After a Long Week Expect an Even Longer One Ahead

This past week was probably the longest legislative week many of us have had in a long time. Three days in a row on the floor of the House always are. This one was particularly bad due to the three votes in a row on the removal of sales taxes for groceries and the ripple effects of its failure to win the BIR vote. I can never remember a time when a single bill was allowed to be voted on for three times in a row in order to try and secure a victorious outcome. I know I have a couple of bills that may or may not be that popular dealing with ethics reform that cannot even get one vote on the floor of the House. However, as I mentioned in my last blog post, I have no intention of stopping the entire state’s business over this issue.

Rep. John Rogers gave a particularly rousing speech on why the rest of this session is dead because of the Republican position against this bill. At the microphone he publicly stated his personal mission was to filibuster the rest of this session until Republicans could see it in their heart to vote for this bill. Rep. Rogers also took the time to spread word on the House floor that the leadership had worked it already that all Republican bills would be at the bottom of the special order calendar from now on so that he could filibuster us into adjournment before the House gets to these bills. I am not sure how accurate this statement is and although I consider John a friend he has been known to blow things up just a bit. I have no doubt he will filibuster for as long as it takes but I have the House Rules Committee to be very reasonable when it comes to making sure the Special Order Calendar was not used as some political football.

Below is the proposed Special Order Calendar for Tuesday of next week. It starts off where we ended on Thursday with a bill from Rep. Ron Grantland.

Representative Grantland:

HB543

Wastewater onsite management entities, management of privately owned systems, regulation, Secs. 22-25B-1 to 22-25B-13, inclusive, added; Secs. 37-4-1, 40-21-53 am’d.; Secs. 22-25A-1 to 22-25A-10, inclusive, repealed

Representative Coleman:

HB207

Domestic violence fatality review teams established, membership, duties, confidentiality of certain information, immunity from civil and criminal liability, testimony in civil, criminal, or disciplinary proceedings regarding records or information produced or presented to review team prohibited

Representative Newton (C):

HB241

Income tax, Alabama estimated individual and corporate income tax payments to conform to federal system, individual estimated tax payment threshold increased, corporate estimate tax payment threshold decreased, Secs. 40-18-80, 40-18-80.1 am’d.; Secs. 40-18-82, 40-18-83, 40-18-83.1, 40-18-85 repealed

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.

Representative England:

HB59

Criminal charges or convictions for certain felony or misdemeanor offenses, petition for expungement of records authorized under certain conditions, procedures

Representative Page:

HB498

Secondary metals recyclers, certain purchase transactions of copper and other metals, description of purchase to be posted on Internet on website designated by Public Safety Department, Sec. 13A-8-31 am’d.; Act 2007-451, 2007 Reg. Sess. am’d.,

Representative Morrow:

HB369

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

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 Johnson:

HB567

Drugs, prescription, exempt from business license tax based on gross receipts, Sec. 40-23-4.1 am’d.

Representative Beasley:

HB588

Angel House Crime Victims Board and Fund, established to assist families of homicide victims, court costs, increased, Quenette’s Bill

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 Jackson:

HB501

Conservation and Natural Resources Department, commercial bird hunting license, alternate license provided where regular hunting license not required, fees, certain requirements deleted, Secs. 9-11-410, 9-11-412, 9-11-413, 9-11-414, 9-11-417 am’d.; Secs. 9-11-411, 9-11-415, 9-11-416 repealed

Representative Johnson:

HB484

Controlled substances, prescribing by physician assistants, registration certificate required, regulated by State Board of Medical Examiners, Secs. 20-2-60 to 20-2-69, inclusive, added; Secs. 20-2-214, 20-2-217 am’d.

Representative McMillan:

HB35

Estates, Alabama Small Estate Act, summary distribution for small estates, amount increased, notice and time periods, estates subject to act, Secs. 43-2-691, 43-2-692, 43-2-693 am’d.