Alabama legislative preview: April 4 – April 8, 2016
Legislators return to Montgomery this week after their spring break, with the House of Representatives convening at 1 p.m. and the Senate an hour later Tuesday. In the Senate, lawmakers are slated to take up SB342 from Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile), which would make the transmission of an explicit message a Class A misdemeanor. The body will also take up SB347 from Sen. Paul Bussman (R-Cullman), which would legalize the manufacturing of industrial hemp in the state. The Senate will also take up SB14 from Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), which would allow citizens to carry a pistol in a vehicle without a permit. Over in the House, lawmakers will take up two alcohol-related bills: HB46 from Rep. Alan Boothe (R-Troy) would allow Alabama distilleries to sell their product for off-premise consumption and HB83 from Rep. David Faulkner (R-Birmingham) would allow state wineries to establish an off-site tasting room. On Wednesday, committee hearings will get underway. At 1 p.m. in room 325 of the state house, the Senate Judiciary Committee will take up the grandparent’s visitation rights bill, HB334 from Rep. Mike Jones (R-Andalusia), as well as HB115 from Rep. Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville), which would decriminalize possession of the marijuana-based, seizure-reducing medication CBD oil. At 1:30 p.m in room 727 at the state house, the Senate Rules Committee will take up SB97 from Sen Gerald Dial (R-Lineville), which would allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed on state property and at public schools. At 9 a.m. in room 429 of the state house, the House Health Committee will take up HB183 from Rep. Kerry Rich (R-Guntersville), which would require abortion providers to conduct a sonogram before providing an abortion. At 1:30 p.m. in room 418 of the state house, the House Committee on Education Policy will take up HB299 from Rep. Ed Henry (R-Decatur), which would prohibit local school boards from adopting or enforcing “zero tolerance” policies regarding drugs, alcohol, weapons or physical harm to another person. The bill would also require that the definition of firearm be “narrowly construed.”
State legislative agenda preview: Feb. 29 – March 4, 2016
The Alabama Senate and House of Representatives will convene at 2 p.m. Tuesday for the fifth week of this year’s Legislative Session. Before the session gets underway, the Senate Committee on Fiscal responsibility and Economic Development will meet to discuss HB 37 from Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Birmingham), which will add Alabama’s status as a “Right-to-Work” state in the constitution. The legislation has already cleared the House. Committee hearings will go into full force on Wednesday, with Senate Committee on Tourism and Marketing meeting to discuss gaming legislation that would create a state lottery in conjunction with other multistate gaming operations. The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet to take up SB 231 from Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster), a bill that would clarify the definition of “moral turpitude,” crimes that now prohibit a person from regaining voting rights. The House Committee on Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure will take up the Interstate Power Compact, which would authorize states involved to set regulations regarding clean air policies without adhering to rules mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The House Committee on Health will take up HB 183 from Rep. Kerry Rich (R-Guntersville), which would require abortion providers to provide women seeking an abortion with a sonogram – the bill would further provide penalties for failing to do so. The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee will meet to discuss the ambitious prison reform plan from Gov. Robert Bentley and the House Committee on State Government will take up Sen. Gerald Allen‘s (R-Tuscaloosa) controversial Alabama Heritage Preservation Act, which is being carried in the House by Rep. Paul Beckman (R-Prattville). On the floor, the Senate will debate a bill requiring Alabama high school students to pass a civics test to graduate and a bill setting term limits for senators and representatives. The Senate will also take up a bill mandating all car passengers to wear a seat belt, as well as Allen’s Alabama Heritage Preservation Act. The House will debate legislation requiring wireless service providers to give location information to law enforcement upon request and the Fantasy Contest Act, which would regulate fantasy gaming in the state. Also on the House’s agenda is the allowance of a state lottery and the easing of regulations for in-state alcohol makers.
