What passed in the Alabama Legislature: March 5-7, 2024

Members of the Alabama House of Representatives gather before a session on Feb. 20, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week.

Tuesday, March 5

House

HB 170, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, alters the boundary lines and corporate limits of the Town of Jackson’s Gap in Tallapoosa County. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 231, sponsored by Rep. Ivan Smith, R- Clanton, authorizes the Chilton County sheriff to establish procedures for using a credit card or debit card to make purchases. The bill passed 12-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 252, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R- Killen, establishes a permit fee to carry a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on or about the person in Lauderdale County. The bill passed 8-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 138, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, would make a supplemental appropriation of $98 million from the American Rescue Plan Act – State Small Business Credit Initiative Fund to the Alabama Innovation Corporation or other entity so designated by the Department of Finance. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 176, sponsored by Rep. James Lomax, R-Huntsville, bans cities and counties from enacting laws, regulations or ordinances on advanced air mobility and directs the Alabama Department of Transportation to develop a statewide plan to include vertiports, electric aviation charging, and the infrastructure needs of other advances in aviation technology. The bill passed 102-0, and it goes to the Senate.

HB 196, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, would authorize the Land Commissioner to sell certain bid-in-land owned by the state by public auction in certain circumstances. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 173, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R- Helena, prohibits the use of the three-cueing system of educational instruction in the curriculum. The bill passed 92-2. It goes to the Senate.

Senate

SB12, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, removes certain conditions for a retired elected official receiving benefits from the Teachers’ Retirement System or Employees’ Retirement Systems to serve in another elected position to maintain benefits and full compensation. It passed 32-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB31, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, moves the administration of the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan program to the executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, among other changes. It passed 23-5. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB95, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, makes it illegal for people under 21 to possess, use, purchase or transport an electronic battery-powered device capable of dispensing substances to individuals in the form of vapor. It passed 31-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB32, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, removes a provision that a case must be assigned to the district’s attorney restitution recovery division for when someone’s pension, annuity or retirement allowance benefits are subject to some recovery actions. A vote total was not immediately available on Friday. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB72, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, prevents the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama from revoking, susping, failing to renew, or taking action against a physician’s license for recommending or prescribing an off-label medical treatment, unless it presents a threat of serious harm. It passed 31-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB114, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, continues the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board until Oct. 1 2028. A vote total was not immediately available on Friday. It goes to the House of Representatives.

Wednesday, March 6

Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, watches the Alabama House of Representatives debate a gambling package on Feb. 15, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The House approved a constitutional amendment that would create a state lottery and authorize casino gambling and sports wagering. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

House

SB 159, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, provides civil and criminal immunity to in vitro fertilization providers and patients, as well as criminal and limited civil immunity to manufactures of goods related to IVF services. The bill passed the House 81-12. It went to the Senate for concurrence.

Senate

HB129, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, creates a program to allocate up to $7,000 to qualifying students for certain non-public education-related expenses, including private school tuition. The bill passed 23-9. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill Thursday.

SB 159, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, provides civil and criminal immunity to in vitro fertilization providers and patients, as well as criminal and limited civil immunity to manufactures of goods related to IVF services. The Senate concurred with House changes 29-1. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill that evening.

Thursday, March 7

Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, asks a question during a debate on an airport authority bill on Feb. 20, 2024 in the Alabama House of Representatives at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

House

HB 175, sponsored by Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, authorizes Tuscaloosa to increase property tax for public school purposes, subject to approval in a special election. The bill passed 18-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 190, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R- Vestavia Hills, identifies the Personnel Board of Jefferson County as the civil service system of Jefferson County and clarifies designated beneficiaries. The bill passed 25-0. It goes to the Senate.

SB 48, sponsored by Sen. Greg Reed, R- Jasper, requires the posting of classroom curricula on a school website and allows parents or guardians to request information on instructional and supplemental materials used in the classroom. The bill passed 99-3. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence after House changes.

SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R- Cullman, makes it illegal for someone to knowingly provide an absentee ballot application with pre-filled information, with exceptions for emergency medical care. It would also make it a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, to provide or receive assistance for help with voting. The bill passed 75-28. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence after House changes.

SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, bans the public funding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and leaves teachers or employees who use “divisive concepts” subject to potential termination. The bill passed 75-28. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence after House changes.

HB 253, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R- Hollinger’s Island, makes the Alabama State Port Authority is a body corporate with the ability to employ non-merit system employees. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 194, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R- Killen, exempts purchases made by volunteer fire departments and rescue squads from the requirements of the state procurement code and subjects them to local competitive bid law requirements. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 95, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R- Wetumpka, authorizes full-time students to complete required state required assessments through closed browser remote testing. The bill passed 99-2. It goes to the Senate.

Senate

HB151, sponsored by Rep, Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, which proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize and enforce some forms of gambling in the state. It passed 22-11. It returns to the House of Representatives with changes.

HB152, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, which is the enabling legislation to create the Alabama Gaming Commission and outlined legalization under HB151, if it passes on the ballot. The bill passed 22-11. It returns to the House of Representatives with changes.

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