MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday held committee meetings.
Neither chamber convened, so a legislative day was not burned.
Here is a quick rundown of proceedings:
At 9:00 a.m., House Ways and Means Education held a hearing on the ETF budget package. A vote was not taken.
Later in the day, House Health gave a favorable report as substituted to Sen. Arthur Orr’s (R-Decatur) SB 267. The bill would prohibit the issuance of vaccine passports by state and local governmental entities; prohibit governmental entities from requiring an individual to receive an immunization as a condition for government benefits or services; and prohibit businesses from refusing service to an individual based on that individual’s immunization status. The sub adopted by the House committee added that institutions of higher education could not require students or employees “to receive vaccinations that are only available via an emergency utilization authorization by the federal Food and Drug Administration.”
In the same meeting, the committee did not advance Sen. Tom Whatley’s (R-Auburn) SB 97.
During House Education Policy’s meeting in the afternoon, the committee narrowly gave a favorable report to Rep. Charlotte Meadows’ (R-Montgomery) HB 559, related to the Alabama Accountability Act and scholarship granting organizations.
On the Senate side, Judiciary started off the day by giving a favorable report, among others, to HBs 72, 73 and 273.
Looking ahead
The Legislature on Thursday will convene for the 25th day of its 2021 regular session. The Senate gets in at 9:30 a.m., while the House gavels in at 10:00 a.m.
Before then, House Ways and Means Education is expected to vote on the ETF budget package at its 8:30 a.m. meeting.
The House’s special order calendar on the day will feature SB 215, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and carried in the lower chamber by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville). This bill is viewed as a “transformational” piece of legislation aimed at expanding the availability of affordable, high-speed broadband internet service to every Alabamian.
The calendar also includes two important, related bills stemming from policy recommendations made by the Alabama Innovation Commission: HBs 540 and 609, sponsored by Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa) and Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika), respectively.
Another bill to watch in the House will be HB 487 by Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) — the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
