MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Thursday will convene for the 27th day of its 2021 regular session.
Both chambers are scheduled to gavel in at 10:00 a.m. and will undertake special order calendars.
This comes after a committee day on Wednesday that saw the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development give favorable reports to HBs 540 and 609, which stem from recommendations by the Alabama Innovation Commission.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s proceedings, the Senate is set to take up two special order calendars if all goes to plan.
The first Senate calendar is comprised of the General Fund budget package, culminating with the budget bill itself.
The second calendar contains 23 bills, covering a range of topics. This includes HB 437, the direct wine shipment bill sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) and Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills). Another bill to watch is HB 220 by House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville); this measure is aimed at saving taxpayers significant money while aiding workforce development and educational opportunities. House Speaker Pro Tem Victor Gaston’s (R-Mobile) HB 281 to extend the Alabama Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is also on the calendar.
The upper chamber will also be in a position to concur or nonconcur on several bills recently passed by the House, including the Education Trust Fund budget bill and SB 215 — the Connect Alabama Act. Those decisions could also wait until next week.
The House will take up a single special order calendar on Thursday. Unlike previously anticipated, the medical marijuana bill will not be on the floor yet, but is still expected to get consideration before the legislature adjourns sine die.
Thursday’s House calendar can be accessed here.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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