|
Alabama AgCast Features Checkoff Bill Sponsors
Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, and Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope, joined the Federation External Affairs Department at a ceremonial bill signing for their legislation to reduce costs associated with administering the peanut and sheep and goat checkoffs. AgCast also visited with Alabama Peanut Producers Association Treasurer Jerry Byrd of Dale County. Federation Agricultural Legislation Director Preston Roberts sat down with Rep. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, to talk about recent impacts of legislation passed two years ago limiting municipal regulations in police jurisdictions. Listen here.
| |
Gov. Kay Ivey Signs Legislation Reducing Checkoff Costs | |
Alabama peanut growers joined Gov. Kay Ivey and sponsors Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, and Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope, for a ceremonial signing of legislation which will allow more farmer-funded checkoff money to be used for research, education and promotion. For peanuts, the new law eliminates the requirement of newspaper notification for referenda; increases the time between producer votes from three to five years; and reduces the amount deducted by the Department of Agriculture and Industries for administrative costs from 5% to 3%. Sheep and goat producers will benefit from an extension in the frequency of costly audits from every two years to every five years. Also on hand for the bill signing were members of the Lee County Farmers Federation Women's Leadership Committee, who were in Montgomery for a Capitol and State House tour and to meet with their legislators. | |
Bill Introduced to Halt Economic Boycotting | |
|
Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, introduced legislation Thursday aimed at preventing the economic boycotting of businesses based on ideological criteria.
SB 261 would prohibit any company in the state from being required to engage in economic boycotts or other actions that further social, political or ideological interests. It would further prohibit businesses from being penalized for declining to engage in such activities. The bill also would prohibit government entities from entering into public contracts with businesses that engage in economic boycotts. Alabama's attorney general would be required to oppose federal laws that harm businesses based on economic boycott criteria.
Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance support the bill.
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth assigned the legislation to the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, which is chaired by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, and of which Roberts is a member. Cosponsors of the bill are Sens. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur; Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa; Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro; Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia; Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville; and David Sessions, R-Grand Bay.
Bills addressing the use of economic boycotting criteria have been passed by other conservative state legislators. Additionally, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a letter with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and 17 other governors opposing economic boycotting criteria in retirement investments. Attorney General Steve Marshall joined 24 state attorneys general in signing a letter to 53 banks and financial institutions opposing economic boycotting criteria. Alabama Republican U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt have also opposed a Department of Labor rule using economic boycotting criteria in retiree accounts.
| |
House of Representatives Passes General Fund Budget | |
The House of Representatives unanimously approved a $3 billion General Fund budget Tuesday, including appropriations for programs important to Alabama farmers and forest landowners.
The spending plan is $150 million more than the current fiscal year budget. House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Chairman Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, attributed the growth to increased revenue. Collections from insurance premium taxes, the largest single contributor to the General Fund at 19%, increased 4.68%. The budget bill now goes to the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.
Alabama Farmers Federation State Legislative Programs Director Russ Durrance congratulated Reynolds on passage of the budget.
"Chairman Reynolds is to be commended for shepherding the budget through the House of Representatives," Durrance said. "We appreciate his work to ensure investment continues in rural Alabama. While not a major component of the overall budget, the Federation's agriculture and forestry have a significant impact on farm families and their communities."
Ag and forestry appropriations 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
Reynolds and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, talked to Leading Alabama about passage of the budget.
| Bill Introduced to Help Farmers Using H2A Labor | |
Conflict between the realities of a federal agricultural labor program and an obscure state law prompted Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, to sponsor legislation which would amend requirements related to foreign driver's licenses.
SB 266 was introduced Thursday. It would reduce the minimum time period an Alabama driver's license can be issued from 160 to 30 days.
Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said the change is needed because delays within the H2A guest worker program have resulted in some farm employees being in the state for shorter periods of time.
"Guest workers can often drive for personal reasons with a foreign driver's license, but for insurance reasons, they need a short-term state license to drive farm equipment," Hardin said. "The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency did not object to shortening the window. While this law would only impact a few people, it could be extremely important to the farmers affected."
SB 266 has been assigned to the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.
|  | Federation Hosts Alabama House Democratic Caucus | Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance welcomed the Alabama House of Representatives Democratic Caucus to the organization's home office Wednesday for the group's meeting. The Federation sponsored lunch, which included U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish. External Affairs Department team members Brian Hardin, Preston Roberts and Russ Durrance greeted the lawmakers and thanked them for supporting recently passed checkoff and municipal livestock ordinance bills. | Senate Honors Waggoner for 50 Years of Service | |
The Alabama Senate this week passed a joint resolution honoring Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, on 50 years of service in the Alabama Legislature.
Waggoner was first elected at age 29 and served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1966 to 1983. He ran for Congress in 1984, and served as the governor's legislative liaison from 1988 to 1990, when he was elected to the Alabama Senate.
Waggoner has served in the Senate for nine consecutive terms. His combined experience in both chambers makes him the longest serving member of the Legislature. He was Senate minority leader from 2002 to 2010 and majority leader from 2010 to 2014. Waggoner currently serves as Senate Rules Committee chair, among other assignments.
The Alabama Farmers Federation joined his legislative colleagues in offering appreciation for Sen. Waggoner's faithful service to the people of Alabama.
"Sen. Waggoner is a true statesman," said Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin. "His legacy is one of integrity and collaboration. His professionalism and mentoring of young legislators helps set the tone in the Senate, enabling government to serve the needs of the people. Sen. Waggoner has always taken time to honor and recognize Alabama citizens for their accomplishments and sacrifice, so it's only fitting he be honored by a joint resolution the way he has recognized so many others."
| |
|
Grocery Tax Reduction — Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, Thursday introduced anticipated legislation to reduce the state sales tax on food. SB 257 is championed by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and co-sponsored by all 35 state senators. It uses the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) definition for "food." The legislation would reduce the state 4% tax on food one-half of 1% each year, until the rate equals 2%. Reductions in the tax would be paused if growth in total net receipts for the Education Trust Fund in the immediately preceding fiscal year is less than 2%. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.
Chinese Property Ownership — Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, introduced a bill Tuesday to prohibit Chinese ownership of property in Alabama. HB 379 would prohibit Chinese citizens, the Chinese government or Chinese entities from acquiring title to real property in the state. The bill has been assigned to the House Urban and Rural Development Committee.
Police Jurisdiction Tax Reporting Extension — Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, introduced legislation last week that would extend the deadline for annual reports from municipalities collecting licenses and other taxes outside their city limits. Legislation to rein in the expansion of police jurisdictions, as well as regulation and taxation by municipalities in those areas, passed in 2021. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, and supported by the Alabama Farmers Federation, gave municipalities until March 1, 2023, to file annual reports on their tax activities outside city limits. Despite almost two years of advance notice, 128 towns failed to submit reports, thereby losing taxing authority under the law. HB 351 seeks to push the deadline to March 1, 2024. In this week's AgCast Extra, Elliott questioned whether towns unable to file the report should be attempting to govern beyond city limits, where the taxpayers have no municipal vote or representation. The bill has been assigned to the House County and Municipal Government Committee. The Alabama Farmers Federation opposes HB 351.
| |
Rural Economic Impact Spotlight | |
|
According to the Decatur Daily, Bunge North America, Inc.’s Decatur plant will begin a $28.6 million expansion in May. The project will improve the plant’s unloading and distribution capabilities by upgrading existing buildings and adding a new building and equipment. Construction should be complete by December of this year.
“We need to fill a barge a day. We unload 120,000 bushels a day, and the upgrade will allow us to increase that to 200,000 bushels a day,” said Plant Manager Victor Pacheco who also serves on the Board of Directors for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. Read more.
| | | | |
