June 5, 2023 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play
On Wednesday (28th day of of regular session):
- The House Insurance Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to further provide for the exceptions to the Mandatory Liability Act for inoperable or stored motor vehicles.
- The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to further provide for the number of exempt service employees allowable in each department.
- The House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to establish procedures for requesting and obtaining public records.
- The House State Government Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to provide for the inspection of certain dams and reservoirs by an engineer and require emergency action plans.
- The full House approved a number of bills of local application only and Senate-passed bills to provide for the crime of retail theft in various degrees; to prohibit governmental entities from entering into certain contracts with companies that boycott businesses because the business engages in certain sectors or does not meet certain governance standards; to require local boards of education to install, maintain and operate video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms providing special education services; to provide for the procurement of certain professional service contracts based on competitive, qualification-based policies and procedures; to require the State Ethics Commission to provide an alleged violator with exculpatory evidence; and to change the terms “failing” school and “nonfailing” school and “qualifying” school and to expand scholarship opportunities for eligible students.
- The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved House-passed bills to establish the Preceptor Tax Incentive Program to provide income tax credit incentives for certain medical students who train in rural and underserved areas of the state, and to exclude hours worked above 40 in any given week from gross income
- The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved a House-passed bill to allow for the payment of uncontested claims on an expedited basis for the Board of Adjustment.
- The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a House-passed bill to require certain manufacturers of Internet-enabled devices to activate existing filters to restrict access to certain material.
- The full Senate approved general bills to increase the estimated payments for state sales tax liability; to change the appointment process for the Alabama Public Charter School Commission; to authorize public institutions of higher education that employ campus police officers to also employ reserve police officers; and to establish legislative findings relating to the fundamental rights of parents.
On Thursday (29th day of of regular session):
- The House approved a long list of bills of local application only, and Senate-passed general bills to provide for the inspection of certain dams and reservoirs by an engineer and to provide for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to serve as a public repository for dam related documents; to further provide for the number of exempt service employees allowable to each department or agency; to require state agencies to take certain measures to prevent fraud before paying benefits to recipients; to establish sunset dates for tax incentive programs; and to enhance penalties for any criminal activity that benefits, promotes or furthers the interest of a criminal enterprise.
- The Senate passed a number of House-passed general bills to define “food” and begin reducing the state sales and use tax on food on September 1, 2023; to provide a one-time income tax rebate for the promotion of the general welfare of state taxpayers; to provide for the surrender of an infant to an emergency medical services provider or hospital; to further provide for the duties and membership of the Alabama Literacy Task Force; to further provide for the requirements of the alternative teacher preparation program; to allow for the payment of uncontested claims on an expedited basis for the Board of Adjustment; and to exclude hours worked above 40 in any given week from gross income.
