May 15, 2023 Group Watch: House-Passed Bill Advances Plans for New State House

The Alabama House passed a Senate-passed bill concerning the construction of a new State house 88-9 with minor changes. The bill gives control of state-owned property that is now a parking lot behind the State House to the Legislative Council, a panel of 20 legislators. It gives the Legislative Council the authority to contract with the Retirement Systems of Alabama or another entity for construction and maintenance of a new State House. The Retirement Systems has requested proposals from architectural firms to design a State House to replace the one now in use, which was built in 1963 for the State Highway Department. Read more here.

May 15, 2023 Group Watch: House-Passed Bill Expands Optometrists Scope of Practice

For years, optometrists and ophthalmologists have been battling over which procedures optometrists should be allowed to perform in Alabama. A bill passed last week in the House on an 83-6 vote would allow optometrists to do additional procedures. Bill supporters note this is about increasing access to eye healthcare, as there are multiple counties in the state with no ophthalmologist located there. Read more here.

May 15, 2023 Group Watch: Senate Bill Requires Timely Response to Open Records Requests

The Alabama Senate passed a bill to put time requirements in the state’s open records law, which requires state, city and county agencies, as well as school boards, to give people access to government records and documents. Alabama’s open records law says people have the right to view and obtain copies of public records. The law, however, places no requirements on when agencies must respond to request for records. In January, Governor Ivey issued an executive order directing state executive branch agencies to be more responsive to public records requests and setting timelines. The Senate-passed bill would require a public officer who is a custodian of records for an agency to acknowledge receipt of a request for records no more than 10 business days after receiving it. No more than 20 days after a request, the public officer would have to give a response to the request in one or more of several ways:

• Provide access to the records at an agreed upon time and place.
• Provide an estimate of production costs.
• Deny the request in full.
• Grant the request in part.

May 15, 2023 Group Watch: Alabama Strengthens Claim to Be Most Military Friendly State

When Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 210 into law last Monday, the state added to its long list of polices that are welcoming to members of the military and their families. The bill addresses Mandatory Liability Insurance (MLI) for Alabamians serving in the military and was widely supported in the legislature.  “Alabama has a proud history of supporting the men and women who protect our country, and as governor, I have actively sought ways to make our state even more friendly to our active servicemen, veterans and their families,” said Governor Ivey. “Providing a Mandatory Liability Insurance exception for Alabamians serving outside the state is a common-sense reform that allows our men and women in uniform to hold on to more of their hard-earned money. I will always stand up for those who serve our country and am proud to sign this bill into law.” Read more here.

May 15, 2023 Group Watch: Bill to Change AHSAA Rules Gets Sidelined

State lawmakers held a hearing on bills that would affect the Alabama High School Athletic Association and student eligibility for high school sports but decided to stay out of those issues for now. The sponsor of the bills said he has heard from people all over the state with concerns about AHSAA rules and decisions. The concerns were said to include rules that disqualify an entire team from the playoff due to an eligibility issue of a single player and rules that restrict participation in club sports and therefore force students to choose between those and their school. After a lengthy and vigorous discussion of the matters, Senator Donnie Chesteen, chair of the Senate Education Policy Committee and a former high school football coach, announced the committee would not vote on the bills. That action means the bills likely will not pass during this session.

May 15, 2023 Group Watch: Gov. Ivey Joins GOP to Protect Girls’ & Women’s Sports

 Governor Kay Ivey has joined Republican governors around the country in pushing back against new Title IX rules. The changes expand the meaning of sexual discrimination to include gender identity, which would prevent schools and colleges from protecting girl’s and women sports. The 25 members of the Republican Governor’s Association, including Ivey, sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Education calling on him to stop the changes to Title IX. The governors believe this bill will create confusion and block opportunities for female athletes. In 2021, Ivey signed transgender athlete ban for K-12 athletes. The Alabama Legislature passed legislation to extend the ban to college sports.

May 15, 2023 Group Watch: Mobile Area Enjoying Economic Growth

Two companies are launching growth projects in the Mobile area, bringing a combined $98 million in new capital investment and almost 240 jobs, according to the Mobile Chamber of Commerce. Georgia-based Chart Industries plans to invest $73.7 million in a second production site in Mobile County to increase manufacturing capacity of its cryogenic containers. The project will create 59 jobs. Superior Air Parts, which produces FFA-approved replacement parts for piston-engines, will invest $24.2 million to relocate its manufacturing operation and corporate headquarters in Creola in Mobile County. This project will create 180 jobs over five years.

May 15, 2023 Group Watch: Unique Partnership Enables Broadband in Macon County

Many businesses and homes in Macon County now have the capability of connecting to a next-generation fiber broadband network, thanks to a partnership that pools state grants, private investment and philanthropic funding. According to the Macon County Economic Development Authority, the project represents an opportunity to drive long-term economic growth and improve the well-being of the county’s residents. The network has secured a number of early wins for the area, including helping attract Samkee Corp’s $128-million auto parts manufacturing facility and enabling a collaboration between Tuskegee University and telehealth company OnMed, which is providing remote care on campus for students, faculty and the wider Macon County community. To drive this project, the economic development board teamed with Rural LISC, a non-profit community development institution; Connect Humanity, a non-profit that works with communities to build internet infrastructure; and Point Broadband, a rural internet service provider based in Opelika, Alabama. The organizations banded together to raise $3.1 million, including state and federal grants, to fund a fiber broadband network that significantly improves internet service in the county, where previously more than 40 percent of households have not had access to a wired or fixed wireless connections at broadband (25Mbps) speeds.

May 8, 2023 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Last week saw more bi-partisan agreement in the Alabama House of Representatives, with two bills passing that chamber unanimously. One targets the sale of products containing Delta-8; the other piece of legislation protects overtime pay from state income taxation.

The Senate got down to business too, passing the $8.8 billion education budget, which includes a modest pay raise for education employees and a tax rebate for Alabamians. 

Read more on all this and other trending #alpolitics topics below.

The House and Senate will reconvene on
Tuesday, May 9 at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively.

May 8, 2023 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@AL_League
May 5
Members of the League attended @GovernorKayIvey’s Proclamation Hour Ceremony yesterday. We’re so thankful she declared May 7-13, as Municipal Government Week in AL! Please join us in recognizing the tremendous work of our local government workers & elected officials. #alpolitics