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09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: May 6-7, 2025
Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, receives a standing ovation from senators on May 6, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama, after the chamber passed a bill she sponsored to regulate electronic vapor products. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector) Here are the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. House SB 211, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, requires local school superintendents or their designees to serve as the primary liaison with law enforcement for school bus safety incidents. The bill passed 94-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 280, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, requires the Alabama State Department of Education to develop a unified digital platform and data-sharing system to consolidate and streamline documentation requirements for the Alabama Literacy Act and Alabama Numeracy Act. The bill passed 101-0 with a House substitute and floor amendment. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 241, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Riverside, establishes the Alabama Criminal Enterprise Database, managed by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), to track and report on organized criminal activity statewide. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 196, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, creates the Move on When Ready program for high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit before they graduate high school. The bill passed 100-2 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 253, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, places the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board under the jurisdiction of the Board of Nursing until Oct. 1, 2026. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to Ivey. SB 233, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, revises the composition of the Alabama Ad Valorem Advisory Committee by expanding its membership to include additional local officials and taxpayers. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 289, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, requires public schools to teach a 'success sequence' twice before graduation in order to prevent poverty after high school. The bill passed 92-0. It goes to Ivey SB 177, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, renames the Alabama Film Office the Alabama Entertainment Office; expands the Entertainment Industry Incentive Act to include music albums as qualified productions, increases the annual cap on incentive and allows unspent incentives to be carried forward to the next fiscal year. The bill passed 101-0 with a House substitute. The Senate later concurred 34-0 to House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 317, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, restructures the Alabama Innovation Corporation's board by instituting staggered two-year terms for at-large directors appointed by the governor. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 321, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, amends the Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund by reducing its required minimum balance from $1 million to $250,000 and removing the mandate for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 5, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, restructures the board of trustees for the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The bill passed 74-29 with a House amendment. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 123, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, requires the Alabama Justice Information Commission to annually report detailed data on civil asset seizures and forfeiture. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 271, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, prohibits municipalities from increasing franchise fees, charges, or taxes on natural or manufactured gas utilities after Dec. 31. The bill passed 84-1. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 316, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, establishes an 'Educational Tourism Distillery' license under the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, permitting qualifying distilleries to produce and sell liquor, wine, and beer on-site for both on-premises and off-premises consumption. The bill passed 84-1. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 53, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, creates the crime of human smuggling as a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill passed 80-18 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 63, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, allows state law enforcement to collect DNA from those suspected of being in the country without legal status to be processed at the state level. The bill passed 76-7. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 320, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, requires public works contracting awarding authorities to publish advertisements for sealed bids in local newspapers and on a centralized state website. The House concurred with Senate changes 101-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 310, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, reforms the process for filling vacancies on the Jefferson County Commission. The House concurred with an executive amendment 96-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 445, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for consumable hemp products. The House concurred with Senate changes 60-27. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Senate SB 216, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, allows fire medics who retired to return to duty without having their retirement allowances suspended and caps their salaries at $52,000 per year. The Senate concurred 28-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 280, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, requires the Alabama Department of Education develop a digital platform and a system to share data that consolidates documents required for the Alabama Literacy Act, Alabama Numeracy Act and individualized education programs. The Senate concurred 27-0 with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 304, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would create the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank, as a division of the State Industrial Development Authority, to select and assist in the financing of energy infrastructure projects. The Senate concurred 28-0 with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. 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 Senate concurred 28-0 with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 307, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, authorizes the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court to appoint visiting judges for specific violent criminal cases. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to Gov Kay ivey. HB 84, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, updates procedures for licensing and renewing licensing for chiropractors. The bill passed 33-0. The House later concurred with Senate changes 101-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 25, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, allows local 911 districts to collaborate to carry out their powers and services. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 407, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Matthews, authorizes local redevelopment authorities to accept transient occupancy taxes as payments in lieu of taxes. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.. HB 152, sponsored by Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, exempts baby formula, maternity clothing and menstrual hygiene products from the state sales tax. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay IVey. HB 333, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, allows law enforcement to build indoor firing ranges for training. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 94, sponsored by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, expands the definition of a Class B felony in second-degree human trafficking to include online or print advertising of sexual labor. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 95, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, requires that when a residential property with an HVAC system is sold, the manufacturer's warranty on the system automatically transfers to the new owner, without any transfer fee, as long as the warranty is still valid. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 281, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, revises the appeals process for municipal zoning board decisions by setting deadlines for filing appeals, requiring boards to submit records to the court and establishing criteria for staying decisions during appeals. The bill passed 34-0. The House later concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 134, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, would allow fees and fines collected from vehicles parked without a license plate to go to the employing agency of the officer issuing the ticket. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov, Kay Ivey. HB 158, sponsored by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, established a procedure for cost of living adjustments for retired teachers and state employees through the Education Trust Fund and General Fund appropriations. The bill passed 34-0. It goes back to the House for concurrence with Senate changes or a conference committee. HB 225, sponsored by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, updates terminology and requirements related to the training, qualifications, and licensure of real estate companies, brokers, and salespersons. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 382, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, updates real estate regulations, including clarifying requirements for brokerage agreements, consumer disclosures, licensee duties and the operation of real estate teams. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 52, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, allows contributions to the Alabama Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) savings account to remain tax deductible through December 31, 2030. The bill passed 34-0. It goes back to the House for concurrence with Senate changes or a conference committee. HB 335, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, would allow a county or municipality to charge a residential building permit fee. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 338 , sponsored by Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle, expands the exceptions for key duplication services that do not fall under the definition of a locksmith. The bill passed 34-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 100-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 266, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, creates a non-traditional high school diploma program for dropouts. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 263, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, revises the distribution of 911 service revenues by allocating funds to support a statewide 911 voice and data system; providing training for public safety telecommunicators; offering advisory services and granting financial assistance to districts. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 38, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, gives prosecuting attorneys immunity when they give legal advice to police. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 163, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, allows research companies to deduct research expenses in the year they spend it, instead of waiting five years. The bill passed 34-0. It goes back to the House for concurrence with Senate changes or a conference committee. HB 366, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, authorizes emergency medical services personnel to provide care and transport injured police dogs to veterinary facilities, granting them immunity from civil or criminal liability for care provided in good faith. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 379, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, introduces a tax exemption for nonresidents who work in Alabama for 30 days or fewer within a calendar year. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 86, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, establishes the Rural Hospital Investment Program, offering tax credits to individuals and entities that donate to qualifying rural hospitals. The bill passed 34-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 196, sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, allows a county commission to assume control of a county juvenile detention center after an order from a juvenile judge of the county. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 43, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, requires offenders sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison for a Class A, B or C felony to serve a minimum of 10 years in prison, 'jail-type institution or treatment institution' and the rest of their sentence through probation. The bill passed 33-1. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 441, sponsored by Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, establishes minimum educational and clinical requirements for speech-language pathology assistants. The bill passed 34-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 101-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 386, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, reduces the state's sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2%. The bill passed 34-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 353, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, adjusts the salary structure for judges and district attorneys to reflect cost-of-living adjustments, modifies salary increases for district attorneys and removes restrictions on salary changes for district attorneys in certain circumstances. The bill passed 34-0. The House later concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 354, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, is a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would outlaw salary cuts for district attorneys during their terms of office. The bill passed 29-1 and will be considered by voters in the May 2026 statewide primary election. HB 542, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, expands retirement benefits for full-time district attorneys, prosecutors, and attorneys employed by the Office of Prosecution Services. The bill passed 31-1. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 288, sponsored by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, establishes a loan assistance program under the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for licensed athletic trainers, offering financial support to those working at qualifying institutions in exchange for providing athletic training services, with eligibility based on federal student loan debt and employment criteria. The bill passed 33-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 529, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, authorizes the state to impose a $0.10 tax on vapor products, and sets a $150 price for retailers to purchase an initial permit to sell such products. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 600, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, would exempt the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation from paying all state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 157, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, sets the base pay for elected and appointed local officials at the same level as their predecessors' base pay. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 194 , sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, requires the Joint Committee of the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing for Advanced Practice Nurses to have two members that are nurse practitioners and one member who is a certified midwife. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 346, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, removes 100-hour practice requirement for certification of retired physicians who volunteer in hospitals. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 147, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, places bids and purchases by volunteer fire stations under local competitive bid law requirements. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 196, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would establish a program allowing eligible 11th and 12th-grade students to enroll full-time at an eligible public institution of higher education and receive high school credit for the coursework. The Senate concurred 34-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 8, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, enhances regulation of tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems. The bill passed 28-5. The House later concurred with Senate changes 52-43. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 310, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, authorizes the Jefferson County Commission to set the dates for an election whenever a vacancy occurs. The House and Senate concurred to an executive amendment from Gov. Kay Ivey, who signed the bill on Wednesday. HB 445, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, authorizes the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to regulate the consumable hemp market. The bill passed 19-13, and the House concurred 60-27 to Senate changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. House SB 287, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, establishes new qualifications and training requirements for the sheriff of Barbour County. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 308, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, enhances the responsibilities of the Lee County engineer by granting authority over the construction, maintenance, and repair of county roads, highways and bridges. The bill passed 13-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 338, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, redefines the corporate boundaries of the city of New Hope in Madison County. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 339, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, establishes a structured salary framework for the Madison County Sheriff, setting an initial salary of $170,000 per year for newly elected sheriffs, with a 7.5% salary increase after each successive four-year term. The bill passed 13-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 345, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, eliminates the statutory provision that sets the compensation for the Geneva County Superintendent. The bill passed 13-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 206, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Ino, establishes regulations for businesses advising or assisting individuals with veterans' benefits claims. The bill passed 103-0 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 43, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, prohibits health insurers and other contracting entities from restricting or penalizing health care providers and pharmacists for disclosing information to patients about the cost, availability, or alternatives of treatments or medications. The bill passed 103-0 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 42, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, allows adjacent landowners to petition state, county, or municipal governing bodies to deed back abandoned state roads to the original landowners when the road is no longer usable for its intended purpose. The bill passed 94-3 with a House substitute and floor amendment. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. SB 244, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, establishes the crime of 'aggravated theft of employee retirement benefits,' making it a Class C felony to embezzle or unlawfully convert funds intended for employee retirement plans, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 108, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, criminalizes mail theft, establishing penalties based on the number of addresses affected and the intent to commit identity fraud, with offenses ranging from a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail; to a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. It passed 103-0 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. SB 171, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, prohibits individuals from operating motor vehicles on land submerged below navigable waters, classifying violations as Class C misdemeanors, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. The bill passed 103-0 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. SB 57, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, permits officers of limited liability companies (LLCs) who hold no more than 1% of the company's stock to take acknowledgments and proof of conveyances for that LLC. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 76, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, allows nursing mothers to be exempt from jury duty. The bill passed 101-0 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. SB 142, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, removes the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as an approved source for identifying voters whose addresses may have changed, requiring the use of the United States Postal Service's National Change of Address database and at least one other voter registration database. The bill passed 86-10 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. SB 236, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, reforms the governance of regional mental health authority boards. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 88, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, refines the expungement process by requiring a hearing if the prosecuting authority or victim objects, setting a 14-day minimum notice for hearings, applying the Alabama Rules of Evidence, and permitting appeals only upon showing an abuse of discretion. The bill passed 102-1 with a House substitute. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. SB 158, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, prohibits the use of foreign national IDs in Alabama elections. The bill passed 82-13. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 62, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, adjusts the validity of hunting and fishing licenses, specifies them as non-government-issued IDs. The bill passed 98-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 101, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscambia, raised the medical age of consent from 14 to 16 with some exceptions. The bill passed 85-0 with a House substitute and floor amendment. It goes to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee. Senate SB 5, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, would remove the Alabama Department of Archives & History Board of Trustees' authority to self-appoint and give the governor appointing authority for most seats, including members from each congressional district. The Senate voted to non-concur with House changes, and the bill went to conference committee. HB 365, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, establishes the Alabama Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Council within the Department of Workforce to advise on improving STEM education, career awareness and workforce development. The bill passed 34-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 99-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. 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 34-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 357, sponsored by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, defines the terms 'cigarette' and 'heated tobacco product,' and authorizes the state to impose a 33.75 mill tax on each cigarette and $0.017 tax on each heated tobacco product. The bill passed 24-6. The House later concurred with Senate changes 88-8. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 164, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, would raise the threshold for small estates for surviving spouses from $25,000 to $47,000. The bill passed House later concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 166, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, requires local school boards to adopt a policy banning cell phones from bell-to-bell. The bill passed 30-2. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 165, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Matthews, adds Juneteenth as a state holiday. The bill passed 13-5. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill on Thursday. HB 506, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, allows law enforcement and emergency agencies to designate publicly owned off-road vehicles as authorized emergency vehicles. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 505, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, extends the deadline for taxpayers to appeal final tax assessments to the Alabama Tax Tribunal or circuit court from 30 to 60 days. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. 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 28-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 90, sponsored by Rep. Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, creates municipal housing authorities and authorizes them to manage housing projects and community facilities, enter business contracts and make loans, as well as the power to review and award contracts. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 91, sponsored by Rep. Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, expands the scope of housing authorities to manage housing projects and community facilities, to enter into business contracts, make loans, as well as the power to review and award contracts. The bill passed 28-0. The House later concurred with Senate changes 93-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 493, sponsored by Rep. Corley Ellis, R-Columbiana, allows a child advocacy center to be certified as a full member of the Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers if the center meets the standards in state statute. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 384, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, defines corn masa and requires corn masa products sold in Alabama to be enriched with folic acid. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 509, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Sorrells, R-Hartford, prohibits Alabama state agencies from killing, testing or restricting the transfer of game breeder-owned cervids, like deer, due to disease except in specific cases. The bill passed 30-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 137, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, would allow the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to have a language interpreter to monitor wiretapping. The bill passed 30-0. The House later concurred with Senate changes 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 207, sponsored by Rep. Mike Shaw, R-Hoover, expands the role of the Office of Information Technology in Alabama by adding cybersecurity and other tasks related to data management and telecommunications. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 148, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, ensures that vehicles registered in other states comply with the insurance requirements of their home state. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 1, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, amends Alabama's seafood dealer licensure requirements; increases fees, sets penalties for violations and designates a portion of proceeds to promote Alabama's seafood products. The bill passed 30-0. The House later concurred with Senate changes 102-1. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 352, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, increases the assessment levy on the sale of cotton bales from $1 to $1.30 per bale. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 45, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, requires the Alabama Medicaid Agency to cover any noninvasive colorectal cancer screening test assigned a grade A or B under the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The bill passed 31-0. The House later concurred with Senate changes 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. 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 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 372, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Matthews, authorizes Elmore County officials to levy a rental tax, effective Sept. 1. The bill passed 21-0. The House concurred with Senate changes 90-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 433, sponsored by Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston, revises the distribution of Talladega County's special sales and use tax revenues, allocating funds to various sectors. The bill passed 22-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 464, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Dadeville, adjusts the compensation of the St. Clair County coroner including a base salary increase and additional expense allowances. The bill passed 22-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 468, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, establishes the Marion County Service of Process Fund and requires the collection of a $50 service fee per case for personal service of process by the sheriff in both criminal and civil divisions. The bill passed 22-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 500, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, revises the compensation structure for the Lawrence County Sheriff by adding an annual expense allowance of $95,000 effective Oct. 1 and setting a $95,000 salary for the sheriff effective in January. The bill passed 22-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill allowing private school employees to carry concealed firearms passes NC Senate panel
Students line up as they return to school in Durham County. (File photo) The North Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would allow employees and volunteers of K-12 private schools to carry concealed firearms on school property Tuesday afternoon. Senate Bill 280 would allow employees and volunteers at these schools to possess handguns and stun guns with the consent of school administrators and written notice to parents. They must hold a concealed carry permit and complete additional training before becoming eligible to possess firearms on school property. The proposal is part of a larger trend in the North Carolina legislature in which Republican lawmakers have sought to respond to the rise in school shootings by equipping adults with firearms and defensive implements. A bill with a similar approach passed the House Judiciary 2 Committee a day prior allowing schools to store tasers, pepper spray, and other 'less-than-lethal' weapons in biometric safes. A separate provision in SB 280 allows for firearms to be carried by attendees of worship services, funerals, weddings, and other religious events held at places of worship located on the grounds of private schools at the discretion of school administrators. Sen. Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson) said the bill 'balances safety with individual rights' through stringent criteria for training, permitting, and school oversight. 'This bill simply strengthens the safety in North Carolina's private schools while respecting the unique needs of our communities,' Jarvis said. 'It allows private school employees or volunteers with concealed carry permits to carry firearms on school grounds, but only with the explicit authorization of the school board and/or the administration director.' Sen. Sydney Batch (D-Wake) proposed adding a requirement that private school employees and volunteers affected by the bill be vetted against the state's Responsible Individuals List, which tracks adults implicated in the abuse and serious neglect of children. Jarvis said he would follow up with her suggestion at some point in the future. Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about the implications that other bills around concealed carry would have on these new exceptions. Sen. Terence Everitt (D-Wake) noted that the Senate passed a bill allowing permitless concealed carry in March, warning that this would undermine SB 280's reliance on permit training and safety requirements. Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake) expressed concerns about the lack of an age requirement, noting that the permitless carry bill would allow 18-year-olds to carry concealed firearms — and by extension, SB 280 could allow them to bring them into schools. Robert Ryan, an attorney with the General Assembly's Legislative Affairs Division, said that even with the existence of permitless concealed carry, this bill would still require a permit for individuals to carry weapons onto school grounds — leaving intact the training and age requirements. North Carolina would continue issuing concealed carry permits even under the March bill to maintain reciprocity with states that do not have permitless carry. Among the speakers during the public comment part of the meeting were leaders at religious private schools who urged lawmakers to pass the bill so they and their students could feel safe. 'We do everything that we can within the law to protect these precious children from danger,' said Matthew Floyd, a faculty member at Greenville Christian Academy. 'We love these children as our own and many are willing and able to be trained, you know, with rigorous training to be able to be an immediate line of defense against the horrible thought of a gunman entering the property.' Ron Baity, a pastor who founded a Wilkes County Christian private school in the 1970s, said 'every day we are horrified' at the prospect that a shooter could attack their school. 'I hear it said that innocent people could be killed if a shooter comes on the property and our staff is armed,' Baity said. 'The truth of the matter is, if we have no resistance against the individual who's armed, he can kill all of our staff, he can kill all of our students, and we have no way to protect anyone.' Amanda Lierman, a substitute teacher in Wake County with Moms Demand Action, said bringing guns into schools would only place an 'undue burden' on school staff. She was the only member of the public to speak against the bill. 'My friend and her sons experienced a shooting at their elementary school last year, when a staff administrator was shot and killed by their ex-husband,' Lierman said. 'My friend described the running students and the chaos that ensued — having more guns among that chaos would have increased the risk of more casualties.' After passing the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, SB 280 will next be heard by the Senate Rules Committee, where it can then be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A look at bills that crossed the legislative finish line
Apr. 14—MORGANTOWN — The 2025 legislative session wrapped up at midnight Saturday, and a number of bills we followed along the way completed their journeys. Most prominent among them is HB 3279. Over the objections of WVU and Marshall and others who said it addresses a problem that doesn't exist, it turns the student, faculty and staff members of college and university boards of governors across the state into non-voting advisory members. For WVU specifically, it also makes the Extension service faculty representative a non-voting member. Some final amendment fiddling and concurrence concluded Saturday afternoon and it heads to the governor. WVU provided this statement to The Dominion Post on Monday: "West Virginia University is West Virginia's University because of our students, faculty and staff, and their commitment to serving the state. We believe their voices should be heard and, in this case, they made their opposition to HB 3279 known to lawmakers. "Once the bill is signed into law, " WVU said, "we will work to implement its provisions as we do with every other law. The WVU Board of Governors will continue to include two faculty representatives, one classified staff representative and one student body representative. Going forward, we hope their perspectives and guidance will continue to be sought in the decision-making process." SB 50 aligns municipal election dates with statewide primary and general election dates, effective July 1, 2032. Last Monday, April 7, the House adopted an amendment by Delegate Geno Chiarelli, R-Monongalia, to move the effective date to July 1, 2028. The Senate rejected that amendment and on Saturday the House receded and passed the Senate version 93-2. Chiarelli joined the majority but Delegate Evan Hansen D-Monongalia, voted against it (he voted for it when the House passed its amended version). It heads to the governor. Here are some other bills heading to the governor. After failing in 2023 and 2024, the bill to require the display of the U.S. Motto "IN God We Trust " finally passed. SB 280 requires public schools and higher education institutions to display a durable poster or framed copy of the motto "in a conspicuous location within a common area of the main building ...that is accessible to the public." Displays in other areas is optional. Public funding is prohibited, while private funding is permitted. HB 2003 requires county school boards to establish policies for permitting, or not permitting, personal electronic devices on school property. If permitted, the board will set parameters for use and for storage during instructional hours. It includes exceptions for medical issues and for students with Individualized Education Programs. It also requires school boards to establish consequences for violations, including confiscation and ongoing prohibition from possession on campus. HB 2164 allows schools three options to put security officers in their hallways. It allows public and charter schools, along with private and religious schools, to employ school safety officers. It allows public schools, including charters (private and religious schools do not appear in this section), to contract with a retired law enforcement officer to provide Guardian services. And it allows schools — public, private and religious — to contract with private security firms. HB 2434 is the Stop Squatters Act. It says a squatter is a person occupying a dwelling or other structure who is not so entitled under a rental agreement or is not authorized to do so by the tenant or owner. It allows a property owner or their authorized agent to request law enforcement to undertake the immediate removal of the squatter, under specified conditions. The bill establishes the crime of criminal mischief for causing damages, with misdemeanor and felony penalties depending on the value of the damages. It also sets criminal penalties for selling real property without authorization and for advertising property for sale or rent without authorization. HB 2960 launches a pilot project to plow secondary roads in Monongalia and Preston counties. It says, "Snow removal on the secondary roads in Monongalia County and Preston County has not been dependable, providing a hardship on the citizens of West Virginia." It establishes a two-year pilot project to put out a Request for Proposal for vendors to provide snow removal for District 4's secondary roads in Monongalia and Preston counties. The Division of Highways will identify the roads to be plowed. The DOH can terminate a contract, with 30 days' notice, for substandard or unsatisfactory work. A couple measures died. SB 85 aimed to ban the prescription and dispensing of abortion medications by mail order. It passed the Senate but died in House Health without a hearing. And the House was set to take up a Senate pro-coal resolution on Saturday but let it die. SCR 18 announced the intention to create a West Virginia Coal Renaissance Act, citing the changing views about energy as the Trump administration follows the more renewable-minded Biden and Obama years. It said the Coal Renaissance Act, along with programs and initiatives, will encourage and foster greater coal usage, and state agencies will develop strategies to fully develop coal production and consumption, including new coal-fired plants and efforts to keep current plants open.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Knowing they don't have the votes, Florida Democrats still aim to repeal abortion ban
Florida Democrats are trying to repeal the state's six-week abortion ban in the Legislature with a bill, saying the 'situation for the women in Florida is dire.' Sen. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, and House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa – the bills' sponsors – and others gathered on a Zoom call Wednesday morning to discuss legislation (SB 280, HB 741) that would allow abortion until viability. The Democrats, who are a superminority in the Legislature, admitted they don't have the votes to pass them but said they hope the bills will invite Republican colleagues 'to have this very important conversation.' 'This is an issue that has always transcended party line, despite the attitude of the Legislature,' said state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. Last fall, Amendment 4, which would have enshrined abortion rights in the Florida Constitution, failed with 57% of the vote. In Florida, a ballot initiative needs 60% to pass. Before the election, Gov. Ron DeSantis used millions in taxpayer dollars in a bid to doom Amendment 4 and Amendment 3, which would have legalized recreational marijuana. But 57%, or over 6 million votes, was enough for abortion rights advocates to call upon the Legislature to pay attention to the results and repeal the six-week abortion ban. Last fall, however, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said he would not change the law. "I support our Heartbeat Protection Act because I believe that every life was created by God, and every human being is valuable," he said. "My constituents in District 27 share that view. They expect me to bring their voices to Tallahassee, so again, I would be a 'no'.' House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, also said he backed the result of Amendment 4: 'Amendments to the constitution should be issues that the vast majority of Floridians can unite behind. Amendment 4 failed the threshold of meeting that high standard,' he said in a statement. Democratic leaders said they are worried that information on abortion and maternal mortality isn't being released or reported. The maternal mortality review committee has not published a review in years, even since before the abortion ban took effect, Eskamani said. Driskell added: 'The six week abortion ban is causing confusion; it's causing harm to women. It's causing doctors to not be able to practice as they were trained to do, and it's absolutely resulting in unhealthy outcomes for Florida's families.' Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@ This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Democrats in Florida try again to repeal state's 6-week abortion ban
