Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill into law last Thursday that will allow statewide ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft. Alabama becomes the 45th state to allow such services. Prior to Governor Ivey signing the bill, such companies were only permitted to operate in select, approved cities. Now all communities, urban and rural, will have access to the services.
A bill that would provide tax deductions — up to $6,000 for an individual and $12,000 per couple annually for five years — was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education last week. The deduction only applies to money saved in an account to purchase either a first home or a “second-chance” home (meaning a home has not been purchased or owned in the previous five years).
Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington recently announced that Alabama’s unemployment rate decrease of 1.5 percent was the largest drop in year-over-year jobless rates in the country. In 2017, the state’s annual unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, down from the 2016 average of 5.9 percent. Washington said the number recognized the work that state, county and local governments, as well as Governor Kay Ivey and companies, have done to bring down unemployment. The January 2018 unemployment rate is scheduled to be released on March 12.
@thebloomgroup
Feb 25
“Sad news. Our prayers to the Treadway family.”
The Senate approved a state general fund budget that gives additional money to the state prison system to address issues as part of a federal court order to overhaul mental health care for inmates. The proposed spending plan would provide an additional $51 million to the Department of Corrections for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018.
Last Tuesday, the Senate passed the General Fund Budget by an overwhelming majority vote of 26-2. It’s larger than last year’s budget. At just a little above $2 billion, it’s actually the largest in 10 years, with several state agencies receiving funding increases. The pay raise for state workers that has been a part of budget discussions is a separate bill and stalled last week, but many believe it still has a good chance at passing later in the session.
Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan is the second hospital in the country and the first in Alabama, to have a new hi-tech bed for premature babies. These beds are designed for premature babies and provide temperatures as close to the mother’s womb as possible, allowing babies as small as two pounds to grow and develop without being sent to other hospitals. The beds are designed to provide enough room for physicians to work on the babies.
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, who has served in Congress for 40 years, said recently that he thinks the nation needs to do more related to who can get guns. He called for a closer look at those with mental health issues and possibly tightening up background checks. He also mentioned the importance of a level-headed approach to working with schools to have persons trained for security at schools. Shelby said that while most people are good and decent, we have a few who are bad.
Governor Kay Ivey spoke out on potential protections for schools in wake of the mass shooting in a Florida school. She cautioned against “knee-jerk reactions,” saying the state should listen to law enforcement. Ivey said she would support metal detectors in schools, but is open to more ideas. While some are advocating arming teachers on a voluntary basis, Governor Ivey says she is not sure teachers who have to address so many things during the school day should be given guns.
