Farmers Federation Women Key To Legislative Success
Alabama Farmers Federation Women's Leadership Committee Chair Lydia Haynes of Cullman County speaks from the Women's Leadership Conference about the influence of female leaders on public policy and the Federation's success in the 2022 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature. She expresses gratitude for the legislators who helped secure passage of important legislation. Click here or above to watch.
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2022 Farm Package Wins Final Passage
With time running out in the 2022 Regular Session, Alabama Farmers Federation members, bill sponsors and legislative leadership pushed the 2022 Farm Package across the finish line. All three bills won final passage Wednesday and have been sent to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature.
"We want to thank every member and county leader who called, texted or emailed an action alert asking their senators and representatives to support the package," said Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin. "The sponsors remained committed throughout the session, and the leadership ensured the bills came up for votes during the busy closing days. We appreciate the legislators making farmers' needs a priority despite a crowded agenda of high-profile bills."
Hardin thanked Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, and Senate Rules Chairman Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, for placing bills related to grain bins and county business licenses on the special order calendar twice in the final days of the session. The Senate leadership worked through issues raised by Democratic senators which threatened to derail passage, and Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth kept legislation moving efficiently by professionally presiding over the process, Hardin said. In the House of Representatives, Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Capshaw, and Rules Chairman Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, brought the Sweet Grown Alabama Act to the floor. Hardin said House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, and Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville, made the farm package a priority throughout the session.
"We can't thank the leadership and sponsors enough for their support and commitment to this package," Hardin said. "Many of them come from farming and rural backgrounds, so they understand the needs and challenges of our members. Their willingness to listen and lead on this package shows the importance of the Federation's work to identify, develop and elect public servants who appreciate the importance of agriculture and forestry to our communities and state."
SB 274 by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, passed the House 101-0. Known as the Sweet Grown Alabama Act, it empowers family farms and stimulates local economies by clarifying the inclusion of value-added agricultural products in existing sales tax exemptions. The bill was amended to sunset after five years but could be reauthorized. The companion, HB 412, was sponsored by Rep. Van Smith, R-Billingsley.
HB 400 by Rep. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, passed the Senate 28-1. It eliminates inconsistencies and confusion across jurisdictions by clarifying the ad valorem tax exemption for grain bins. The companion, SB 275, was sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia.
HB 415 by Rep. Gil Isbell, R-Gadsden, passed the Senate 28-1. It protects family farms by expressly prohibiting the requirement of a county license or fee for operations related to the disposition of the farmer’s products. The companion, SB 273, was sponsored by Sen. Tom Butler, R-Madison.
"Passage of this farm package is what the Federation is all about," Hardin said. "Each of these bills is the result of members expressing needs at the grassroots level. Our members, leaders and staff worked to educate legislators about the importance of these bills and stayed engaged with them throughout the process. This is the kind of work the Federation has been doing for over 100 years, and it demonstrates what we can accomplish when our members are united and motivated."
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Education Budget Passes, Includes Agriculture Funding
The $8.2 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget received final passage Wednesday and now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature. The budget includes critical funding for agriculture and forestry education.
Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin encouraged county leaders to express appreciation to members of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee and House Ways and Means Education Committee, especially chairs Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville.
Agriculture and forestry appropriations include:
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4-H Youth Agriculture and Animal Science Specialist – $125,000 (new)
- Agriscience Education Program Improvement Specialists — $233,900
- Agriscience Teachers Extended Contracts – $1,000,000
- Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station – $38,783,091
- Alabama Agricultural Land Grant Alliance – $6,391,283
- Alabama Agriculture in the Classroom — $100,000
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System – $40,849,865
- Alabama Treasure Forest Association — $60,000
- Auburn University Poultry Science – $250,000
- Career Tech Initiative – $25,167,239
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FFA Membership Dues for Agriscience Students – $275,000 (new)
- Forestry Commission Education Program – $200,000
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Jones Valley Teaching Farm – $400,000 (new)
- Liberty Learning Foundation – $600,000
- Livestock Judging at Auburn University – $250,000
- North Alabama Agriplex — $58,000
- Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) – $5,287,744
- Rural Broadband Grant Program – $25,000,000
- Rural Medical Scholars Programs (total) — $1,940,114
- Soil and Water Conservation Committee – $2,673,376
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Bills In Brief
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Agriculture Commissioner Compensation — SB 319 by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, passed the House Thursday night and now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature. 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 companion bill, HB 471, was sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens. The Federation supports a competitive salary for Alabama's agriculture commissioner in order to attract qualified candidates for the office.
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Agriculture Authorities — SB 317 by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, won final passage Thursday and has been sent to the governor. It grants additional powers to agricultural authorities related to the development of property used for events and activities. It allows authorities to enter into contracts and agreements with private or government entities and clarifies exemptions related to zoning and sale and use taxes.
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E-911 — HB 414 by Sen. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, passed Thursday and has been sent to the governor. It requires E-911 operators to stay on emergency calls until the caller is connected with appropriate emergency services. It requires communications districts to have backup methods for responding to emergency calls and establishes certification requirements for E-911 operators.
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Coosa County Forever Wild — HB 463 by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, was carried over in the Senate and did not pass. It proposed a local constitutional amendment 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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Capitol Connection | Alabama Farmers Federation | (334) 288-3900 | AlfaFarmers.org
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