Statewide 5G bill passes Senate
On Thursday the Alabama Senate approved a bill that set a statewide standard for setting up 5G cellular infrastructure. Sponsored by Decatur-Republican Sen. Arthur Orr, Senate Bill 172 passed with 30-0 vote. Over 25 states including Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas have already passed similar 5G legislation, and other states are looking to make the same jump into 5G this year. “I thought it was imperative for the continued growth of our economy to remain competitive with our neighboring states and not wait any longer to enact 5G legislation,” Orr said. “The economic impact that comes along with this technology is vital as we to increase our commitment and invest in the infrastructure of our state. This bill will pave the way for Alabama to standardize the permitting process for small cell wireless equipment and services.” It is estimated that small cell technology could lead to over $4 billion in investments and over 7,000 jobs per year in Alabama. Senate Bill 172 was approved after a lengthy discussion in the Senate body which included amendments to address current agreements between cities and wireless providers. “I would like to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their support, it is not often that we see agreement across party lines on issues, but I believe this highlights that fact that this is of the upmost importance to Alabama,” Orr added. “I would also like to give a special thanks to Senator Marsh and Senator Givhan who worked between all interested parties and added amendments to ensure that the bill that was voted on was agreed to by everyone involved so that nobody was left out of this crucial piece of legislation.” “5G” stands for 5th generation wireless and is the next generation for high speed wireless cellular networks. Senate Bill 172 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Medical cannabis group begins drafting bill
An Alabama commission considering laws about medical marijuana met at the State House to discuss the draft of a medical marijuana bill that’ll be introduced to the Legislature next year. News outlets report the Medical Marijuana Study Commission met Thursday, the last time they’ll meet before the Dec. 1 filing deadline. Sen. Tim Melson, and commission chair, asked commission members to study the proposal and make any recommended changes. Melson championed a medical marijuana bill last spring. It went through the Alabama Senate but stalled at the House. The bill would create a Medical Cannabis Commission to manage issuing medical cannabis cards to patients. The bill would empower the commission to add or remove qualifying conditions based on scientific evidence.
Alabama republican party opposes appointed school board
The Alabama Republican Party is against a proposal to replace the state’s elected school board with one appointed by the governor. The state party’s executive committee voted Saturday to oppose the constitutional amendment before state voters in March. The decision breaks with Republican Gov. Kay Ivey and Republican Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh who have endorsed an appointed board. The proposed new education commission would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Alabama Senate. The amendment also includes a directive to replace Common Core curriculum standards with new standards. The GOP resolution said they urge people to vote no and “retain our right to elect” school board members. The resolution said they also fear the new standards will lock in Common Core “by a different name.” Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama lottery bill passes Senate
If you’ve ever heard of the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed: Try, try, try again,” then you have a basic understanding for the what’s going on in the Alabama Legislature this week. After years of trying and failing to pass a state lottery, on Thursday, the Alabama Senate moved one step closer to actually making a state lottery a reality. Following hours of debate, the full Alabama Senate narrowly passed a lottery bill, a proposed constitutional amendment, by a 21-12 vote on Thursday afternoon. Because the bill, sponsored by Atmore-Republican, Sen. Greg Albritton, is a proposed constitutional amendment three-fifths of the Senate, 21 of the 35 members, needed to vote in favor of the bill in order for it to pass. The legislation now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives. Should the legislation pass the House, the issue will move to the voters where they will have a chance to decide whether the state should have a state lottery. It’s been 20 years since Alabamians have had a chance to vote on a lottery. Alabama is one of six states without a lottery.
Did your state senator vote for or against the gas tax? Here’s the full list
After weeklong special session, the Alabama State Senate voted 28-6 in favor of Gov. Kay Ivey‘s plan to raise the state’s gas tax by 10 cents as a means to fund infrastructure improvements on Tuesday. Ivey signed the bill into law Tuesday afternoon. Here’s the full list of who voted for and against the gas tax bill: Voted in favor of the gas tax Greg Albritton Gerald Allen Billy Beasley David Burkette Tom Butler Clyde Chambliss Donnie Chesteen Linda Coleman-Madison Chris Elliot Sam Givhan Garlan Gudger Jim Holley Andrew Jones Steve Livingston Del Marsh Tim Melson Arthur Orr Randy Price Greg Reed Sanders-Fortier Clay Scofield David Sessions Bobby Singleton Rodger Smitherman J.T. Waggoner Cam Ward Tom Whatley Jack Williams Voted against the gas tax Will Barfoot Vivian Davis Figures Jim McClendon Dan Roberts Shay Shelnutt Larry Stutts No vote Priscilla Dunn
Alabama Senate overwhelmingly approves Kay Ivey’s 10-cent gas tax hike
Gov. Kay Ivey‘s proposed 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase flew through the Alabama Senate this week on the legislative fast track. The full chamber approved the House-passed version of the Tuesday afternoon, 28-6. Anniston-Republican, Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh released the following statement following the approval of the legislation Over the last ten years we have seen unprecedented growth in Alabama. Median income is up 20%, unemployment is at an all-time low. We have dramatically reduced the size of state government, we have over 6,000 fewer state employees today than we did eight years ago which equates to a 15% reduction. However, in this time, our infrastructure has lagged behind and every one agreed that something needed to be done. This bill was passed the correct way. Over the past year my office alone has held over 30 open meetings with legislators, and all interested stakeholders. All voices were heard and nothing was rushed. I want to thank the body for adopting strict oversight and accountability measures. Because of this, there is no doubt that going forward the money which is supposed to be used for infrastructure will be used for road, bridge and port improvements. As a fiscal conservative, it would have been impossible to support any type of revenue measure in the infrastructure package without the oversight and accountability laid out in this bill. I thank the Senate for their support, Sen. Chambliss and Rep. Poole for their leadership on this issue and Governor Ivey for taking this issue head on. This infrastructure package will drive industry in Alabama for years to come and ensure that we continue the strong economic growth that we have enjoyed over the past few years by making sure that we are competitive on the world stage when it comes to recruiting jobs. The plan’s 10-cent increase will be phased in over the next three years: up 6 cents effective Sept. 1, 2019, up another 2 cents, effective October 1, 2020, and up another 2 cents, effective October 1, 2021. It is estimated that it will raise $320 million a year for road construction and maintenance Ivey is expected to sign the bill into law later today, marking the first time the gas tax has been raised since 1992.
Pay raise for teachers approved by Alabama lawmakers
Alabama lawmakers have approved a 2.5 percent pay raise for teachers and school employees that will cost more than $100 million. The Alabama Senate voted 29-0 Thursday for the pay raise in the education budget for the next fiscal year. The total $6.7 billion budget included a controversial $1.2 million boost to Alabama State University to offset the damage of a finance investigation that found no wrongdoing. It also added $18 million to expand the state’s pre-kindergarten program. Gov. Kay Ivey called for a teacher pay increase in her State of the State speech at the start of the session. The amended bill returns to the House for a final vote. The legislature also approved a 3 percent raise for state employees and a one-time bonus for retirees this year. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama Senate approves General Fund budget, prison funding boost
The Alabama Senate on Tuesday passed a $2 billion FY19 General Fund budget. Senators voted 26 to 2 for the budget that appropriates funds for functions of government, debt service, and capital outlay for fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. Answering Gov. Kay Ivey‘s January request, the budget allocates a $3.2 million increase to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to fund a new class of 30 state troopers. It also provides an $8 million increase for the Department of Mental Health, as well a a $4.7 million increase for the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). “This budget protects the taxpayers of Alabama, while ensuring that the core functions of state government are adequately funded,” said Montrose-Republican and the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Trip Pittman, Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Budget Committee. “We have prioritized targeted increases for state troopers, prisons, and the Department of Public Health, and level-funded nearly every other state department and agency.” The spending plan also sends an additional $51 million to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). The allocation of funds follow U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ruling last year to a federal lawsuit, which declared Alabama’s prison system has failed to provide mental health care to the state’s prison population and is in violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. “Given the severity and urgency of the need for mental-health care explained in this opinion, the proposed relief must be both immediate and long term,”U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson wrote in his 302-page decision. Anniston-Republican and Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh said it’s a good budget that lives within Alabama’s fiscal means without raising taxes. “This is a good general fund budget, we were able to fully fund state agencies, hire new state troopers, provide much needed money to address mental health in our prisons, and pay back debt to the Alabama Trust Fund,” said Marsh. “Although the past few budgets have been lean, through conservative fiscal practices and living within our means we have been able to come out of those years and pass a robust budget without having ever raised new taxes on hard working Alabamians.” The bill now moves to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
Alabama Senate committee OKs state employee pay raise
Thousands of state workers could see pay raises in their futures under a the 2019 General Fund budget a legislative committee approved Wednesday. The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved SB178, which would go into effect Oct. 1, that gives Alabama’s 33,000 state employees a 3 percent cost-of-living increase — the first across-the board increase since 2008. The proposed budget also Provides a total increase of $80 million to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) to help improve staffing and the treatment of mental health in the state’s prison system; Adds $53.8 million to the Alabama Medicaid Agency; Provides funds to hire roughly 30 new state troopers. The spending bill, introduced by Montrose-Republican, State Sen. Trip Pittman now moves to the Senate floor.
Alabama Senate anti-voyeurism bill makes ‘upskirting’ illegal
The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would make it illegal to secretly take video or photos under a person’s clothes — a lewd act sometimes referred to as “upskirting” — without their consent in places where a person should have reasonable expectation of privacy Under existing law, it is a crime to distribute a private image with the intent to harass, threaten, coerce, or intimidate the person depicted. Prattville-Republican state Sen. Clyde Chambliss introduced SB57 to establish the crime of voyeurism in the first and second degree and provide penalties. The bill creates both a first and second degree crime of voyeurism. Under the legislation, it is a first-degree crime of voyeurism — when someone films or photographs the “intimate areas” of another person “for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person.” The bill stipulates that a first-degree crime is a Class C felony. A second-degree crime of voyeurism —when someone films or photographs another person “whether through, under, or around clothing, with the intent to distribute or disseminate the photograph or film, without that person’s knowledge and consent” — would be a Class A misdemeanor. The bill passed the Senate 27 to 0. It now moves to the House of Representatives.
Alabama Senate increases penalties for child sex traffickers
As Human Trafficking Awareness Month comes to a close, Alabama lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday to making a lasting impact in the efforts to stop the horrific and barbaric exploitation. The Alabama State Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that enhances the criminal penalties for those found guilty obstructing the enforcement of the human trafficking laws in Alabama. Sponsored by Alabaster-Republican state Sen. Cam Ward, SB179, is part of the Senate Republicans’ “Fighting for Alabama” 2018 agenda. “This issue is truly one of the most horrific blights on our society, and tragically, most often the victims are children,” Ward said. “Increasing penalties for those who would aid traffickers is a crucial step in ending this monstrous practice. This bill will hold them just as accountable as the traffickers themselves.” The bill would enhance the penalties already in place, increasing the offense to a Class A felony, with a minimum jail sentence of ten years. Under current law, the obstruction of an investigation into child trafficking is only a Class C felony – meaning conviction could result in merely one year in prison. According to the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, the average age of sex trafficking victims is between 11-14 years old. It is estimated that two children are trafficked into sexual exploitation every minute. “There is nothing more important than protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities, our children,” Ward added. “We want to give law enforcement every tool they need to ensure no child is ever harmed in this manner.” While many Alabamians are unaware of its ongoings, sex trafficking is actively happening not only abroad, but also in Alabama. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at least 36 human trafficking cases were reported in the Yellowhammer State in 2017. They also report more than 111 victims of human trafficking in Alabama have called its hotline for help this year.
Ala. Senate gives ridesharing companies a green light to operate statewide
Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft got a green light to operate statewide from the Alabama Senate on Thursday. The body passed SB143, which would create a consistent regulatory framework for ridesharing companies across the state and eliminate the haphazard, confusing patchwork of differing municipal laws and regulations. Instead, ridesharing companies would be placed under the control of the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC), and single permit issued by the PSC would then allow the companies to operate statewide. The bill, sponsored by Greensboro-Democrat state Senator Bobby Singleton received bipartisan support and passed the chamber unanimously. Alabama is one of only six states that lacks statewide ridesharing regulations. If passed, the bill would allow Alabamians from not only the larger cities, but also suburban and rural communities across the state to take advantage of all benefits the ridesharing industry produces.rural communities across the state. “This is a perfect example of a bipartisan bill that works for all Alabamians,” Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed said. “Installing this regulatory framework is going to provide folks all over the state another choice in transportation, ensure safe operation for both drivers and riders, and pave the way for more jobs in the state.” Because of a lack of statewide regulations, ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft operate in only fifteen of the larger cities in Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Daphne, Gardendale, Gulf Shores, Homewood, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Tuscaloosa, Trussville and Vestavia Hills. “This is important to the state of Alabama because ride-sharing is the new trend across the United States. If we pass this legislation, we will be the 45th state in the U.S.,” Singleton remarked. “It’s important for us as a state to keep up with trends. This will allow citizens in the state of Alabama to be employed and it will allow people who don’t have transportation to be able to move around in their cities.” Uber’s public affairs manager Nick Juliano praised Alabama lawmakers for passing the bill. “The Alabama Senate took the first major step today in making sure that people in every corner of our state have access to reliable, affordable transportation,” Juliano said. “By expanding ridesharing services to all of Alabama, this legislation will create thousands of new jobs. We are grateful to members of the Senate for their support of this pro-growth initiative that will make Alabama the 45th state in the nation to adopt a statewide ridesharing law.” SB143 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
