MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday held committee meetings.
Neither chamber convened, so a legislative day was not burned. The committee schedule was relatively light compared to an average week this session.
Here is a rundown of the day’s proceedings:
Alabama Senate
The Judiciary Committee kicked things off on Wednesday at its normal 8:30 a.m. time slot.
The meeting was highlighted by the committee giving a unanimous favorable report to HB 131. Sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollingers Island), the bill would propose a constitutional amendment to create Aniah’s Law. The committee also unanimously advanced HB 130, the enabling legislation for HB 131. The late Aniah Blanchard’s parents were in attendance for the meeting and visited with Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) while at the State House, as well.
Judiciary also gave a favorable report to, among others, HB 24 as amended. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill (R-Moody), this bill would provide for the resentencing of certain individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses.
Education Policy met at 9:30 a.m. and gave a favorable report to Rep. Terri Collins’ (R-Decatur) HB 407. This would establish the State Seal of Biliteracy. The committee on the day did not advance HB 208, the bill by Rep. Pebblin Warren (D-Tuskegee) related to admission requirements for the first grade.
Health convened at noon, ultimately favorably reporting SB 307 as amended. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), would require health care facilities to allow at least one caregiver or visitor to patients or residents. The amendment adopted by the committee would limit this bill to only applying “during a pandemic related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and any variants or mutation thereof.”
Perhaps the most high profile committee meeting on the day was Tourism, which took up bills relating to a lottery and other gaming. Read more here.
The upper chamber’s final committee meeting on the day was Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, which gave a favorable report to Rep. Wes Kitchens’ (R-Arab) HB 408. This bill would set clear and consistent guidelines for the classification of workers as employees or independent contractors.
Bills given a favorable report on Wednesday will not be in a position for floor consideration until the legislature returns from its spring break.
Alabama House
The House’s committee schedule was certainly less packed than normal, which certainly may have been exacerbated by the combination of severe weather conditions across the state plus the long day for the chamber on Tuesday and another heated day expected to occur on Thursday.
Constitution, Campaigns and Elections getting things kicked off at 9:00 a.m. had promised some fireworks, however the first three bills on the agenda were anticlimactically carried over: HBs 399, 484 and 500.
The committee did give a favorable report to HB 507. Sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), the bill would authorize county commissions to designate additional absentee voting locations in their jurisdictions.
Looking ahead
Thursday will be the 16th day of the 2021 regular session.
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m., considering a nine-bill agenda. That slate includes SB 305, sponsored by Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville). This is the companion bill to HB 167, which received significant debate on the House floor Tuesday.
The upper chamber will convene at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. The Senate is set to consider the Education Trust Fund budget package that advanced from committee on Tuesday. Passage would mean both budgets are out of their respective house of origin ahead of the legislative spring break.
The House will gavel in at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday and will work off of a special order calendar that features multiple controversial bills: HBs 391, 237, 445, 128, 285, 97 and 411.
Sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle), HB 391 would mandate that public school students can only compete in athletic competitions aligning with the gender on their birth certificates.
HB 237, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg), is the “born-alive” anti-infanticide bill that has been introduced now for three consecutive sessions.
Of course, HB 445 is Rep. Allen Treadaway’s (R-Morris) anti-riot bill that has already drawn significant public attention and opposition from Democrats in the legislature.
Rep. Wes Allen’s (R-Troy) HB 285 would ban curbside voting in the state of Alabama. The practice is not currently provided for by state law but is also not explicitly prohibited. This led to legal turmoil this past election cycle.
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
