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Future Leaders Meet Lawmakers During FFA Day on the Hill
Over 200 FFA members gathered at the Alabama State Capitol April 18 for FFA Day on the Hill. The students visited with Gov. Kay Ivey and heard from lawmakers including Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn. The day gave the future leaders insight into the workings of state government and the men and women committed to public service. Watch video.
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Checkoff Bill Wins Final Passage, Goes to Governor | |
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The House of Representatives gave unanimous, final approval Tuesday to a bill reducing paperwork and expenses associated with the administration of two producer-funded checkoffs.
SB 91 by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, frees up more farmer dollars in the peanut and sheep and goat checkoff programs for research, education and promotion. Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope, sponsored the companion legislation and championed the bill in the House. She received applause from fellow lawmakers and the House gallery upon final passage of her first sponsored legislation.
"I’m excited to support the checkoff bill revisions supporting peanut and sheep and goat farmers," Fidler said. "We are able to move approximately $20,000 more annually to support the peanut industry. We extended the sheep and goat audit, saving them thousands. I was thrilled to see the FFA groups in the gallery Tuesday watching the passage of this bill. I look forward to supporting our Alabama farmers in the future and appreciate the support of the Alabama Farmers Federation."
Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to sign SB 91, making the following changes:
Peanuts
- Remove the newspaper referendum notice requirement, bringing it into conformity with the other checkoff programs;
- Increase the time between referendums from three to five years; and
- Reduce the amount the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is authorized to deduct for administrative costs from 5% to 3%, which is in line with other checkoffs
Sheep and Goats
- Decrease the frequency of required audits from two years to five years
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House Gives Final Passage to Livestock Ordinances Bill | |
Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to sign a bill to protect livestock owners from overly restrictive municipal ordinances, following final passage in the House of Representatives Tuesday.
SB 147 by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, won unanimous approval. It prohibits municipalities from establishing ordinances more restrictive than state law regarding livestock which get out of fences or other enclosures. Under state law, a person is guilty of permitting livestock or animals to run at large on another's property only if they do so knowingly, voluntarily, negligently or willfully. The proposed legislation would require any municipal ordinances to include the same standard of intent.
The companion bill, HB 242, was sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens.
| General Fund Budget Passes House Committee | |
The $2.9 billion General Fund budget received a favorable report from the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee this week, with appropriations for agriculture and forestry intact.
HB 124, is sponsored by the committee chairman, Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville. Agriculture and forestry priorities in the bill include:
- Sweet Grown Alabama, $300,000, unchanged
- North Alabama Agriplex, $100,000, unchanged
- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), $575,000, unchanged
- Forest Economic Development Specialist, $200,000, unchanged
- Industrial Hemp Program, $50,000, unchanged
- Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), $6.3 million, up $450,000
- Soil and Water Conservation Committee Program, $3.62 million, up $425,000
- People Against a Littered State (PALS), $200,000, up $50,000
| Two Ivey Appointments Confirmed to ADEM Commission | |
The Alabama Senate confirmed two Gov. Kay Ivey appointments to the Alabama Environmental Management Commission, which has oversight for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
Frank McFadden of Mobile and Dr. Sam Miller of Montgomery will serve through Sept. 30, 2028. McFadden will represent professional engineers on the Commission, while Miller will represent physicians.
| Gov. Ivey Signs Game Plan Economic Incentives Package | |
The Alabama Senate and House of Representatives voted for final passage Thursday of four bills dubbed 'The Game Plan,' designed to extend economic development incentives, increase transparency, accelerate technology innovation and develop industry-ready sites. Later the same day, Gov. Kay Ivey signed the package into law surrounded by legislative leaders.
"I am proud the Alabama Legislature has officially passed all four bills in The Game Plan package — my plan for our state's continued economic success," Ivey said. "I commend both the Senate and House for their incredible work on this timely legislation that will, no doubt, be transformative for our state and more importantly, for our families. We are creating stability for our economy and are going to keep Alabama winning for many years to come."
In the Senate, lawmakers gave final approval to HB 241 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, which extends to 2028 the Alabama Jobs Act and gradually increases the annual cap on tax credits under the Growing Alabama Act to $35 million by 2028. Senators also had the final vote on HB 247 by Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, which creates the Innovating Alabama tax credit program for technology accelerators and underrepresented companies.
The House of Representatives had final say on SB 151 by Sen Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, which requires the Department of Commerce to publish certain information regarding economic development incentives awarded under the Alabama Jobs Act. Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, sponsored companion legislation in the House. The House also gave final approval to SB 165 by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, which authorizes the State Industrial Development Authority to make site assessment and development grants. It also creates the Alabama Site Development Fund. The bill is known as the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Act. Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, sponsored companion legislation in the House.
Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, shared their thoughts on passage of The Game Plan in this Leading Alabama video.
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Bill Introduced to Allow Electronic Public Notices | |
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Legislation has been introduced and cleared a House committee that would allow local governments to post legal notices electronically, rather than in a newspaper.
HB 106 by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, states local governments could satisfy legal notice requirements by publishing the notice on a website maintained by the state or local government. The measure passed the House County and Municipal Government Committee April 12.
Proponents say the change would mean substantial cost savings for county and municipal governments. The Alabama Press Association argues the legislation would limit access to legal notices for some individuals.
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