The Alabama Legislature met on the fourth, fifth, and sixth days of the second week of the 2024 Regular Session. Fifteen committee meetings were held throughout the week.

weekdays

The House passed a comprehensive gaming bill that would allow casino gambling, sports betting, and state lotteries. HB151, by Representative Chris Blackshear, is a constitutional amendment passed by referendum to charter corporations with HB152, also detailed by Representative Chris Blackshear. The bill will now be considered in the Senate. If approved by the people, the constitutional amendment would regulate limited forms of gaming, along with provisions banning current illegal gaming in the state.

The Senate spent most of its time debating SB1, by Sen. Garland Gudger to ban certain assistance in producing absentee ballots, the intention of county and city library commissioners to appoint officials by Sen. Chris Elliott. passed SB10 and SB77 to provide for service pursuant to the Act. The composition of the Board of Directors of the Department of Archives and History will be revised by Senator Chris Elliott.

This week's notable floor action

house floor

HB151 by Representative Blackshear: Official state lottery, casino-style games, limited sports betting, traditional lottery; and traditional paper bingo (modified version).

HB152 by Rep. Blackshear: Establishes the Alabama Gaming Commission to define the various forms of gambling permitted under the bill and to provide for a variety of wagers. Collect licenses, fees, and taxes and establish the Alabama Lottery Corporation. Providing for the creation and operation of state lotteries; Distribution of various fees and taxes collected (revised).

senate chamber

SB1 by Sen. Gudger: Prohibits ordering, requesting, collecting, prefilling, obtaining, or delivering absentee ballot applications or absentee ballots. To provide for voter ballots and exceptions in certain circumstances (as replaced and modified).

SB10 by Senator Elliott: Provides that library board members shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities (as amended).

SB23 by Sen. Williams: Prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of meat made from cultured animal cells (as a substitute).

SB63 by Sen. Carnley: Provides that a county commission shall not be liable or party to a lawsuit challenging the expenditure or use of public funds if: Local law provides that public funds may be expended or used for the following purposes: discretion of a public official.

SB77 by Senator Elliott: Revises the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Public Records (as amended).

SB83 by Sen. Smitherman: Provides for payment of fees to indigent defense attorneys based on the level of the original criminal charge and revise the total amount. Limits on fees for indigent defense attorneys (revised).

This week's notable committee activities

House committee

HB66 by Rep. Brown: Requires food service establishments to notify consumers of the country of origin of seafood by using the correct common name of the seafood. Inform consumers about fish or shrimp. Farm-raised or wild (there will be a public hearing but no vote in the House port, Waterways and Intermodal Transportation Commission).

HB87 by Rep. Brown: Authorizes the airport authority to establish necessary legal entities or ventures and conduct all activities related to airport operations. Ports and waterways necessary for the operation of the authorities; Intermodal Transportation Commission).

HB93 by Rep. Stubbs: Provides that the county commission shall not be liable or party to a lawsuit challenging the expenditure or use of public funds if: Local law provides that public funds may be expended or used for the following purposes: Discretion of a single public official (county and local government lower house) government committee).

HB121 by Rep. Stubbs: Provides that supervisors may not take adverse employment action against county or local government employees who report violations. Submit laws or regulations to public bodies (county and municipal lower houses) government committee).

HB128 by Councilman Guidry: Defines the term “place of worship” and prohibits the City's Historic Preservation Commission from designating places of worship. Grant permits to historic properties or historic districts, places of worship Voluntarily agree to be designated as a historic property or landmark It has jurisdiction over the district and licenses former places of worship. consent to designation as a historic property or historic district; Designation (House Committee on Urban and Rural Development).

senate committee

SB53 by Sen. Orr: Eliminates the work qualification currently required for individuals under the age of 16 (Senate Committee on Children and Youth Health).

SB60 by Sen. Orr: Provides for the allocation of funds to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to promote the growth of the state system. coordination of inland ports and transit facilities; Inland waterway transportation system (public hearings but no votes) Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee).

SB61 by Senator Orr: Enacts the CHOOSE Act, which establishes a refundable earned income tax credit to offset the cost of qualified education expenses; Ministry of Revenue establishes education savings account Parents have access to funds to guide the education of participants Establish program requirements for students and parents Participating students, educational service providers, and participants Schools (public hearing held, but no vote in Senate Finance and Taxation) Board of education).

SB62 by Sen. Orr: Exempting sales and use taxes on purchases of certain baby products, baby formula, maternity clothing, and menstrual products. Products (Senate Committee on Finance, Taxation, and Education).

SB64 by Sen. Stutz: Allows off-road vehicles to operate on certain county roads and allows other off-road vehicles to operate on certain county roads if the vehicle meets certain conditions. Vehicles crossing county roads under certain conditions (public hearing) But no votes in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Committee).

Notable introductions

House

HB162 by Rep. Lomax: Caps the increase in Class IV property tax assessments under certain conditions (allocated to the House Revenue General Fund). Committee).

HB165 by Rep. Brown: Require written consent of a parent or legal guardian if a minor is to be vaccinated (assigned to the House Judiciary Committee).

HB167 by Representative Sells: Requires manufacturers of certain internet-enabled devices manufactured after January 1, 2025 to Activated if user is a minor and only allows users with password Disable or re-enable filters (assigned to the House Judiciary) Committee).

HB169 by Rep. Woods: Requires each public K-12 school to post the curriculum for each class on the school's website and allow parents to: Examine the teaching materials and supplementary materials used in the classroom Upon request (assigned to the House Committee on Education Policy).

HB171 by Rep. Sells: Exempts certain aircraft from ad valorem taxes (assigned to the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee).

HB180 by Rep. Shirley: Increases compensation for Mobile County election workers and authorizes the appointment and compensation of computer technicians. Assistant (assigned to Mobile County Legislative Committee).

HB181 by Rep. Lipscomb: Creates the Alabama Water Task Force to review and address issues related to Alabama's water resources (Houseport, Waterways and Intermodal Transportation Commission).

HB183 by Rep. Lipscomb: Prohibits transportation of homeless persons by states and state political branches, and their law enforcement officers, agents, and employees. Move the individual to another city or county within the state unless For lawful purposes (assigned to the public security of the home and the motherland) Security Committee).

HB186 by Rep. Pettus: Prohibits political parties from disqualifying individuals from running for office based solely on receipt of contributions from certain individuals. An individual or political action committee (assigned to the House Constitution, Campaign and Elections Committee).

senate

SB87 by Sen. Allen: A constitutional amendment that would require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each K-12 public school to: broadcast or sanction the performance of stars and stripes in At least once a week during class time (assigned to Senate Education) Policy Committee).

SB90 by Sen. Sessions: Requires food service establishments to notify consumers of the country of origin of seafood products by using the correct common name of the seafood product. Inform consumers about fish or shrimp. Farm-raised or wild (Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Commission).

SB91 by Sen. Coleman Madison: Provides for imposing additional license taxes and registration fees on motor vehicles and distributing the proceeds to Alabamians. Transportation Trust Fund (appropriated to Senate Finance and Taxation) general fund).

SB92 by Sen. Weaver: Defines men, women, boys, girls, fathers, mothers, men, women, and sex for purposes of state law and provides policy regarding these distinctions. The national and local governments may establish such regulations. a unitary space or environment separated under certain circumstances, and Request states or political departments to collect relevant vital statistics Set gender as male or female for specific purposes to identify each person as male or female at birth (assigned to Senate County; City Government Committee).

SB94 by Senator Carnley: Exempts gross proceeds from the sale of honeybees and their byproducts from state sales and use taxes (appropriated to Senate Finance and Senate). Taxation Education Committee).

SB95 Numbers by Senator: Specifies that an individual under the age of 21 commits an offense for possession of an electronic nicotine delivery system, etc. A battery-powered electronic device that can generate steam If inhaled, regardless of the specific e-liquid or other substance, If present, what was contained in the device or otherwise used (as assigned to the Senate) Judiciary Committee).

SB97 by Sen. Coleman Madison: Prohibits an individual from storing a loaded firearm if a reasonable individual would know that the firearm could be accessed by a minor. Violation of this prohibition imposes criminal penalties (as assigned) Senate Judiciary Committee).

SB98 by Senator Orr: Requires periodic inspections of public K-12 school facilities to establish a school safety program within the state Department of Education. Provide standards for school safety inspections (assigned (To the Senate Education Policy Committee).

SB110 by Senator Sessions: Limits the assessed value of certain real property for ad valorem tax purposes, with exceptions (assigned to Senate Finance and Taxation) General Fund Committee).