The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee voted a bill as substituted to eliminate the Office of the State Auditor. The committee voted for the substitute 6-5, which would not affect the current officeholder, State Auditor Jim Zeigler. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the bill would go on the November general election
We were saddened to learn of the death of Mrs. Ruth Kathryne Price Clouse (93), a longtime resident of Ozark and mother to our legislative friend Representative Steve Clouse. We send our prayers of peace and comfort to the family.
GE Appliances officially marked completion of a $125 million investment project at its Decatur refrigerator plant, which boosted production capacity, added new “smart “ technology and increased the site’s workforce. The project increases production capacity by 25 percent and ensures early compliance with 2022 refrigerant changes, making the Alabama plant
Manufacture Alabama announced that its board of directors has elected Carl Gunter as the new board chair. He is mill manager of International Paper in Prattville and will serve a two-year term that began on February 4, 2020. Additionally, the board of directors elected Jason Slinkard as vice chair. He
In the third week of session, a lot of basic business got done: approval by the Senate of the continuation of multiple and various sunset bills. A bill raising the marriage age made it through committee. And the medical marijuana bill made more progress (see separate article below). Here’s a
A bill to require cities to get approval from the legislature before passing new occupational taxes or license taxes moved a step closer to passing, despite opposition from the mayors of the state’s 10 largest cities. The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bill by Rep. Chris Sells, which has
@alabamacounts Feb 20 State leaders say this could be the most important census in Alabama history. Make #ALCount on March 12.
The House passed a bill last week to prohibit smoking or vaping in vehicles carrying children ages 14 and younger. Rep. Rolanda Hollis of Birmingham was the bill’s sponsor, and it passed by a vote of 78-19. The bill would impose a fine up to $100 for violations. Violations would
A bill that would allow college athletes to make money off the use of their name and likeness was introduced in the House last week. The “Fair Pay to Play” bill, sponsored by Rep. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) is a hot topic and should see some good debate in coming weeks.
Last week, Blue Origin opened a sprawling factory in Alabama’s “Rocket City” that will allow the spaceflight company to accelerate production of its heavy-lift BE-4 rocket engine and create hundreds of jobs. The BE-4, which is under development, will power Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket as well as the United
