MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday convened for the 17th day of its 2021 regular session.
This was the first day after the legislature’s one-week spring break.
The House gaveled in at 1:00 p.m., while the Senate got in at 2:00 p.m.
The upper chamber’s planned special order calendar was waylaid by separate unrelated grievances by a few senators. The first bill on the calendar, SB 325, eventually passed as amended after more than three hours of delay tactics. The Senate then adjourned for the day.
View the Senate’s full daily activity here.
The House, on the other hand, worked through a chunk of its special order calendar. View a tweet thread on that floor action here and view the lower chamber’s daily activity log here.
Looking ahead
Wednesday is set to be a busy committee day in both chambers, should potential severe weather conditions in the afternoon not interfere. Neither chamber will gavel in, so a legislative day will not be burned.
The Senate’s committee schedule kicks off with Judiciary at 8:30 a.m. On that agenda includes a public hearing on SB 165, Sen. Arthur Orr’s (R-Decatur) proposed Alabama Public Records Act. Other bills especially of note slated to be considered include Rep. Mike Holmes’ (R-Wetumpka) HB 2 related to tianeptine and Rep. Jeremy Gray’s (D-Opelika) HB 246 to legalize yoga being offered in public schools.
Senate Education Policy will meet at 9:30 a.m.; the agenda contains HB 391, which is sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle). This bill would require athletes in public schools to compete in athletic competitions based on the gender on their birth certificate. The committee will also take up Rep. Pebblin Warren’s (D-Tuskegee) HB 208, which would mandate kindergarten completion or demonstrating readiness via testing in order for a child to enter the first grade.
At 2:00 p.m., the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry will take up Rep. Danny Crawford’s (R-Athens) HB 458, which would establish the permitted hunting of feral hogs and coyotes at night.
The Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development will then meet at 3:00 p.m. That must-watch agenda includes HB 167 by Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City). This bill was opposed by Democrats in the House and would make it a crime to vote in multiple states in the same election. Also on the docket — and not to be overshadowed — are SBs 338 and 339, both by Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper). The two bills are based on recent recommendations from the Alabama Innovation Commission and are considered major pieces of legislation to advance a 21st century Alabama economy that promotes entrepreneurship.
The House also has a packed committee schedule on Wednesday.
Health will meet at 9:30 a.m. and consider HB 521 by Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). This bill requires health care facilities to allow at least one caregiver or visitor to patients or residents.
As is typical this session, Judiciary at 1:30 p.m. will be a meeting to watch closely. On the agenda is Sen. Tim Melson’s (R-Florence) SB 46 to legalize medical marijuana. Rep. Chris England’s (D-Tuscaloosa) HB 107 is also up for consideration. This bill would repeal the habitual felony offender act and provide for the resentencing of defendants whose sentences were based on the habitual felony offender.
At the same time, House Education Policy will meet and take up Rep. Tommy Hanes’ (R-Bryant) HB 9. This legislation is intended to ban Chinese Confucius Institutes from public school campuses in Alabama, including colleges and universities.
Livestreams are available for certain committee rooms and both chambers here.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
