The Alabama Legislature completed its ninth legislative day last Thursday, as several bills moved through that could potentially impact economic development efforts in the state.

HB2 by Representative Treadaway – Penalties for Rioting: This bill would increase the penalties for the crime of assault on first responders during civil unrest and mandate jail time. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee by a 10-4 vote.
HB82 by Representative Garrett, SB189 by Senator Gudger – Small Business Relief and Revitalization Act: This bill would allow businesses to exempt $40,000 of the market value of business personal property from ad valorem tax levied by the state. It would also ensure that relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) received by qualifying disadvantaged farmers is exempt from state income tax. This passed in the House by a vote of 99-0.
HB272 by Representative Stringer – Firearms Permit Bill: This bill would repeal pistol permits for concealed carry. Nearly every police and sheriff's department in the state is opposed to this legislation. There was a public hearing on the bill and the committee is scheduled to vote on the bill next week.
SB54 by Senator Allen – Memorial Preservation Act: This bill would revise penalties for moving or renaming monuments that are 40 years or older and would authorize the Attorney General to commence civil actions.
SB57 by Senator Orr – Tax Incentives Bill: This bill would change the reporting date requirements of state agencies that administer economic tax incentives and establish sunset provisions and reporting guidelines for economic tax incentives. The Alliance, along with other economic development entities in the state, opposes this bill as it 1) will put sunset limits on existing and future tax incentives, 2) may limit or greatly reduce the number of years allowable on tax incentives, and 3) would require a burdensome reporting process on state agencies and possibly local granting authorities.
The Senate passed three bills by Majority Leader Scofield related to broadband. These bills are in response to the current and future ARPA funds being allocated to broadband.
- SB123 creates an Alabama Digital Expansion Division chief.
- SB124 creates minimum service threshold speeds for broadband service grants.
- SB125 allows the state, cities and counties to grant funds designated for broadband infrastructure to private companies.
SB140 by Senator Marsh – Parental Choice Bill: This controversial bill would direct money from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund to fund a student’s choice of public school, private school or homeschool. The bill would create Education Savings Accounts that would provide parents access to funds equivalent of the amount the state spends funding each public-school student. This bill was not taken up by the Senate this week.
SB171 by Senator Orr – Education Policy: This bill would not tie the State Department of Education to Common Core standards. It establishes a goal of increasing math proficiency of students from kindergarten to 5th grade. It passed out of Senate Committee and had it’s second reading in its house of origin.

The House of Representative and Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, February 15.