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What Alabamians need to know about the latest activity on Goat Hill — Feb. 10, 2021

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday met for the fourth day of its 2021 regular session.

The House convened at 1:00 p.m. and met for about four hours. The Senate convened at 2:00 p.m. and adjourned by 3:30 p.m.

Both chambers worked through respective special order calendars.

Here is a breakdown of the day’s proceedings:

Alabama Senate

The Senate’s day began with a brief meeting of the Committee on Finance and Taxation Education. Chaired by Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), the committee considered a two-bill agenda of HB 170 and HB 192.

HB 170, among other tax reform measures, would ensure that federal stimulus funds derived from the CARES Act and subsequent coronavirus relief legislation are not subject to state income taxes. The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and its Senate companion bill, SB 98, is sponsored by State Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook). SB 98 was given a favorable report in committee last week, so — given that the bills are identical — HB 170 was immediately given a favorable report on Tuesday.

Sponsored by State Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa), HB 192 would renew and improve job creation incentives found in the Alabama Jobs Act and Growing Alabama Act. Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) is sponsoring a companion bill in the upper chamber and carried HB 192 in committee on Tuesday. The bill was swiftly given a favorable report.

In the only other committee action of the day, the Committee on Governmental Affairs met, with a 17-bill agenda.

There were two bills that stood out during the committee meeting. First, after initially voting to advance SB 71 related to wiretapping in an abstention-laden 4-2 vote, the committee members decided to reconsider and sent the bill back to the president of the Senate for reassignment to the Judiciary Committee.

Then, SB 137 raised some eyebrows, as a few committee members during the meeting pointedly rebutted an erroneous media report regarding that bill. As originally introduced, the bill would have allowed former legislators to stay on the state health insurance plan for up to five years after their term ended; current law allows that to occur up to three years after the term’s expiration. The bill sponsor, State Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville), emphasized that legislators and former legislators alike must pay to be on state health insurance, just like a normal insurance plan. State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) underscored that the state health insurance plan features relatively high premiums, in her experience. After these important clarifications, however, Shelnutt introduced an amendment to completely end the option of former state legislators being able to stay on state health insurance following their terms. The amendment was adopted, so the bill as amended is now essentially the opposite of what it was when introduced. SB 137 as amended was given a favorable report.

See a list of the other bills that advanced from the GA committee here.

After the upper chamber gaveled in, State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) took to the floor to recognize the daily honoree for Black History Month, the late Joseph Lowry. As underlined by State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville), Lowry was a native of the Rocket City. Smitherman outlined Lowry’s storied civil rights legacy. Smitherman also noted that Lowry, the co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was a fellow Alpha Phi Alpha brother.

In addition to moving through most of the day’s special order calendar (all items besides SB 79 and SB 126, the alcohol delivery bill), SB 73 related to athletic trainers was called up by the chair and subsequently passed 23-6.

After adjournment, but with the journal still open, State Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) introduced his long-awaited comprehensive gaming bill, as well as a separate broadband bill.

View the full list of the Senate’s floor activity from the day here.

Alabama House

For an article on what the House handled on Tuesday, click here.

View the full list of the House’s floor activity from the day here.

Looking ahead

Wednesday will be a hectic committee day, and both chambers will also meet for the fifth legislative day of the 2021 regular session.

The list of Senate committee meetings and agendas can be accessed here, and the House committee meetings and agendas can be found here.

First up of note, Senate Judiciary will meet at 8:30 a.m. On the lengthy agenda is Orr’s SB 113, which would ensure facial recognition or the result of other artificial intelligence technology is not the only basis for an arrest.

All eyes will be on the Senate Tourism Committee at 10:00 a.m., when SB 214 and SB 215 are on the agenda; these bills are Marsh’s on gaming and broadband, respectively. Additionally, State Sen. Jabo Waggoner’s (R-Vestavia) SB 138, allowing the direct shipment of wines to Alabama homes, will be considered by the same committee.

At noon, the Senate Health Committee — for the second consecutive year — will consider the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, SB 10 by Shelnutt. The bill would generally prohibit gender change therapy for minors.

Next, the Senate Education Policy Committee at 1:30 p.m. will take up State Sen. Gerald Allen’s (R-Tuscaloosa) SB 12, which would propose a constitutional amendment mandating the national anthem be played in public school classrooms and at school sporting events.

On the House side, Orr’s and State Rep. Rod Scott’s (D-Fairfield) small cell bills related to 5G infrastructure deployment will be considered at 8:30 a.m. by the Urban and Rural Development Committee.

At 1:30 p.m., House Education Policy’s agenda includes State Rep. Pebblin Warren’s (D-Tuskegee) bill to mandate the completion of kindergarten before students can enter the first grade.

Finally, House Judiciary at 1:45 p.m. will consider a wide array of bills, including Orr’s SB 30. This “safe harbor” bill would provide limited liability protections to businesses, health care providers and other entities against civil lawsuits related to COVID-19.

The committee, among several other important items, will also take up the House version of the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, sponsored by State Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy).

The House will convene at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, while the Senate will gavel in at 4:00 p.m.

The most watched floor action is set to be the Senate taking up HBs 170 and 192, which are in line for final passage.

Livestreams of legislative proceedings can be viewed on the legislature’s website here.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

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