise the eligibility and compensation of retirees of either public system for participating in either system after retirement.
