Not So Special Order

Below is a copy of the special order calendar for the House next week. This is a not-so special order because if you have a bill of interest located on this calendar after the first bill you can pretty much be sure that we will never get to it. The first bill on the calendar is HB 116 by Rep. Knight. This is the bill to remove sales taxes on groceries. There are a couple of different versions of this legislation floating around but Rep. Knight has long championed this issue. Rep. Knight’s bill would remove the state sales tax on groceries in Alabama and phase out the deduction a taxpayer can take for federal income taxes they paid. The biggest question is whether or not this bill will get BIR votes necessary to go forward. If it does, and I think it will be very close, then most of Tuesday will be spent debating this legislation. If the bill does not receive the necessary votes for the BIR then I would imagine the rest of the day (and most likely days ahead) will be spent retaliating against those who did not support the bill. Either way it promises to slow things down considerably in the House.

Special Order Calendar for Tuesday:

Representative Knight:

HB116

Federal income tax deduction eliminated from Alabama gross income, state sales tax on food removed, individual income tax standard deductions, personal exemptions, and dependent exemptions, increased, const. amend.

Representative Fields:

HB611

Code of Alabama 1975, distribution to members of Legislature and Lieutenant Governor and other recipients upon request, notification process, Sec. 41-21-1 am’d.; Sec. 41-21-2 repealed

Representative Black:

HB395

Criminal sentencing, voluntary sentencing standards, modified as adopted by Sentencing Commission on January 16, 2009

Representative Black:

HB396

Criminal sentencing, voluntary truth-in-sentencing standards, implementation delayed until 2011, Secs. 12-25-32, 12-25-34, 12-25-36 am’d.

Representative Fields:

HB595

Municipalities, may not impose certain fees and charges regarding granting of consent to public utilities to use public streets and places, Sec. 11-49-1 am’d.

Representative Wood:

HB590

McClellan Development Authority, established, members, duties, purpose, powers, authority to develop and convey property that formerly comprised Fort McClellan

Representative Todd:

HB131

Commission to Reduce Poverty, established, members, duties, appropriation

Representative Buskey:

HB538

Prescription drugs, certain health care facilities authorized to fill certain prescriptions at one location and deliver medication to clinics for patient pick-up, Sec. 34-23-70 am’d.

Representative Payne:

HB578

Postsecondary education, two-year and four-year institutions of higher education, tuition and fees waived for recipients of Purple Heart under certain conditions

Representative McDaniel:

HB314

Unemployment compensation, appropriation from certain federal funds for administrative purposes, Sec. 25-4-72 am’d.; Act 2008-500, 2008 Reg. Sess. am’d.

Representative Hill:

HB303

Redemption of property sold for delinquent ad valorem taxes, subsequent purchases, procedure altered, Secs. 40-10-19, 40-10-29, 40-10-75, 40-10-76, 40-10-77, 40-10-78, 40-10-82, 40-10-83, 40-10-120, 40-10-122, 40-10-128 am’d.

Representative Morrow:

HB369

Heavy Equipment Dealer Act, established, transactions between manufacturers and distributors and their dealers, regulated, penalties

Representative Gipson:

HB274

Alabama Disaster Recovery Program and Fund, established to assist counties and municipalities with disaster recovery, committee to administer

Representative Thigpen:

HB378

Motor vehicles, used motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle wholesaler, licensure and regulation, additional training required for new applicants, Revenue Department to enforce, Secs. 40-12-390, 40-12-391 am’d.

Representative Irons:

HB312

Electronic Security Board of Licensure, alarm system installers, additional classification established for central station, closed circuit television system, and electronic access system, exemption for general contractors, electricians, and homebuilders, further provided, Secs. 34-1A-1, 34-1A-4, 34-1A-6 am’d.

Senator Denton – Rep. Johnson:

SB89

Health Department, health care facilities, statewide collection and reporting of patient infection data, Health Care Data Advisory Council established, subject to Sunset Law, Mike Denton Infection Reporting Act

Senator Means – Rep. Hill:

SB114

State employees, merit system employees, layoffs, conditions, Sec. 36-26-26 am’d.