May 6, 2019 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

• Tuesday, Day 14 of Regular Session: The Senate Local Legislation Committee approved four bills of local application only. The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee approved the Education budget, which contains appropriations for public education. The House passed several bills of local application only, including a bill to permit Sunday alcohol sales in the city of Coker in Tuscaloosa County. After lengthy debate, they also approved the Human Life Protection Act, which defines the circumstances where abortions are criminal. The Senate passed several bills of local application only and general bills to create the Underwater Cultural Resources Act; to provide a sales and use tax exemption for the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, Inc.; to update the amnesty and class action provisions relating to the simplified sellers use tax; and to require criminal background checks for adults working in a childcare institution, group home, maternity center or transitional living facility.
• Wednesday, a committee day: The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved bills to establish the Alabama Industry Recognized and Registered Apprenticeship Program Act to administer state programs in lieu of federal office and to exempt from sales and use taxes adaptive equipment. The House Governmental Affairs Committee approved bills to further provide for bonded title service providers and to increase the maximum fine for licensees of the Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects for regulatory violations. The House Education Policy Committee approved a bill to allow provisional teaching certificates to be extended up to two years. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to provide broadband in unserved areas. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to require law enforcement officers to undergo sensitivity training. The Senate Education Policy Committee approved a bill to further provide for public and non-public charter schools.
• Thursday, Day 15 of Regular Session: The House passed a number of bills of local application only and general bills to reduce the required number of restroom fixtures at public high school sports stadiums for each gender based on seating occupancy; to provide for local boards of education to allow released time for religious education off-campus for elective credit; and to further provide for telecommunications under the Broadband Using Electric Easement Accessibility Act. The Senate passed passed several bills of local application only and general bills to allow municipal corporations to issue summons and complaints in lieu of custodial arrest; to provide supplemental appropriations from the Education Trust Fund for certain agencies for the current fiscal year and to provide a cost of living pay increase for K-12 public education employees.

5/6/2019 Group Watch: Economic Development Wins

Governor Ivey announced that companies locating in Alabama or expanding existing operations invested $8.7 billion in growth projects in 2018, setting a new record for the state. It is anticipated that the investment will generate 17,000 new jobs in communities across the state. Growth in important industry sectors including automotive and aerospace remained strong in 2018, creating momentum for future gains. Other sectors, particularly forest products, also charted a growth trajectory.

5/6/2019 Group Watch: Major Georgia Pacific Expansion

Georgia-Pacific recently announced plans to invest more than $120 million to add a new tissue machine and roll storage building at its mill in Choctaw County. The new projects continue Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific’s modernization of the Naheola mill, which includes ongoing construction of a new biomass boiler and wood yard. In the past five years, Georgia-Pacific’s capital investment at the Naheola mill has totaled more than $500 million, and its statewide investments have totaled approximately $1.6 billion. Across Alabama, Georgia-Pacific operates eight facilities, employs more than 2,600 directly and pays more than $204 million in direct wages and benefits.

5/6/2019 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@SalenaZito
May 3
This is incredibly gripping. Never forget.

Israel comes to a standstill with a two-minute siren wailing across the country in remembrance of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. https://abcn.ws/2ZIOQDQ 

April 29, 2019 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

• Tuesday, Day 12 of Regular Session: The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved several House-passed bills and Senate-originated bills to authorize zoning in municipal police jurisdictions in counties where another municipality has zoning authority in police jurisdiction; to add the House and Senate budget chairs to the Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee; and to prohibit municipal occupational taxes if not already in effect unless authorized by local law. The House passed several bills of local application only and general bills to allow the Administrator of the Alabama Credit Union Administration to appoint a designee to the Alabama Land Bank Authority Board; to require the Department of Revenue to enter into agreements with financial institutions to develop a financial institution data match program; and to transfer the distribution of inspection fees and penalties from the State Treasurer to the Department of Revenue. The Senate gave final approval to a House-passed bill to revise certain provisions of the Limited Liability Company Law and passed other Senate-originated bills relating to unspent appropriations transfers under the General Fund Budget Reform Act and to make maximum amount paid to an individual as unemployment benefits revised contingent on the state’s average unemployment rate.
• Wednesday, a committee day: The the House Health Committee approved a bill to allow the administration of single dose auto injectable epinephrine on K-12 school campuses by students as prescribed. The House Judiciary Committee approved bills to revise the penalties for human trafficking and establish the agencies responsible for enforcement and to authorize the Attorney General to apply for court orders for intercept of wire, oral or electronic communications. The House Urban and Rural Development Committee approved a bill establishing the Broadband Using Electric Easement Accessibility Act. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bills to allow expungement of convictions if the person has received a pardon; to authorize the expungement of criminal records for youthful offenders; and to establish a medical marijuana program for use in certain circumstances. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill to authorize the administration of Lifeline qualifying public assistance programs.
• Thursday, Day 13 of Regular Session: The House passed several bills of local application only, and general bills to create a Tier III retirement plan and to further provide for council-manager form of government for municipalities. The Senate passed a proposed amendment to the state constitution to establish a state lottery.

4/29/2019 Group Watch: Major Transportation Project

Governor Kay Ivey recently announced that the Alabama Department of Transportation is purchasing the right of way for the expansion of McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa from State Route 69 to Rice Mine Road as part of the Rebuild Alabama First Year Plan 2020. Governor Ivey signed into law the Rebuild Alabama Act on March 12, after it received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Alabama Legislature. The bill gradually increases Alabama’s fuel tax over the next three years. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox praised the governor’s leadership in securing this critical investment in the First Year Plan.

4/29/2019 Group Watch: New Statues for State Capitol

There was a standing ovation in the House chamber after lawmakers’ passed a bill allowing statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller to be placed on the State Capitol grounds. Democratic Representative Laura Hall sponsored the bill that passed 102-0. The bill was described as a fitting tribute as the state celebrates the bicentennial of its existence. Public and private funds may be used to commission the monuments.

4/29/2019 Group Watch: Tweet of the Week

@GovernorKayIvey
April 22
Tuscaloosa is a city known for how it has rebuilt itself, & with necessary infrastructure projects, we’ll see this area thrive even more. Proud to bring the news that we’ll be expanding McFarland Blvd., as part of the Rebuild Alabama projects. Read more here.

April 22, 2019 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

• Tuesday, Day 10 of Regular Session: The House Local Legislation Committee approved several bills of local application only. The House passed general bills to eliminate the prohibition against entering into installment payment agreements with certain taxpayers; to update the simplified sellers use tax to include provisions for amnesty and class action; and to require the pledge of allegiance be conducted at the beginning of each school day. The Senate Children Youth and Human Services Committee approved a House-passed bill to expand and clarify requirements for membership of child advocacy centers in the Alabama Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers. The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved bills to provide a sale and use tax exemption for American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities; to limit the provision of business licenses and sales taxes to property within the corporate limits; and to update the simplified sellers use tax to include provisions for amnesty and class action. The Senate Education Policy Committee approved bills to provide for the qualifications of school resource officers and to require the pledge of allegiance be conducted at the beginning of each school day. The Senate gave final passage to a number of House-passed sunset bills to continue the operation of varied boards, agencies and commissions for another three years. They also passed general bills to provide direct retirement benefits be paid to a special needs trust by the Retirement Systems of Alabama for a dependent child; to revise the content and course materials for sex education in public K-12 schools; and to authorize land acquisitions of right-of-way and waiver valuations under certain conditions.
• Wednesday, a committee day: The House Judiciary Committee approved bills to provide civil immunity to persons providing transportation to healthcare providers without compensation; to authorize a probate court to issue a renewal of an involuntary commitment order for treatment after a hearing; and to revise the Alabama Business Corporation Law to reflect national standards set by the Model Business Corporation Act. The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved a bill creating the Tier III retirement plan within the Retirement System of Alabama. The House Ways and Means General Fun Committee approved a bill that further provides tax procedures in the Financial Institution Excise Tax Reform Act. The House Financial Services Committeeapproved a bill to require the Department of Revenue to enter into agreements with financial institutions to develop a data match program. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to provide for the issuance of summons and complaints in lieu of custodial arrest by municipal corporations. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill revising the Alabama Business Corporation Law to reflect national standards set by the Model Business Corporation Act.
• Thursday, Day 11 of Regular Session: The House passed a number of bills of local application only and a general bill to authorize the use of student interns to assist in elections. The Senate passed several bills of local application only and general bills to provide for the qualifications school resource officers and to require the pledge of allegiance be conducted at the beginning of each school day in public K-12 schools.

4/22/2019 Group Watch: AL Pre-K Once Again Nation’s Best

Governor Kay Ivey announced that the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) ranks Alabama’s First Class Pre-K as the nation’s highest quality state pre-kindergarten program for the 13^th consecutive year. In 2018, the Alabama program received its largest-ever single year funding increase, which expanded access to 32 percent of four-year-olds in the state, while continuing to meet all quality standards benchmarks. Alabama requires all First Class Pre-K lead teachers to have a bachelor’s degree at a minimum and provides salary parity with K-3 teachers.