March 7, 2025 Capitol Connection

March 7, 2025

Constituent Work Week Chance to Talk Health Plans With Legislators

Alabama Farmers Federation members are urged to talk with legislators about the need for Alfa Health Plans as lawmakers are home March 10-14 for a Constituent Work Week.

Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said there have been productive conversations about the need for this legislation. The next step is for the bill to be introduced in the House of Representatives. SB 84 was introduced by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, on Feb. 4, the first day of the legislative session. While SB 84 awaits action by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, the attention of Federation members should be concentrated on their representatives and the upcoming House bill.

“We can’t thank our farmer members enough for their work in bringing the need for affordable health care coverage to the forefront,” Hardin said. “Your visits, calls and emails have made a huge impact. Conversations about Alfa Health Plans have been a focal point for legislators and others at the State House. But the job is not done. There is still opposition, and legislators need to hear from you. Next week is a great opportunity to call your representatives and senators and ask them to support Alfa Health Plans.

“Share your story and talk about how you've seen high health care costs affect your fellow farmers. Ask them to vote ‘yes’ in committee; ‘yes’ for final passage; and ‘no’ on amendments that could undermine the legislation and make Alfa Health Plans unaffordable,” Hardin added. “We are working hard to get a bill introduced in the House soon. Our members will be the ones to make this a reality.”

Click here to contact your legislator.

Click here to learn more about the need for Alfa Health Plans from Federation members.

Alfa Health Plans Would Boost Economy, Budgets

Research by one of Alabama’s leading economists shows Alfa Health Plans would benefit local economies and state budgets by freeing up money spent on health coverage for other needs.

M. Keivan Deravi, PhD, retired professor of economics at Auburn University Montgomery, found Alfa Health Plans would have no negative impact on the General Fund budget and could generate between $232,000 and $11 million a year for the Education Trust Fund.

“When insurance premiums decrease, the resulting increase in disposable income creates a multiplier effect as those savings circulate through the local economy,” Deravi wrote in a recent report. “This analysis uses a conservative multiplier of 1.6 to estimate the economic impact of premium savings, meaning every dollar saved on health insurance premiums generates $1.60 in economic activity.”

Alabama Farmers Federation State Legislative Programs Director Russ Durrance said this analysis is key in demonstrating the overall benefit of Alfa Health Plans to the state.

“Misinformation has been shared attempting to undermine Alfa Health Plans by projecting exaggerated costs to the General Fund budget,” Durrance said. “Dr. Deravi’s work proves Alfa Health Plans would actually benefit state budgets. If farmers and other small business owners are saving 30-60% on health coverage, they are going to spend those dollars in their local communities. Alfa Health Plans are good for Federation members, good for our struggling rural communities and good for the State of Alabama.”

Over the last 35 years, Deravi’s forecasts have been utilized by every administration in developing the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets. He is the architect of the Alabama Economic Forecasting Model and Alabama Input/Output Model. Both are used to generate forecasts for the state’s major economic variables.

Click here to view the study results.

Discussions Increase Over Truck Weight Bills

Discussions regarding maximum axle weight legislation has increased recently as the Alabama Legislature determines how to approach these bills.

SB 110 by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, and HB 204 by Rep. Donna Givens, R-Loxley, would increase the current per-axle weight limit on log trucks when the total weight is under the maximum 80,000 pounds with a 10% tolerance. The bill would also allow drivers to request to be weighed on certified scales in place of portable scales; provide affidavits confirming certified weight is under the maximum limit, if weighed on portable scales; and allow drivers to bypass weighing when three trucks are being weighed or in the queue.

The Alabama Farmers Federation supports this legislation and believes this bill would increase efficiency and reduce the administrative burden on enforcement agencies.

Federation Agricultural Legislation Director Preston Roberts said Alabama's forestry industry is a vital part of Alabama's economy, supporting thousands of jobs and rural communities. By allowing reasonable weight adjustments for log trucks, SB 110 can improve efficency and reduce unnecessary enforcement burdens on those working in this critical sector keeping Alabama's forest industry strong and competitive, Roberts said.

Alabama Forestry Commission Provides Wildfire Update

Representatives of the Alabama Forestry Commission provided updates on recent wildfires during the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee meeting Wednesday. They reported on the recent outbreak of wildfires and the efforts being taken to prevent further spread and damage across the state.

Click here to see recent updates from the Commission.

Bills in Brief:

Cotton Checkoff Assessment Increase: HB 352 by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, would allow the Alabama Cotton Commission (ACC) to set the assessment at any rate up to $1.30 per bale. It is currently capped at $1. The ACC does not plan to increase the rate over the next two years unless inflation requires an increase for research to promote production efficiency and marketing opportunities. HB 352 was reported favorably by the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Wednesday. A companion bill, SB 207 by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Ino, awaits action in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. The Alabama Farmers Federation and the Federation's State Cotton Committee support both bills.

Poultry Utility Tax Exemption: SB 213 by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, would update how utility tax is applied for poultry houses to reflect modern production practices. Under current law, “the furnishing of natural gas or electricity for use of consumption as fuel or energy in and for the heating of poultry houses” is specifically excluded from utility tax. When this exemption passed the Legislature, poultry houses were cooled naturally through open sidewalls with “curtains,” which could be raised or lowered to regulate the temperature within the house. Since then, advancements have changed the way chickens are grown and poultry houses are built. Now, most poultry houses are cooled by fans and cool cells powered by electricity. This bill would update the law by making all natural gas or electricity used in poultry houses exempt from tax. SB 213 awaits action in the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. This legislation is supported by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Migrant Labor Broker Requirement Updates: HB 302 by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, would require labor brokers who recruit migrant workers under federal parole or asylum programs for employment in Alabama to register with the Department of Workforce. It would also mandate employers use E-Verify and impose new sponsorship reporting requirements. This would not apply to federal H-2A and H-2B programs. Alabama Farmers Federation State Legislative Programs Director Russ Durance thanked Rep. Robbins for proactively reaching out to address any issues that would impact Alabama farmers and timber owners. HB 302 passed out of the House Thursday and now goes to the Senate for consideration.