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Your External Affairs Team |
The Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs Department is proud to represent members in Montgomery. From left are Agriculture Counsel John Allen Nichols, Administrative Assistant Jessica Mims, Department Director Matthew Durdin, State Legislative Programs Director Casey Rogers and Agricultural Legislation Director Preston Roberts. |
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Comprehensive Gambling Bill Passes Senate |
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A proposed constitutional amendment that would establish a state lottery, allow sports betting and legalize casino-style gambling at nine locations in Alabama passed the Senate this week by a 23-9 vote.
SB 319 by Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, was introduced as a lottery-only bill. On Tuesday, McClendon offered a substitute with language similar to a gaming bill which failed by two votes earlier in the session. One notable difference is a provision requiring a bid process for casino licenses.
Under the bill, casinos and sports betting would be legalized at locations in Greene, Houston, Jefferson, Macon, Mobile and either DeKalb or Jackson counties, as well as three sites owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Lottery proceeds would be used for education purposes, including a college scholarship program. The state would place a 20% tax on net casino and sports betting revenues. The first $750 million of gaming revenue would be used to expand broadband infrastructure in the state.
The first $20 million in unclaimed lottery prize money would be distributed to an agricultural grant program annually. The Department of Agriculture and Industries would be responsible for adopting rules for the implementation and administration of the program.
SB 319 now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives. If approved by lawmakers in both chambers, the proposal would appear on the November 2022 general election ballot.
Alabama Farmers Federation policy opposes legalized gambling.
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Police Jurisdiction Bill Passes House, Goes To Governor |
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Legislation limiting enforcement of regulations and planning ordinances outside city limits passed the House of Representatives this week. The Senate concurred with House changes, sending the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 107 by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Fairhope, was approved by the House Tuesday on a 61-28 vote. The legislation freezes cities’ police jurisdictions at current lines and limits planning jurisdictions to 1.5 miles beyond city limits.
Cities have discretion for how far they exercise police jurisdictions outside corporate limits, but SB 107 limits police jurisdictions to 3 miles beyond city limits for municipalities with 6,000 or more residents and 1.5 miles for towns with smaller populations. If cities grow and annex land into their limits, the police jurisdictions will eventually disappear.
Currently, municipalities are enforcing regulations up to 5 miles beyond city limits, making farmers and rural landowners subject to rules enacted by city councils where they have no vote.
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Feral Hog, Coyote Night Hunting Bill Awaits Governor Signature |
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Licenses to hunt feral hogs and coyotes at night would be sold in Alabama under a bill awaiting Gov. Kay Ivey’s signature.
SB 264 by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, passed the House of Representatives unanimously Tuesday. It would allow Alabama residents to purchase a license for $15. Out-of-state hunters would be charged $51. Landowners and farmers who receive depredation permits are exempt from the license requirement.
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Medical Marijuana Bill Passes House Health Committee |
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The House Health Committee held a public hearing on a bill to legalize medical marijuana Wednesday, and ultimately approved the bill Thursday.
SB 46 by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, would authorize use of cannabis for 17 conditions and establish regulations for the cultivation and dispensing of the substance. The bill prohibits distribution of marijuana for smoking, vaping or as an ingredient in baked products.
Federation policy opposes legalizing marijuana. The organization has worked to ensure the legislation, if approved, includes language requiring the plant to be grown by Alabama farmers.
SB 46 previously passed the full Senate and House Judiciary Committee. It now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.
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Small Farm Winery Bill Passes House Committee |
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The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee this week approved the Small Farm Winery bill. It would allow producers to sell their products to licensed retailers and directly to consumers, under certain conditions.
SB 294 by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, defines a Small Farm Winery as one producing fewer than 50,000 gallons of wine a year from fruit that’s at least 50% Alabama-grown. Under existing law, small wineries may only sell to distributors and wholesalers or in limited quantities to consumers at the farm.
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Legislature Digs Bill To Make Sweet Potato State Vegetable |
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Gov. Kay Ivey can make the sweet potato Alabama’s state vegetable following final passage this week of legislation in the House of Representatives.
SB 171 by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, was inspired by a group of homeschoolers who discovered Alabama had a state tree fruit (the peach) but no state vegetable while studying lessons about Alabama during the 2019 bicentennial celebration.
The students researched vegetables with a significant economic impact to the state, took a vote and contacted legislators with the suggestion for formal recognition. Gudger listened to the students and took up the project last year, but the legislation was derailed by COVID-19.
”These students are making sure that they have a voice today, not waiting until they can grow up and be a legislator,” Gudger told reporters earlier this year. “We are making sure they know that we are representing their voice in Montgomery for them.”
Alabama ranks fifth nationally in sweet potato production.
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A Century of Service as the Voice of Alabama Agriculture |
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1959 The Alabama Farm Bureau continued working for farmers across the state in the 1950s, culminating in the passage of a bill that exempted many agricultural inputs from sales taxation. The bill primarily exempted fertilizer from sales tax, but it additionally exempted insecticides, fungicides, livestock feed, chicks and poults, and livestock. (Photo of fertilizer plant in Muscle Shoals, courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History.)
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Your Voice Is More Important Than Ever
With COVID-19 precautions limiting access to the State House for the public and Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs team, it's vital members develop and maintain strong relationships with legislators in the district. Contact the External Affairs team (below) if you have questions or need assistance contacting your senator or representative.
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Capitol Connection | Alabama Farmers Federation | (334) 288-3900 | Alfafarmers.org
Questions?
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