MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday convened for the 11th day of its 2021 regular session.
The day largely consisted of committee activity, although there was significant floor action as well.
Here is a rundown of the day’s proceedings:
Alabama Senate
Perhaps the most watched Senate committee meeting on Wednesday was Health at noon.
The committee gave a favorable report on an 8-3 vote to Sen. Jim McClendon’s (R-Springville) SB 240 as amended, which would drastically alter how the state’s Department of Public Health is structured, overseen and managed. This would include a cabinet-level secretary being appointed by the governor instead of a state health officer being appointed by the State Board of Health.
Health also unanimously advanced SB 267; sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), this bill would bar municipalities from adopting and enforcing ordinances to mandate vaccinations. SB 267 would provide that if a specific immunization is ever required by state law, exemptions would provided for individuals who oppose immunization based on religious beliefs or “otherwise sincerely held personal beliefs,” as well as for those with certain relevant medical conditions. Exemptions could be overridden during an epidemic upon the request of the Board of Medical Examiners and joint approval by the Senate president pro tem and the speaker of the House.
The biggest news of the day came on the Senate floor. The body passed SB 215, which you can read about here.
View the Senate’s full floor activity here.
Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) was sworn into office on Wednesday as well.
Alabama House
The House had a committee schedule filled with controversial and otherwise hot-button bills on Wednesday.
This included Constitution, Campaigns and Elections in the morning, which you can read about here.
Judiciary was another sight to behold on the day, underscored by Rep. Juandalynn Givan’s (D-Birmingham) HB 8 going down — and, afterwards, the sponsor accusing all the opponents of her bill of being “racist.”
In less partisan news, the General Fund budget bill as substituted advanced from Ways and Means General Fund. A spreadsheet is available for the sub here. The same committee also approved a 2% pay raise for state employees, HB 320, by Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D-Hayneville).
On the floor, the House mainly handled housekeeping items.
View the lower chamber’s full activity from the day here.
Looking ahead
Both chambers will meet for the 12th day of the session on Thursday.
The Senate will gavel in at 9:30 a.m., while the House will get in at noon.
Before the upper chamber convenes, Senate Tourism will meet to consider Orr’s SB 287, his traditional bill to get ABC out of the retail sale of alcohol in Alabama. Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper), Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) and Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) are among the cosponsors.
Downstairs, House Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 10:00 a.m.; on the agenda is Rep. Terri Collins’ (R-Decatur) HB 437, a bill to allow the direct shipment of wine to homes.
The House will take up two special order calendars on the day; the first is the package of military bills that originated in the Senate and is a priority among leaders in both chambers. The second calendar consists of items including HB 404, SB 126 and HB 246.
SB 126, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia) and carried in the House by Rep. Gil Isbell (R-Gadsden), would legalize and regulate the home delivery of sealed alcoholic beverages from restaurants, grocery stores, breweries and other licensed retail stores.
Sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika), HB 246 would legalize yoga being offered in public K-12 schools.
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
