What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 29 — May 1, 2025
Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, pulls out his chair before the start of the session of the Alabama Senate on May 1, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)
Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week.
House
HB 567, sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, allows Class 2 municipalities to include up to 50% of the total value of equalized taxable property within tax increment districts, aligning their authority with that of Class 3 municipalities. The bill passed 22-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 581, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, revises the distribution of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in-lieu-of-tax payments in Morgan County by reallocating funds to support a legislative delegation office, the Morgan County Rescue Squad and local education. The bill passed 13-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 589, sponsored by Rep. Brian Brinyark, R-Wyndham Springs, expands the authority of the Jefferson County building commissioner to enforce zoning regulations by requiring permits for construction and land use. The bill passed 22-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 590, sponsored by Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, would create an 8% lodging tax in Winston County, with proceeds allocated to road and bridge improvements, law enforcement, volunteer fire departments and the county general fund. The tax could only be assessed with the approval of WInston County voters in a referendum. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to the Senate.
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HB 602, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Matthews, increases the Montgomery County probate judge's annual salary from $88,000 to $153,725 effective Oct. 1. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 301, sponsored by Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn, authorizes the Lee County Revenue Commissioner to implement electronic filing for business personal property tax returns, mandating e-filing for certain businesses starting Oct. 1. The bill passed 13-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 310, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, amends procedures for filling vacancies on the Jefferson County Commission by stipulating that if a vacancy occurs with more than six months remaining in the term, the position remains unfilled until the next scheduled countywide general election. The bill passed 16-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 319, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, authorizes Barbour County to impose new court fees – $25 on most civil and criminal cases and $10 on small claims cases. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 326, sponsored by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, authorizes the Jackson County Sheriff to establish procedures for using credit and debit cards for official purchases. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey..
SB 328, sponsored by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, establishes a fixed annual salary of $132,000 for the Jackson County Probate Judge. The bill passed 12-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 329, sponsored by Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn, transfers the responsibilities for land tax redemption from the Lee County Probate Judge to the Lee County Revenue Commissioner. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 425, sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, revises the composition and qualifications of Regional Mental Health Authority Boards, including board diversity, permitting remote participation in meetings and limiting additional qualifications beyond specified criteria. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 416, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, requires all schools to place automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) at all athletic venues and events on school property. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 414, sponsored by Rep. Bill Lamb, R-Tuscaloosa, adjusts audit requirements for municipalities based on annual expenditures. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 528, sponsored by Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, R-Foley, extends the prohibition of unconscionable pricing during a declared state of emergency to include the provision of services, in addition to the sale or rental of commodities and facilities. The bill passed 96-1. It goes to the Senate.
HB 537, sponsored by Rep. Ontario Tillman, D-Bessemer, specifies that a pretrial detention hearing conducted under Aniah's Law satisfies a defendant's right to a preliminary hearing. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 559, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, amends the state's loitering laws to specify that wearing a mask in public is not a criminal offense under certain conditions. The bill passed 74-22. It goes to the Senate.
HB 543, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, increases the market value threshold for tangible personal property exempt from state ad valorem taxation from $40,000 to $100,000. The bill passed 98-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 298, sponsored by Rep. Brock Colvin, R-Albertville, excludes certain English language learner (ELLs) students from a public school's average daily membership when determining athletic competition classification. The bill passed 72-1. It goes to the Senate.
HB 527, sponsored by Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, R-Foley, limits the civil liability of off-roading park operators for injuries or deaths resulting from inherent risks of off-roading. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 46, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, provides a $10,000 annual tax credit for up to four tax years to qualifying rural physicians. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 474, sponsored by Rep. Craig Lipscomb, R-Gadsden, establishes a legal process for property owners or their authorized agents to request the removal of unauthorized individuals from their premises. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 449, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, establishes three degrees of unlawful DNA use with escalating penalties for intentional collection, use, retention or disclosure of another person's DNA or genetic information without express consent. The bill passed 98-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 435, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, updates state economic development laws by removing references to the outdated Accelerate Alabama Strategic Economic Development Plan and aligning them with the Alabama Jobs Act. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 53, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Sellers, D-Pleasant Grove, establishes a rebuttable presumption favoring joint legal custody and substantial parenting time for both parents in child custody cases. The bill passed 100-1. It goes to the Senate.
HB 297, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Silverhill, introduces a fee on international wire transfers conducted by licensed money transmission businesses, with proceeds allocated to counties for specific purposes. The bill passed 83-1. It goes to the Senate.
SB 118, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, expands the list of crimes that will not be eligible for bond to solicitation, attempt and conspiracy to commit murder; and discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling. The bill passed 87-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 119, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, makes discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling a Class A felony, up from a Class B felony. That is punishable by 10-99 years in prison and fines up to $60,000. The bill passed 66-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 186, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, mandates that all smartphones and tablets activated in the state on or after June 1 must include a pre-enabled internet filter to block access to obscene material for minors. The bill passed 103-0. The Senate later concurred in House changes, sending the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 297, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, designates the Division Chief of the Office of Water Resources as an exempt service employee, appointed by the director with the governor's approval. The bill passed 102-1. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 140, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, amends the Coach Safely Act to enhance compliance enforcement by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The bill passed 102-0 with a House committee substitute. The Senate later concurred with the changes, sending the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 123, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, enhances transparency in civil asset forfeiture reporting by requiring the Alabama Justice Information Commission to publish annual reports. The House concurred with conference committee changes 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 183, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, authorizes the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe to employ certified police officers to protect tribal property and residents. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 242, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, codifies the 2024 Regular Session Acts and technical revisions into the Code of Alabama 1975. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 194, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, authorizes agriculture authorities to exercise eminent domain to terminate or relocate easements on property they own. The bill passed with a floor amendment 97-0. The Senate later concurred in the change, sending the bil to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 110, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, expands exceptions to state highway weight limits for certain trucks, and revises procedures for using portable scales to enforce these limits. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 97, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, updates licensing requirements for nonresident surplus line brokers, including application procedures, bond amounts and legal service provisions. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 151, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, corrects internal citations, ensuring consistency and accuracy within the state's insurance code. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 259, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, increases the number of at-large members on the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees from two to three, and revises procedures for calling special meetings. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 45, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, authorizes the Secretary of State to designate an individual to serve in their place on the Alabama Athlete Agents Commission. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 134, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, authorizes the Board of Pardons and Paroles to share electronic monitoring GPS data with law enforcement agencies during active investigations. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 94, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, updates procedures for adoption investigations, service of notice, revocation of consent and the duties of the Department of Human Resources. It passed with a floor amendment 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 312, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, introduces two new alcoholic beverage licenses: an Event Storage License and a Government Venue License. The bill passed 82-4. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 138, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, creates a presumption of fitness for occupational licensure for individuals granted an order of limited relief, provides immunity to employers who hire individuals with such orders, and requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles to issue certificates of employability to certain individuals upon their release on parole. The bill passed 83-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 186, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, is the $3.7 billion FY 2026 General Fund budget for most non-education public services. It is about 10% increase ($347 million) higher than the current budget and goes into effect Oct. 1. The House concurred with Senate changes 100-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 185, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, appropriates $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Department of Finance and provides over $12.6 million to the Unified Judicial System. The House concurred with Senate changes 100-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 182, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, extends the assessment on emergency medical transport providers through the fiscal quarter ending July 2028, continuing funding for Medicaid and emergency medical services. The House concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
Senate
SB 89, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, requires that an inmate under the custody of the Department of Corrections be served with any arrest warrant under certain conditions. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House.
SB 111, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would transfer $375 million from the Education Opportunities Reserve Fund to the Renewing Alabama's Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) Fund and up to $80 million to the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education (CHOOSE) Act Fund during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. The Senate concurred 30-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 112, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, allocates $9.9 billion for K-12 schools and higher education, a 6% increase over the current budget. The bill passed 103-0 with a House committee substitute. The Senate concurred 31-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 113, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is the $524 million 2025 supplemental appropriation for the Education Trust Fund budget. The Senate concurred 31-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 114, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is a $1.25 billion supplemental appropriation from the Advancement and Technology Fund budget to various state education entities. The Senate concurred 31-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 265, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, would allow peer-to-peer car sharing programs, which connect auto owners with drivers who may need a vehicle. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House.
SB 303, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, revises the definition used to determine eligibility of principals and assistant principals to receive annual stipends under the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act. The Senate concurred 31-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 318, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would further provide for entities exempt from certain service contract regulations and require certain disclosures when advertising contracts. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House.
SB 339, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, would set the base salary for any newly elected Sheriff of Madison County to $170,000 a year. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the House.
SB 338, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, would change the boundary lines and corporate limits of the New Hope in Madison County. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House.
SB 334, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, would change the distribution of sales and use taxes in Lauderdale County. The bill passed 27-0. It goes to the House.
SB 337, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would increase the salary of a Montgomery County probate judge with at least six years of service to the level of a circuit judge with the same years of service. The bill passed 25-0. It goes to the House.
HB 488, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wood, R-Valley, alters and extends the boundary lines and corporate limits of the Town of Cusseta in Chambers County by incorporating additional parcels of land. The bill passed 25-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 540, sponsored by Rep. Bob Fincher, R-Woodland, authorizes Randolph County to distribute the tobacco tax to the volunteer fire department, for tourism, the agricultural center and to other county funds. The bill passed 26-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 181, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscambia, authorizes the Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority to issue bonds up to $50 million for construction, renovation, and improvement projects related to public office buildings. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 182, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, would extend the emergency medical transport quarterly assessment period to July 2028. The bill passed 31-0. The House concurred in Senate changes, sending the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 183, sponsored by Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, appropriates $36.6 million from the Children First Trust Fund for various entities, including the Alabama Medicaid Agency, the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Public Health for 2026. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 184, sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, appropriates $169,000 from the State General Fund to the Coalition Against Domestic Violence for 2026. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 312, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, extends Alabama's Hospital Provider Privilege Tax through fiscal year 2028, ensuring continued funding for Medicaid services. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 405, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, would extend the supplemental privilege assessment, the secondary supplemental privilege assessment and the surcharge for nursing homes through August 2028. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 460, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, would make a supplemental appropriation of $41 million from the Opioid Treatment and Abatement Fund. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 488, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wood, R-Valley, alters and extends the boundary lines and corporate limits of the Town of Cusseta in Chambers County by incorporating additional parcels of land. The bill passed 25-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 540, sponsored by Rep. Bob Fincher, R-Woodland, authorizes Randolph County to distribute the tobacco tax to the volunteer fire department, for tourism, the agricultural center and to other county funds. The bill passed 26-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
House
HB 598, sponsored by Rep. Van Smith, R-Clanton, extends the corporate boundaries of the Town of Pine Level in Autauga County. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 608, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, authorizes the Henry County Commission to provide a vehicle equipped with necessary tools, such as a stretcher and radio, for the county coroner and deputy coroner to use in official duties The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 609, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, authorizes the Henry County Sheriff's Office and the Henry County Task Force to sell, use or destroy certain abandoned, stolen or unclaimed property. The bill passed 17-0. It goes to the Senate.
SB 256, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, grants Class 2 municipalities like Mobile enhanced authority over property maintenance and tax lien enforcement. The bill passed 17-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 327, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, alters the corporate boundaries of the Town of Saint Florian in Lauderdale County. The bill passed 7-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 331, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, establishes that the probate judge of Barbour County shall receive an annual salary determined by the Barbour County Commission, not less than 70% of the salary paid to a state district court judge. The bill passed 9-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 330, sponsored by Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, restructures the Birmingham Water Works Board. The bill passed 66-27. It goes to Ivey.
SB 322, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, authorizes the annexation of certain community development districts by wet municipalities within the dry county where the district is located. The bill passed 74-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 279, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, allows the Legislature to demolish the existing State House after the lawmakers and staff move into the new State House in 2027. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 35, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, expands the definition of sexual extortion to include threats to release or transmit recordings of individuals engaged in sexually explicit conduct, with the intent to compel or attempt to compel the victim to act against their will. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 216, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, allows certain retired firemedics to return to work without suspension of their retirement allowances, capping annual compensation at $52,000. The bill passed 103-0 with a floor amendment. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee.
SB 174, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, requires counties and municipalities to submit annual reports on business license and privilege taxes to the Department of Revenue. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 304, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, establishes the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank within the State Industrial Development Authority to finance energy infrastructure projects, procure critical components and support electric providers. The bill passed 98-1 with a House amendment. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee.
SB 313, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, authorizes the transfer of funds from the Alabama 21st Century Fund for various economic development initiatives, like the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank. The bill passed 100-0 with a House amendment. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee.
SB 311, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, expedites the permitting process for electric transmission infrastructure by establishing specific deadlines for the Alabama Department of Transportation to approve or deny applications. The bill passed 99-0.It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
Senate
SB 94, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would revise the state's adoption procedures and clarify the role of the Department of Human Resources. The Senate concurred with House changes, sending the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 123, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, extends the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy's existence until October 1, 2026. The bill went to conference committee and was approved by the Senate 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 88, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Starnes, R-Prattville, classifies parole officers as law enforcement officers. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 437, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, establishes a shark alert system for people on Alabama beaches to be alerted of a nearby shark. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 315, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, connects certain products covered under state sales tax holidays to the Consumer Price Index to account for inflated costs. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 199, sponsored by Rep. Travis Hendrix, D-Birmingham, would allow the Board of Pardons and Parole to electronically monitor a juvenile delinquent before their court hearing. The bill passed 33-0. It goes back to the House for concurrence or a conference committee.
HB 320, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, allows the Department of Finance to adopt rules for advertising bids on the websites of newspapers and how those govern bids. The bill passed 32-0 and goes back to the House for concurrence or a conference committee.
HB 477, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, would allow the Alabama Farmers Federation (Alfa), the state's dominant agricultural organization, to offer a health plan that is outside of state insurance regulations and only available to its members. The bill passed 30-2. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
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Committee members voted along party lines, with the sole Republican present voting against the amendments. 'I do feel like this is a massive compromise,' said Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, the bill's lead author. 'It's not something I'm entirely thrilled with.' The measure would be a first-in-the-nation move by Oregon, establishing a right to strike for public and private employees while ensuring them the ability to apply for unemployment benefits. Aside from traditionally strike-exempt public employees such as firefighters and police, workers such as nurses and teachers could claim benefits after two weeks of striking. The bill has been among this session's most controversial measures, laying bare deep divisions over how best to use the state's $6.4 billion unemployment insurance fund. The changes come after support for a Democrat-led bill collapsed in a concurring Senate vote on Tuesday amid concerns from Republicans and a key dissenting Democrat. It had already drawn opposition from school board leaders who help negotiate teacher strikes, business groups, and local government leaders who contribute to the state's unemployment fund. 'We have a healthy fund today due in no small part because all the agreements in the years have been honored,' committee member Sen. Daniel Bonham, R- The Dalles, told his colleagues before voting against the amended bill. 'It is a healthy enough fund that I don't know that this will be a massive draw on it, but again the kids will lose if teachers are incentivized to strike.' House Democrats got the bill over the finish line in their chamber last week, arguing that the benefits would be used sparingly and not as a tool to prolong strikes, but to shorten them. A change made in a House committee would cap benefits to eight weeks if the state's unemployment fund is at risk, and lawmakers also included an amendment that mandates deductions in backpay for benefits claimed by teachers during strikes. Grayber on Tuesday repeated a promise she has made to continue monitoring the bill's implementation if it were to pass, but also signaled that she hoped to move past concerns that the bill would promote misuse of the unemployment system or dramatically hamper school life and public facilities. She said she's been 'guided by the math' behind the bill from the beginning, a subtle nod to the estimates from the state's employment department that the bill would not change existing tax structures for businesses and government agencies paying into the state's unemployment funding. 'I have heard the opposition,' she said. 'I very much look forward to moving past what feels like a worst-case scenario focus that we've maintained for several weeks now.' Oregonians who have lost a job can currently apply for unemployment weekly checks ranging from $196 to $836. The bill would allow benefits to kick in immediately if workers are locked out of facilities by their employer during negotiations. Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, is a sponsor of the legislation, but withdrew his support when it came up short in a 15-14 Senate vote on Tuesday. In a brief interview after the hearing, he declined to comment on whether he supported the proposed changes. He referred to another attempt at a transportation and infrastructure funding bill that the Legislature has taken up in the final weeks of the session: 'If there's time to pass a transportation package, there's time to get this right,' he said. The new amendment pushes the bill closer to a similar law passed in Washington that caps benefits at six weeks, but which doesn't go so far as to protect public employees like Oregon's proposed legislation. New Jersey and New York have also passed laws in recent years to provide unemployment benefits to striking private sector workers, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar effort in 2023 over fiscal concerns. Another bill extending benefits to striking workers in Connecticut is currently sitting on Gov. Ned Lamont's desk, but he is expected to veto it. The bill passed out of committee on a 4-1 vote. Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, was excused. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
