March 4, 2024 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

Tuesday, 10th day: 

• The House approved a general bill referred to as the CHOOSE Act, which established education savings accounts. 
• The Senate passed bills to authorize sheriffs and chiefs of police to contract to provide school resource officers for nonpublic K-12 schools; to remove the Department of Insurance from the sunset process; to authorize the Board of Nursing to clarify scope of practice of certified nursing support technicians when disciplinary actions are taken; and to limit the liability of members of any community emergency response team who perform emergency care at the scene of an accident. 

Wednesday, 11th day and a committee day:

• The House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee approved a bill to create the crimes of abuse and neglect of an adult in varying degrees. 
• The House Education Policy Committee approved bills to require the posting of classroom curricula on the website of the school; to permit parents of enrolled students to request information on instructional materials (already passed the Senate); and to prohibit the use of three-cueing system of educational instruction in the curriculum. 
• The House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee approved a Senate-passed bill to prevent “ballot harvesting.”
• The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved bills to make a supplemental appropriation from the American Rescue Plan Act to the Small Business Credit Initiative Fund and to provide that no benefit increase for retirees under ERS and TRS be paid unless granted by separate legislative act and creating no unfunded liability. 
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to further provide prohibitions on the possession of an electronic nicotine delivery system by individuals under 21 years of age. 
• The Senate Education Policy Committee approved a bill to provide for the teaching of history in a fact-based and inclusive manner. 
• The Senate Healthcare Committee approved two bills relating to in vitro fertilization.

Thursday, 12th day: 

• The House passed bills to require fire-protection personnel and emergency medical services personnel to receive annual training related to individuals with sensory needs and certain disabilities; to prohibit the online distribution of materials harmful to minors and require age-verifications for certain sites; and to provide civil and criminal immunity for in vitro goods and services in certain circumstances. 
• The Senate approved bills to exempt from sales and use tax certain purchases of diapers, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing and female sanitary hygiene products and to provide civil and criminal immunity for in vitro goods and services in certain circumstances, with amendment.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: AL GOP Lawmakers Advance Solution to Protect IVF

State lawmakers from both parties introduced bills last week with the goal of protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers from legal liabilities following a February 23 ruling by the state Supreme Court. State Senators Tim Melson and Larry Stutts, two north Alabama doctors who serve over the Senate Healthcare Committee, are carrying two bills to shield entities and individuals in providing IVF services from criminal and civil actions. Senator Larry Stutts led members of the Senate Healthcare Committee to move forward bills they believe address the concerns of patients and providers. In the House, State Representative Terri Collins advanced a bill expected to be identical to the Senate bill which could be voted on in both chambers on the same day and signed by the governor. Both chambers passed bills on Thursday, but the Senate bill was amended, thus requiring a vote next week to determine which version will end up on the governor’s desk. Read more here.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: AL House Passes School Choice Bill

The Alabama House passed the CHOOSE ACT, making education savings accounts, or ESAs, one step closer to reality. Lawmakers discussed the bill for four hours before voting 69-34 to approve it. Six Republicans joined the chamber’s 28 Democrats in voting no. The bill would provide eligible families $7,000 in state tax dollars per student to pay for the cost of educating their child in a participating school or for other eligible expenses. ESAs would become available at the start of the 2025-26 school year. The state would prioritize support for low-income families and students with disabilities first, and then gradually phase in options for eligible families at the start of the 2027-28 school year. Families who homeschool their children could receive $2,000 per child, up to $4,000 each year, for eligible expenses. Thirteen states currently have some form of education savings accounts or ESAs.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: Industrial Development Sites Get Grant Money Boost 

The State Industrial Development Authority (SIDA) has approved more than $30 million in grants under the new Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS) to speed the development of much-needed industry-ready sites across the state. A total of $30.1 million in SEEDS funding will be matched with $38.4 million in local funds at 29 different industrial sites encompassing nearly 8,400 acres. At a recent meeting, SIDA approved 14 site assessment grants valued at $1.1 million, chiefly for environmental and geo-tech surveys of early-stage industrial sites at communities including Ashland, Sulligent, Hamilton, Prattville and Montgomery. Local matches totaling a combined $629,000 are pledged. SIDA also approved 15 development grants valued at $29 million for purposes such as infrastructure improvements, land purchases and site grading. Communities including Jasper, Atmore, Opelika and Mobile will provide matching funds totaling $37.8 million.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: Senate Bill Could Keep Birmingham Southern College Afloat

An Alabama Senate committee approved a bill that would extend a loan to Birmingham Southern College in the hopes of keeping the liberal arts college open. The bill sponsored by Senator Jabo Waggoner, revises language in a law passed last year that created the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan Program. The bill would move oversight of the program from the state treasurer to the executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. The law was intended to extend financial help to Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts college. Officials of the college say it may have to close if it does not get the loan. Last year State Treasurer Young Boozer declined to provide the loan to the school, citing concerns about the school’s collateral. Waggoner said Boozer’s refusal to approve the loan led to the change. The bill is expected to be on the Senate floor next week.

March 4, 2024 Group Watch: Gov Ivey Appoints Bill Lewis to AL Court of Civil Appeals

Governor Kay Ivey announced the appointment of Judge Bill Lewis to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Lewis will fill the vacancy left by long-time Judge William Thompson, who retired February 1, 2024, after serving on the Court of Civil Appeals for 27 years, including as its Presiding Judge for the last 17 years. Judge Lewis has served as circuit Judge for the 19^thJudicial circuit in Elmore County since 2016. He currently serves as the Circuit’s Presiding Judge. Prior to becoming circuit judge, Lewis was the senior partner of the Lewis Law Firm, a firm he started in 2006. Lewis served as Assistant District Attorney for the 19^th Judicial Circuit before going into private law practice. He has also served as a criminal defense attorney in criminal cases and practiced civil and family law. His appointment is effective immediatedly.

February 19, 2024 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Several key issues hit the ground running last week in the legislature, with topics including legalized gambling, school choice and voting interference tactics like ballot harvesting sailing through the Senate, House and committees. 

Taxes were on the agenda, too. A bill to eliminate taxes on certain maternal and feminine hygiene products was approved by a Senate committee. And the state tax rate on groceries will remain unchanged for now due to slower growth in the Education Trust Fund.

Find details on this news and other important #alpolitics topics below.

February 19, 2024 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@MarySellQuillen
Feb 16
Proposal would ‘eliminate barriers to employment’ for 14, 15 year olds https://aldailynews.com/proposal-would-eliminate-barriers-to-employment-for-14-15-year-olds/  #alpolitics

February 19, 2024 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

Tuesday, 4th day: 

• The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved bills to provide for a limitation of liability regarding the use of public funds under certain conditions; to further provide for the membership of boards of registrars including an increase in compensation; and to further provide for the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History. 
• The Senate approved a bill to prohibit any person from ordering, requesting, collecting, prefiling, obtaining or delivering an absentee ballot application of a voter in certain circumstances and would provide for exceptions.

Wednesday, 5th day and a committee day:

• The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to provide that an individual sentenced pursuant to the habitual offender law may be re-sentenced in certain circumstances and to provide for the repeal of this section in five years.
• The Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee approved a bill to require the state personnel director to regularly assess the requirements for employment in positions in the state service and to require the director to identify positions for which the requirement for employment may be reduced.
• The Senate passed bills with substantive amendments to revise the composition and authorizing authority of the board of the Department of Archives and History, and to provide that county and municipal library boards serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities.

Thursday, 6th day: 

• The House approved two bills: one to propose a constitutional amendment to establish and regulate gaming, and one to establish the administrative mechanism to oversee gaming if the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters. 
• The Senate passed bills to require the state personnel director to regularly assess job requirements and remove college degree requirement when practical; limit the liability of county commissions regarding the use of public funds; and further provide for membership on boards of registrars.

February 19, 2024 Group Watch: Gambling Bills Approved by House

Bills proposing a constitutional amendment to allow gambling and a second bill to form a regulatory body to oversee gaming in Alabama were approved by the House last week. The bill to allow a statewide vote on an amendment that will legalize sports betting, a lottery and casinos passed with a 70-32 vote. Democrats are on the same page, with all 28 House Dems voting in the affirmative, but Republicans are split on the issue, with several citing major concerns about the impacts legal gambling could have on some Alabama residents . Read more here.