We are now just past the halfway point of the current session of the Alabama Legislature. While there has been a lot accomplished, there is still a lot to do.
Lawmakers deserve praise for passing several pieces of needed legislation. Specifically, a bill that would require mandatory minimum sentences for trafficking of fentanyl and the reform of prison “good time” laws that allowed violent felons out of prison years before their sentence was complete are now law.
At this point, still waiting for debate and final passage are a number of other bills that are being considered by state representatives and senators, which could include the following:
- The potential removal of the 4 percent state grocery tax
- The enhancement of penalties for violent gang activity
- Penalties for shoplifting BY retail theft rings
- Lifting the restriction on pay for retired police officers who serve as school resource officers
- education reform initiatives
All of this legislation is significant, and work by lawmakers to get them passed is happening in the committees. To get them to the governor’s desk, however, will take a lot of work with the sprint to the end of the session since there is so much left to do.
The education and general fund budgets also must be approved by both chambers. With significant budget surpluses this year, there are a lot of eyes watching where state funds are being appropriated. In addition, the decades-long issues of problems with the state’s corrections facility have got to be addressed sooner rather than later. Even with the construction of three new facilities, the ongoing problems have to be addressed to avoid a federal takeover of the system.
There are about fifteen days left in the session. We will see what lawmakers get accomplished before they adjourn for the year.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter @Paul_DeMarco.
