February 21, 2022 Group Watch: Alabama House Passes Bill to Expand High-Speed Internet Access

The Alabama House passed a bill by Rep. Randall Shedd that will help deliver high-speed internet to places where it’s not available by allowing local grants to be used to expand high-speed internet. It proposes an amendment to the state constitution, which prohibits counties and cities from providing grants or other things of value to private companies. The Senate has passed a similar measure. The bill is part of the efforts by the legislature and the governor’s office to expand access to broadband, which is still not available to about 20 percent of the state’s households, according to the Alabama Connectivity Plan. Other measures include a state grant program to make it feasible for companies to install the cable and other equipment needed to deliver broadband to places that would otherwise remain unserved. The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the value of high-speed internet as people needed it to work and attend school remotely. Alabama and other states are receiving federal money for broadband expansion through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). In January the legislature approved a plan to spend $277 million of ARPA funds for broadband expansion.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: State Senator Bringing Gambling Legislation This Session

Despite the “long odds” related to it passing, State Senator Albritton says he will introduce some type of gambling legislation during the regular session. Gambling in the state continues to faces the same obstacles: a higher threshold for a constitutional amendment in the legislature, opposition from Republicans who are against gambling for moral or religious reasons and opposition from Democrats seeking to protect local gaming in Democrat-represented areas. Albritton warns opposition could come from beyond Alabama’s borders too, in the form of gaming-aligned entities in Mississippi and Florida. Albritton’s bill aims to take control of gaming including sports gaming and fantasy gaming.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: Lawmakers Advance Bill to End Concealed Carry Pistol Permit

After a vigorous and lengthy debate, a divided Alabama House committee advanced a bill to repeal the state’s requirement for permit to carry a concealed pistol. Advocates for the repeal say the requirement to undergo a background check and pay the county sheriff to carry a concealed handgun infringes on the 2^nd amendment right to bear arms. The bill has drawn opposition from sheriffs and police, who say the permit requirement helps protect police and the public and helps prevent and solve crimes. Sheriffs also depend on the permit fees for funding. The committee approved the bill on an 8-5 vote with two abstentions. Rep. Allen Farley, who is a retired law enforcement officer was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. The four Democratic members of the committee voted no. A similar bill in the Senate has won committee approval in that chamber.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: State GOP Removes Two Candidates from Primary Ballots

In a meeting on Saturday, the Alabama Republican Party’s Candidate Committee voted to take Tripp Powell off the primary ballot in the Senate District 21 race. The Committee held the vote in response to a challenge filed against Powell’s candidacy. The complaint stems from Powell’s $500 campaign donation in 2018 to Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox’s gubernatorial campaign. Maddox is a Democrat. Patch could appeal the decision, but it’s unclear whether he’ll head down that path. He did tell news outlets that he felt his Party’s actions in the matter were “unjust and illogical.” Another candidate met the same fate. Teresa Rhea, who was vying to be the GOP candidate for Senate District 10, was also removed from the primary ballot during Saturday’s meeting. This move ensures incumbent Senator Andrew Jones will serve a second term, as he has no other primary challengers, and no Democrat has qualified to run. Jones called Rhea’s Republican loyalty into question, pointing out that while she voted in the 2018 and 20120 Republican primaries, she also voted on the Democratic Party ballot in a 2017 special election. And her retired Etowah County Judge husband had been a Democrat during his time on the bench.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: House Committee Advances Transgender Bill

The House Education Policy Committee has advanced legislation that would ban transgender students from using school bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity. The committee approved a bill that would require K-12 students statewide to use facilities that match the gender on their original birth certificate. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Scott Stadthagen, said the bill is about protecting students and preventing sexual predators from being able to enter bathrooms. Opponents say the bill discriminates against transgender youth and puts them at risk, under the guise of safety. The bill is now in position for consideration by the full House.

February 21, 2022 Group Watch: Senate Passes Bill to Allow Space National Guard Within AL National Guard

A measure authorizing the inclusion of a Space National Guard within the Alabama National Guard passed in the Alabama Senate last week. The bill, sponsored by Senator Tom Butler of Madison, does not create an Alabama Space Guard, but allows for its creation if Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense authorize National Guard components within the U.S. Space Force, a potential aspect of the newly created branch discussed since its formation. The most recent National Defense Authorization Act did not include funds for the creation of a Space National Guard. The Congressional Budget Office report estimates a Space National Guard could cost upwards of $100 to $490 million each year.

February 14, 2022 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

With the 2022 regular session in full swing, a lot of work got done at the State House last week. The Senate approved bills to bring about a major expansion of broadband throughout the state. And bills related to the loosening of some current state alcohol laws made it through both the House and Senate.

And some big news was handed down from the U.S. Supremer Court; it ruled to allow current congressional district lines in the state to stand, at least for now. The decision, which came last week, put on hold a lower court ruling calling for new redistricting. The Court will consider whether current districts are in violation of the Voting Rights Law at a later date, and that decision will have ripple effects beyond Alabama’s borders.

More on this and last week’s legislative happenings is below.

The House and Senate return on Tuesday, February 15 at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m, respectively.

February 14, 2022 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@AL_League Feb 8 The League commends Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature for their diligence in allocating funds from the American Rescue Plan Act towards quality of life endeavors for Alabama’s citizens.

February 14, 2022 Group Watch: Legislature Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play

Tuesday, 7th day of regular session: 

• The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved several bills, including bills to declare that emergency medical services are essential public services; to authorize governmental boards to meet by electronic means; and to allow for issuance of garnishment writs by certified or standard mail.
• The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to allow the establishment entertainment districts under certain conditions; to revise the membership of the Women’s Hall of Fame Board and to authorize them to meet electronically on some matters; to allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption in approved containers; and to establish the Natural Death Act that enables certification of a surrogate to make end-of-life healthcare decisions, and to remove the notarization requirement.
• The Senate passed several general bills without objection, including bills to increase the optional standard deduction amount and increase the adjusted gross income range allowable for maximum optional standard and dependent; to authorize class 1 municipalities to establish entertainment districts under certain conditions; to establish the Alabama Airport Economic and Infrastructure Program; and to prohibit issuance of scrip in bearer form.

• The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee approved several bills including bills to require the Alcohol Beverage Control board to license food trucks in class 1 municipalities to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption and to provide that table wine licensees may disperse wine for off-premise consumption in approved containers.
• The House Education Policy Committee approved a few bills, including one to further provide for membership and duties of the Literacy Task Force.
• The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved a bill to establish the State Employee Retirees Fund Funding Act for periodic bonuses.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bills including those to change the meeting requirements for the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission and to require the Department of Human Resources to establish and maintain the Alabama Elder and Adult in Need of Protectives Services Abuse Registry.
• The Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to increase minimum threshold speeds for broadband service grants.
• The House passed a few bills of local application only and several general bills, including bills to further provide for persons in need of care for mental illness; to further provide for posthumous pardons; and to provide for a central registry of elder citizens requiring adult protective services.
• The Senate passed a number of general bills, including bills to allow governmental bodies to hold virtual meetings; to provide for the declaration of emergency medical services for a public purpose; and to allow writs of garnishment to be issued by regular or certified mail.

• The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills to clarify that emergency management personnel provide essential public safety services; to authorize alcoholic beverage retailers to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption thru walk-up and drive-thru facilities; and a Senate-passed bill to further provide for penalties for the crime of unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure.
• The Senate passed several general bills, including bills to establish a minimum threshold to enter broadband service contracts; to authorize the state, county or a municipal entity to grant certain monies for broadband infrastructure; and to require the establishment and maintenance of a statewide registry for elders requiring adult protective care services.

February 14, 2022 Group Watch: AL Senate Approves Package of Broadband Bills

The Alabama Senate approved three bills to support broadband expansion over the next several years. The bills sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield would increase minimum broadband speeds for grant programs administered by the state, allow governmental entities to apply for grants and allow counties to direct money for broadband services to private companies. The legislature plans to spend $276 million of the state’s share of the first round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to expand broadband, long a goal of the business community and officials in the state. Additional ARPPA are expected to come to the state later this spring.