MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday began its 2021 regular session.
Both chambers gaveled in at noon to begin the third year of the current quadrennium, ahead of Governor Kay Ivey’s State of the State Address being delivered virtually at 6:30 p.m. instead of the usual fanfare inside the State Capitol.
Across the street at the State House, the COVID-19 pandemic also has made its mark; enhanced protocols are in place for both the Senate and House, and digital access to proceedings has been expanded for the session to accommodate restrictions on in-person public access relative to a normal year.
One member of the House tested positive for coronavirus ahead of entering the building on Tuesday and went home following the result. Protocols in place include temperatures being taken at every entrance. Heightened security is also present following the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
Here’s a rundown of the day’s proceedings:
State Senate
Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) formally resigned as pro tem of the upper chamber, leading to the unanimous election of Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper) to fill that role. Reed then resigned his previous post of majority leader, paving the way for Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) to ascend to this position. He was unanimously elected as the next majority leader in December, when the GOP Caucus also unanimously nominated Reed to be pro tem.
The leadership changes were met with bipartisan plaudits on the Senate floor. Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) and Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham), a former pro tem himself, effusively praised Marsh, Reed and Scofield.
Overall, the leaders of both parties outlined that while they can voice sharp differences in political beliefs and policy positions on the floor, they generally disagree agreeably — leaving the floor as friends.
Changes were also made official with Senate committee chairmanships. Former Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) has been replaced by Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) as chair of the Judiciary Committee. Scofield, upon becoming majority leader, has vacated the chair of the Confirmations Committee; Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), the majority floor leader, assumes that important chairmanship. Following Whatley’s move to Judiciary, Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) will lead the Agriculture Committee.
Click here for an updated list of Senate committee assignments.
The Senate met for about 90 minutes on Tuesday in total, which is relatively long for the largely ceremonial opening day of the session. The body formally received nominations that will need to be confirmed by the Senate. One interesting point aside from speeches related to the day’s leadership changes came when Smitherman announced he will on Wednesday give his colleagues a copy of a new study on the diversity of Senate confirmable bodies, such as boards, committees and commissions. Increasing the diversity on these bodies has been a big personal priority for Smitherman, who will often take to the podium to inquire about diversity related matters when the Senate considers confirmations or bills creating new entities. He thanked his colleagues for their recent work to make improvements related to diversity and noted the study will show where more work is needed.
View a live tweet thread from the Senate’s proceedings on Tuesday here.
View the list of bills that received a first reading in the Senate and the resolutions that passed here.
State House
The House on Tuesday met for a shorter time than the Senate and handled purely ceremonial business, as is customary for the opening day of the session.
Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster) was sworn into office following his special election victory in District 49.
After the chamber adjourned for the day, a work session was held by the members of Ways and Means Education regarding two important bills: Chairman Bill Poole’s (R-Tuscaloosa) HB 192 and Vice Chairman Danny Garrett’s (R-Trussville) HB 170.
Cosponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest), HB 170 would codify that individuals, businesses and other entities will not have state income tax liability stemming from federal stimulus monies from the CARES Act of 2020 or subsequent coronavirus relief bills. This aspect of the legislation would be called the Alabama Taxpayer Stimulus Freedom Act of 2021.
HB 170 also contains the would-be Alabama Business Tax Competitiveness Act. The legislation would actually reduce tax liability for Alabamians while at the same time acting as a net revenue increase for the Education Trust Fund, per the bill’s fiscal note. Alabama Legislative Services Agency deputy director Kirk Fulford analyzed the bill and found that the tax reform measures therein would increase ETF receipts by $12.95 million for the current fiscal year and by an estimated $12.75 million for each fiscal year thereafter. Garrett argues the measure will also simplify tax filings for certain businesses while increasing Alabama’s competitiveness relative to other states.
Meanwhile, HB 192 would extend, enhance and modernize tax credits found within both the Alabama Jobs Act and the Growing Alabama Act. Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield presented the bill during the work session, stressing that HB 192 is a crucial piece of legislation that will help recruit new businesses to the state and assist existing businesses in the Yellowhammer State with job-creating expansion projects. The fiscal note can be accessed here.
HB 192 and HB 170 are top priorities of the leadership of both chambers, as well as Governor Kay Ivey. The bills are expected to receive final passage and be on the governor’s desk as soon as next week.
Looking ahead
Wednesday is set to be a busy committee day, and both chambers will also convene as the legislature undertakes two three-day weeks to begin the session. The House opens things up at 9:00 a.m., while the Senate gavels in at 4:00 p.m.
House committee meetings scheduled for the day include Judiciary at 1:45 p.m.; Ways and Means General Fund at 1:30 p.m.; State Government at 10:30 a.m.; and Ways and Means Education at 2:00 p.m. — at which HBs 170 and 192 will be on the agenda.
Senate committee meetings scheduled for the day include Governmental Affairs at 11:00 a.m.; Veterans and Military Affairs at 9:30 a.m.; Confirmations at 2:00 p.m.; Judiciary at 8:30 a.m. — when Sen. Arthur Orr’s (R-Decatur) SB 30 on COVID-19 liability issues will receive a public hearing; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development at 3:00 p.m.; and Finance and Taxation Education at 10:00 a.m. — when Sen. Dan Roberts’ (R-Mountain Brook) SB 98, the Senate version of HB 170, will be on the agenda.
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
