This week at the Alabama Statehouse: May 12-14

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Alabama Statehouse

All eyes will be on the Republican leadership this week as competing solutions to the state’s budget shortfall make their way through the House and Senate:

At 1 p.m. Tuesday the Senate Tourism & Marketing Committee holds a public hearing on Senate Bill 453, Sen. Del Marsh’s proposal to legalize casino-style gambling in Alabama. Marsh is expected to ask the committee to vote on the bill the same day.

At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a House panel on boards and commissions will consider a handful of bills.  Included on the agenda is House Bill 563. Rep. Patricia Todd and Rep. Howard Sanderford sponsored the legislation to ensure that only licensed veterinarians can make medical or surgical decisions on the treatment of animals. The bill also says spay and neuter clinics would be regulated as veterinary facilities. House Bill 14 by Rep. Randall Shedd will also be heard. It makes revisions to the state cosmetology and barbering board by removing the licensing for barbers and changing details related to who can be appointed and for how long to the renamed cosmetology board.

At 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Senate committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development will hear Senate Bill 452 offered by Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, which would change the law for brewpubs to allow allow them to sell beer not just for on-premises but also off-premises consumption.

A slate of proposals to boost tax revenue are expected on the House floor this week. House Republicans unveiled their budget plan last week, including $151 million in tax revenue and a recommendation to accept an offer from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in exchange for exclusive gaming rights. The Times Daily is reporting that the tax measures are likely to fail in a Senate unconvinced of the need to boost revenue.

A full committee meeting schedule can be found here.

Keep checking ALToday.com for updates.