Week in review: House handles business after passing General Fund budget

The Alabama House of Representatives took care of one of its primary duties last week, passing a General Fund budget 105-0 with little debate. But the House didn’t pack up and go home after reaching the milestone; it was a busy week on the House floor. Here’s a look at what else made it though the House last week:

HB279  by Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette, authorizes the Alabama Medicaid Agency to revise reimbursements for nursing facilities under certain circumstances. It passed 104-0.

HB126 by Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette, establishes the Medicaid Emergency Reserve Fund. It passed 101-0.

HB155 by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, would appropriate about $170,000 from the State General Fund to the Coalition Against Domestic Violence for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. It passed 103-0.

HB127 by Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, would appropriate about $89 million from the Children First Trust Fund and additional tobacco settlement funds for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024 to various state agencies. It passed 105-0.

HB154 by Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, would provide a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment raise to state employees. It passed 102-0.

HB320 by Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, changes the name of the Local Government Pistol Permit Revenue Loss Fund to the Sheriffs’ Advancement in Education, Technology, and Training Fund, and it would appropriate $7.5 million to the fund every year for five years beginning October 1, 2023. It passed 100-0.

SB23 by Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, revises the salary of circuit clerks. It passed 101-0.

SB92  by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, extends the amount of time localities can elect to come under an act that provides one-time lump sums for retirees. It passed 104-0.

HB243 by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, changes the postgraduate or residency training requirement to two years of training from three years to qualify for licensure by the Medical Licensure Commission as a physician. It passed 104-0.

HB132 by Ivan Smith, R-Clanton, clarifies that certain agricultural products are excluded from the producer value added agricultural exemption. It passed 100-0.

HB11 by Chris Sells, R-Greenville, amends the licensing law to authorize license number or an Internet address where licensing information can be found to be displayed in all advertising, including in social media or Internet advertising or on any vehicle displaying advertising information. It passed the House 104-0.

HB23 by Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, allows volunteer fire departments and volunteer rescue squads to purchase kitchen equipment and supplies for their stations and provide a tax credit for mileage to firefighters and squad members. It passed 104-0.

HB216 by Rep. Bedsole extends the validity of all motor vehicle license plate designs from 5 years to 10 years. It passed on a 99-1 vote. 

SB28 by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, revises the scope of podiatry. The bill passed 102-2.

HB314 by Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville, allows pharmacists to refill emergency prescriptions in the smallest dispensable packaging. It passed 103-0.

HB133  by Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, establishes the Preceptor Tax Incentive Program to provide an opportunity for students enrolled in certain health professions training programs to train in rural and underserved counties in the state and to address primary care shortages in the state. It passed 104-0.

SB59 by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, prohibits public agencies from releasing or requiring the submission of personal information, including nonprofits a person may support, with exceptions including criminal investigations, campaign finance disclosures and required reporting. It passed 104-0.

HB266 by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, would clarify that while an estate or will contest is removed from the probate court to the circuit court, all subsequent filings regarding the removed matter are required to be filed in the circuit court. It passed 105-0.

SB117 by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, which allows alcohol manufacturers and importers to donate some alcohol to non-profit events. It passed on a 75-0 vote  but goes back to the Senate for possible concurrence.

HB260 by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, would create and provide for the qualifications of a qualifying agent license and to authorize the  Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure to levy and collect administrative fines. It passed 104-0.

HB87 by Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle, would increase the period which the state or a political subdivision of the state must be reimbursed for the training of a new law enforcement officer, certified corrections officer, fire protection personnel or firefighter. It passed 81-0.

HB310 by Rep. Rhett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, would create the Healthier Homes Construction Practices Act to authorize a county or municipality to adopt procedures for the installation and activation of temporary-permanent electricity or temporary-permanent gas under certain conditions. It passed 103-0.

HB311 by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, would specify the circumstances under which the approval of a local government to obtain a permit to construct a new facility or to modify its existing permit is needed by a solid waste management facility. It passed 102-0. 

HB152 by Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, authorizes public institutions of higher education that employ campus police officers to also employ reserve police officers and specifies the qualifications and duties of reserve campus police officers. It passed 102-0.

HB196 by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, extends the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board until October 1, 2024. The House agreed to Senate changes on a 102-0 vote.

HB194 by Rep. Simpson extends the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board until October 1, 2024. The House agreed to Senate changes on a 103-0 vote.

HB205 by Rep. Rafferty extends the Alabama Athletic Commission until October 1, 2027. The House agreed to Senate changes on a 103-0 vote.

HB193 by Rep. Simpson extends the State Licensing Board for General Contractors until October 1, 2024. The House agreed to Senate changes on a 103-0 vote.

HB 244 by Danny Crawford, R-Athens, would provide that counsel appointed to serve as a guardian ad litem for a juvenile in a dependency case may be compensated a maximum fee of $5,000, up from $2,500. It passed 100-0.

HB 276 by Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, would provide that when the office of sheriff is vacant or when certain other circumstances exist, the highest ranking deputy sheriff in the county would serve as acting sheriff. It passed 104-0.

SB 22 by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, which would allow municipalities out of competitive bid law for emergency services under certain conditions. It passed 104-0.

SB 128 by Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville, allows the State Forester to sell excess land. It passed 103-0.

HB 273 by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, would revise the qualifications for an employee and employer to receive the income tax deduction for health insurance premiums paid. It passed 97-1.

HB 235 by Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston, would clarify the definition of “peace officer” to include any officer or employee of the federal government with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for crimes. It passed 104-0.

HB 82 by Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, would make the act of selling, furnishing, giving away, delivering, or distributing a controlled substance and the person to whom the controlled substance is sold, furnished, given, delivered, or distributed dies, that person would be subject to manslaughter charges, a Class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. It passed 88-11.

HB 48 by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, would validate and ratify any municipal annexations prior to May 4, 2011. It passed 102-0.

SB 108 by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, would increase the minimum amounts needed for a competitive bidding project. It passed 105-0.

HB 76 by Rep. Simpson would amend the domestic violence statutes to include  grandparent, step-grandparent, grandchild, step-grandchild and classified as victims. It passed 105-0.

HB 4  by Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, would make the act of requiring employees to be microchipped a Class D Felony, punishable by a sentence of one to five years in prison. A provision allowing the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles to microchip parolees was removed. It passed 104-0.

SB 12 by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, designates the first Friday in May as Alabama Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. It passed 104-0.

HB 160 by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, would rename the National Foundation in the Code of Alabama 1975, to reflect its current name, the March of Dimes Inc. It passed 105-0.

HB163 by Rep. Chip Brown would authorize the use of the federally accepted alternative refrigerants under existing federal law; alternative refrigerants are not included within the currently adopted version of the state building codes. It passed 104-0.

SB 62 by Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, allows the Governor or Legislature to specify the boundaries and time period in a joint resolution or proclamation where unconscionable pricing prohibitions would apply. It passed 96-2.

HB 110 by Rep. Parker Moore would grant the Board of Physical Therapy jurisdiction over physical therapists and physical therapy assistants licensed in other states who have compact privileges to practice in this state. It passed 104-0.

HB 153 by Rep. Treadaway would make it a crime to place an electronic tracking device on the property of another person without the consent of the owner and would provide for penalties. It passed 101-0.

SB 33 by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, would prevent municipalities from setting speed limits on county streets. It passed the House 81-17.