Parnell Urges Final Passage of 2022 Farm Package
With only four days left in the 2022 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell encourages lawmakers to push the 2022 Farm Package across the finish line. Parnell also thanks legislators who've supported the package as well as those who've helped ensure agriculture and forestry programs receive funding in state budgets. Click here or above to watch.
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Sweet Grown Alabama Act Advances In House, Senate
Legislation to help farmers develop new markets for their products unanimously passed the House of Representatives Tuesday, and its companion passed the Senate Wednesday. The Sweet Grown Alabama Act would empower family farms and stimulate local economies by clarifying the inclusion of value-added agricultural products in existing sales tax exemptions.
HB 412 by Rep. Van Smith, R-Billingsley, passed the House 98-0. SB 274 by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, passed the Senate 34-0 and is scheduled for consideration by the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Tuesday. If approved by the committee, the bill would need to be placed on the House calendar for a vote on final passage.
With lawmakers expected to meet four days next week and adjourn for the session Friday, Federation members are urged to thank legislators for their support and encourage final passage of the Sweet Grown Alabama Act and other bills in the 2022 Farm Package.
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Two Farm Package Bills Await Final Action In Senate
Bills clarifying existing law related to county business licenses and grain bins await final passage in the Senate. House versions of both bills were on the Senate's special order calendar Tuesday, but they were not voted on due to delays related to other legislation. The Senate versions were on the calendar Wednesday but stalled when Democratic senators filibustered.
HB 400 by Rep. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, and SB 275 by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, would eliminate inconsistencies and confusion across jurisdictions by clarifying the ad valorem tax exemption for grain bins.
HB 415 by Rep. Gil Isbell, R-Gadsden, and SB 273 by Sen. Tom Butler, R-Madison, would protect family farms by expressly prohibiting the requirement of a county license or fee for operations related to the disposition of the farmer’s products.
Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin encouraged members to talk to their senators over the weekend about making passage of the 2022 Farm Package a priority.
"We appreciate the legislators who have shepherded these bills through the legislative process," Hardin said. "Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, and Senate Rules Chairman Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, worked to get the bills on the Senate calendar twice this week. These bills are not about providing new exemptions or benefits to farmers. They simply ensure the law is enforced consistently across the state. We realize senators have a lot of work left to do in the final four days of the session. That's made more difficult by threat of filibuster. We're asking senators to prioritize these bills to prevent government overreach in the form of unjust taxation and fees."
On Wednesday, five senators voted against the budget isolation resolution (BIR) allowing SB 275 to come up for a vote. SB 275 was then carried over due to the filibuster. Those voting against the BIR were Sens. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham; Vivian Figures, D-Mobile; Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery; Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro; and Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham.
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Gambling Bills Likely Dead For 2022 Regular Session
After failing to garner enough support for passage and with time running out in the 2022 Regular Session, sponsors of gambling packages in the Senate and House of Representatives this week indicated they will not push for votes on the bills.
SB 293 and SB 294 by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, proposed a constitutional amendment to create a statewide lottery and legalize other forms of gambling including casinos, online betting and sports books. HB 501 and HB 502 by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Mobile, would have called for a constitutional referendum on creation of a lottery. Legalization of a lottery (a class 3 game) also would allow the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to expand gambling at their properties, under federal law.
Engagement with legislators by Alabama Farmers Federation members was instrumental in halting movement on the gambling packages. Members are encouraged to thank legislators who committed to not supporting or advancing gambling legislation this session. Members should continue educating their legislators and neighbors about the perils of gambling, as the issue is likely to resurface next legislative session.
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Senate Approves Expanded Education Budget
The Alabama Senate passed an $8.2 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget Thursday. It will now go to the House for concurrence or referral to a conference committee.
The Senate's version of the ETF preserves funding for agriculture and forestry priorities previously approved by the House of Representatives but includes additional funding to support youth 4-H and FFA programs. The bill would allocate $275,000 to help agriscience students take full advantage of career and leadership development opportunities by paying their membership in the FFA. It would also provide $125,000 for a 4-H youth agriculture and animal science specialist within the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin thanked legislators who recognize the value of investing in 4-H and FFA youth development programs.
"We appreciate Chairman Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and the entire Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee for including these items in the budget," Hardin said. "We also thank House Ways and Means Education Chairman Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, and Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, for their support in the House."
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Peanut State Legume Bill Goes To Gov. Kay Ivey
Legislation recognizing the peanut as Alabama's official state legume and honoring the contributions of Dr. George Washington Carver passed the Senate Wednesday. It now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature.
HB 350 by Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, was carried in the Senate by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton. It is supported by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association and received a standing ovation in the House of Representatives earlier this session for honoring Carver.
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General Fund Budget Earns Final Passage, Goes To Governor
The Alabama Legislature this week approved a record $2.7 billion General Fund budget. The measure now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature.
The budget includes funding for all Alabama Farmers Federation priorities including $200,000 for an economic development specialist at the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC). The position is the result of the Federation’s Forest Products Study Committee, which met last year to explore promotion of Alabama forest products, industry recruitment and research.
The Federation thanks Senate Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Greg Albritton, R-Range, and House Ways and Means Education Chairman Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, as well as their committees, for ensuring the needs of Alabama farmers and forest landowners were addressed in the budgets.
Agriculture and forestry appropriations include:
- ADEM / CAFO Program — $575,000
- Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries — $18,070,899
- Alabama Forestry Commission — $12,471,021
- Alabama PALS — $150,000
- Farm to School Program — $300,000
- Forestry Economic Development Specialist — $200,000
- North Alabama Agriplex — $100,000
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program — $81,403
- Resource Conservation and Development Program — $5,856,242
- Soil and Water Conservation Committee — $3,170,396
- Sweet Grown Alabama — $300,000
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Bills In Brief
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Coosa County Forever Wild — HB 463 by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, passed the full House and received a favorable report from the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee this week. It awaits final passage in the Senate. It proposes a local constitutional amendment relating to Coosa County requiring the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to market carbon credits for a portion of Forever Wild Land Trust property located in Coosa County and provide any income from those credits to the general fund of Coosa County.
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Agriculture Commissioner Compensation — SB 319 by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, passed the Senate this week and is scheduled for consideration by the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Tuesday. It would increase the salary for Alabama's Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries from $84,655 to $110,000 annually, beginning with the January 2023 term. Alabama currently has the lowest paid agriculture commissioner in Southeast. The commissioner is the second-lowest paid constitutional officer in Alabama. If the bill is approved, the salary for Alabama's commissioner would still rank just 10th of 14 in the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture. The companion bill, HB 471 by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, awaits action by the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee. The Federation supports a competitive salary for Alabama's agriculture commissioner in order to attract qualified candidates for the office.
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The Alabama Legislature Returns Tuesday, April 5, for the Final Four Days of the Session and is Expected to Adjourn, Sine Die, Friday, April 8. |
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Capitol Connection | Alabama Farmers Federation | (334) 288-3900 | AlfaFarmers.org
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